Agenda and minutes

This meeting is to be webcast. On behalf of the Chairman, the Democratic Services Officer will read the following announcement:

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

If you are seated in the lower public seating area then it is likely that the recording cameras will capture your image and this will result in the possibility that your image will become part of the broadcast.

This may infringe your human and data protection rights and if you wish to avoid this then you should move to the upper public gallery.

Could I please also remind Members to activate their microphones before speaking”.

On behalf of the Chairman, the Democratic Services Officer reminded everyone present that the meeting would be broadcast live to the internet and would be capable of repeated viewing, which could infringe their human and data protection rights.

General advice for those persons attending the meeting of the Committee is attached.

The Chairman welcomed members of the public to the meeting and outlined the procedures and arrangements adopted by the Council to enable persons to address the Committee in relation to the determination of applications for planning permission. The Committee noted the advice provided for the public and speakers in attendance at meetings of the Council’s planning committees.

To report the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

The Committee was advised that the following substitute members had been appointed for the meeting:

(a)       Councillor N. Bedford for Councillor G. Chambers;

(b)       Councillor D. Wixley for Councillor R. Jennings; and

(c)       Councillor H. Whitbread for Councillor E. Webster.

To declare interests in any item on the agenda.

The following interests were declared by members of the Committee pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct:

(a)       Councillor D. Wixley declared a personal interest in item 10 (Planning Application EPF/1058/18 – Land at Marlescroft Way, Loughton) of the agenda for the meeting, by virtue of his appointment as a representative of Loughton Town Council on the Roding Valley Meadows Local Nature Reserve Consultative Group. Councillor Wixley had determined that his interest was not prejudicial and indicated that he would remain in the meeting for the consideration of the application and voting thereon.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 28 November 2018.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 28 November 2018 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

A Planning Policy Briefing Note (March 2018) has been produced by the Planning Policy Team to ensure that a consistent approach is taken to the provision of planning policy advice for the District, particularly in relation to the Epping Forest District Local Plan Submission Version, which was published on 18 December 2017.

The primary purpose of the Planning Policy Briefing Note is to inform the development management process and to provide assistance for Development Management Officers, Councillors, applicants and planning agents. The Planning Policy Briefing Note is available at:

http://www.efdclocalplan.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Planning-Policy-Briefing-Note_Mar-2018.pdf

The Service Director (Planning Services) reminded the Committee that a briefing note had been prepared to ensure that a consistent approach was taken to the provision of planning policy advice, following the publication of the Epping Forest District Local Plan Submission Version on 18 December 2017. Members were advised that the primary purpose of the briefing note was to inform development management activities and to provide assistance for councillors, officers, applicants, planning agents and other persons involved in the development management process.

RESOLVED:

That the Planning Policy Briefing Note for the Epping Forest District Local Plan Submission Version, be noted.

To consider the attached report.

The Service Director (Planning Services) presented a report with regard to the proposed construction of a swimming pool and associated landscaping at Woodberrie, Kings Hill, Loughton.

Members were advised that the application had been referred to the Committee for determination as a result of a minority reference from Area Plans Sub-Committee South at its meeting on 21 November 2018, after an equal number of members had voted for and against the development proposal. The Committee noted that the recommendation of the Service Director (Planning Services) remained that planning permission should be granted for the proposed development, notwithstanding that factors in support of and against the grant of planning permission were balanced.

The Committee was advised that the application site was within the York Hill Conservation Area and was a locally listed building. The Service Director (Planning Services) reported that Woodberrie was a three-storey pitched-roof house with first floor accommodation above the eaves within a steeply pitched roof and on the second floor in the upper roof area. Members noted that the house was set within a generous plot that included a link attached garage to the north and that trees around the boundary of the site were subject to a Tree Preservation Order. The Committee was advised that the property had an extant planning permission for a large extension to the north of the existing building and was prominent on Woodbury Hill, contributing to the historic interest and appearance of the area and other buildings of similar style.

