Agenda and minutes

This meeting is to be webcast and the Chairman will read the following announcement:

“I would like to remind everyone present that this hybrid meeting will be broadcast live to the internet (or filmed) and will be capable of repeated viewing (or other such use by third parties).

Therefore, by participating in this meeting, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings for webcasting and/or training purposes. If any public speakers on MS Teams do not wish to have their image captured, they should ensure that their video setting throughout the meeting is turned off and set to audio only.

Please also be aware that if technical difficulties interrupt the meeting that cannot be overcome, I may need to adjourn the meeting.

Members are reminded to activate their microphones before speaking”.

The Chairman made a short address to remind all present that the meeting would be broadcast on the Internet, and that the Council had adopted a protocol for the webcasting of its meetings.

To declare interests in any item on this agenda.

There were no declarations of interest pursuant to the Council’s Members’ Code of Conduct.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Sub-Committee held on 21 June 2023.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Sub-Committee held on 21 June 2023 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, requires that the permission of the Chairman be obtained, after prior notice to the Chief Executive, before urgent business not specified in the agenda (including a supplementary agenda of which the statutory period of notice has been given) may be transacted.

It was noted that there was no other urgent business for consideration by the Sub-Committee.

To identify and agree requirements for formal site visits to be held with regard to any planning application listed in this agenda, prior to consideration of the application.

There were no formal site visits requested by the Sub-Committee.

The Committee agreed to amend the following conditions with the additional wording below:

(3c) …including minimisation of diesel-powered construction machinery.

(22) …and Guest Travel Plan.

The application was Approved with Conditions (Subject to s106 Legal Agreement).

Discussion took place around the design of the proposed new dwelling, the potential refurbishment of the listed pillars and gates, and the impact on the Green Belt. Clarity was sought on the comparison between the size of this proposal compared to that previously granted consent on the site.

Clarity was also sought by Members on the Green Belt policy and whether this constituted inappropriate development that would require very special circumstances. Several members recalled determining the previously approved scheme and highlighted that the previous proposal constituted inappropriate development, however was granted consent since the very special circumstances clearly outweighed the harm in that instance. The key very special circumstances being the refurbishment of the listed gates and pillars, the handing over of part of the site for the extension to the adjacent nature reserve, and the historic ambience in the built form of the previously approved new dwelling. It was highlighted by Cllr C C Pond that, with the exception of the refurbishment of the gates and pillars, none of these benefits were present in this instance, and the proposed dwelling was larger than that previously approved. As such it was determined that the proposal constituted inappropriate development that would cause harm to the Green Belt, and this harm would not be sufficiently outweighed by very special circumstances.

As such, the Committee determined that planning consent should be refused for the following reason:

1. The proposed development amounts to inappropriate development in the Green Belt and results in a significant increase in built volume above that of the extant planning permission for the site. The public benefit through the provision of part of the site as an extension to the nature reserve and the historic ambience in the built form that were considered very special circumstances that clearly outweighed the harm from the extant scheme are no longer proposed as part of this development, and no other very special circumstances exist that clearly outweigh the harm from this proposal. As a result, the development has a significant adverse effect of the openness of the Green Belt and local character, contrary to policies SP5 and DM4 of the adopted Local Plan 2011-2033 (2023), and the NPPF 2021.

To consider the attached report on part single-part two storey rear extension with Juliet Balcony, rear box dormer, front dormer, rear and front roof lights, single storey side extension, single storey front extension, and extended patio.

The application was approved with conditions.

The application was approved with conditions.