The Service Director (Planning Services) advised the Committee that the main issues for consideration in respect of the application related to design in the Conservation Area, impact on amenity and impact on trees. Members noted that it was considered that the proposed swimming pool had been well designed to respect the character of Woodberrie and the surrounding conservation area and the pool and landscaping would sensitively integrate into the plot and sit behind a high hedge which was a characteristic of the conservation area and would soften the appearance of the swimming pool and create an attractive landscape feature. The Committee noted that the pool would be further screened with additional planting and that the necessary plant equipment would be situated below ground level so as to not affect the setting of Woodberrie. The Service Director (Planning Services) advised the Committee that the proposed pool would occupy a level plateau within the existing garden and would leave a large area of garden to the rear of the house. Members noted that the proposal was not therefore considered to be harmful to the conservation area and would preserve its character and appearance.

The Service Director (Planning Services) reported that the proposed pool would be set well away from neighbouring properties and that, due to the land levels of the site and the high volume of protected screening, it would not be visible from long views of the property and would not appear overbearing on neighbouring properties or overlook the private amenity space of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

The Service Director (Planning Services) presented a report with regard to the proposed formation of an off-street parking area on land at Marlescroft Way, Loughton, to provide daytime parking for employees of the Council’s depot at Oakwood Hill.

Members were advised that the application had been refused by Area Plans Sub-Committee South at its meeting on 23 January 2019 and that the proposal therefore stood referred to the District Development Management Committee for determination in accordance with Article 10 of the Constitution, as the application had been submitted by the Council and related to land in the ownership of the authority. The Committee noted that the recommendation of the Service Director (Planning Services) remained that planning permission should be granted for the proposed development and voted on a motion that it undertake a site visit prior to the determination of the application, which was lost.

The Committee was advised that the application site comprised a parcel of grass land to the south of dwellings in Marlescroft Way and that, whilst not situated within a conservation area, the site was in close proximity to the Roding Valley Meadows Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The Service Director (Planning Services) reported that it was proposed to change the use of the land to a car park providing fifty-six formally laid out parking spaces and three disabled bays with manoeuvring space in accordance with the Essex Vehicle Parking Standards (2009), together with improved pedestrian access to public rights of way into and across the Roding Valley Meadows Nature Reserve. Members noted that the proposal would provide staff parking during working hours and parking for the public at other times.

The Service Director (Planning Services) advised the Committee that the main issues for consideration in respect of the application related to highways, design and the impact of the proposed development on the Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Members were advised that Marlescroft Way and Oakwood Hill were heavily parked areas, with parking strain caused by the nearby Oakwood Hill Industrial Estate and that the proposal would provide off-street parking for employees of the Council’s Oakwood Hill Depot and local residents and users of the Roding Valley Nature Reserve. In response to concerns of local residents that the proposal would result in a loss of parking along the hammerhead area of Marlescroft Way, the Service Director (Planning Services) advised the Committee that the development would result in the addition of formal parking spaces, as opposed to the existing casual on-street layout, would not result in the loss of any formal resident parking provision and that Essex Highways had raised no objection to the proposal.

The Committee was advised that the proposal would maintain the largely urban character of Marlescroft Way but that, whilst it would increase hard surfacing at the site, an area of green space and mature trees would be retained to limit the visual impact of the development. The Service Director (Planning Services) reported that, although some planting  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

The Service Director (Planning Services) presented a report with regard to the proposed provision of a ground-floor front and rear extension and first-floor side extension and loft conversion with two rear dormers, at 6 St. Mary’s Way, Chigwell.

Members were advised that the application had been referred to the Committee for determination as a result of a minority reference from Area Plans Sub-Committee South at its meeting on 23 January 2019, after an equal number of members had voted for and against the development proposal. The Committee noted that the recommendation of the Service Director (Planning Services) remained that planning permission should be granted for the proposed development, although the application had been referred for determination without any recommendation by Area Plans Sub-Committee South.

The Committee was advised that the application site wasa two-storey semi-detached house within a built-up area of Chigwell and was not listed or situated in a conservation area.The Service Director (Planning Services) advised the Committee that the main issues for consideration in respect of the applicationwere its impact on the character and appearance of the locality and on the living conditions of neighbouring properties.

The Service Director (Planning Services) reported that the proposed rear extension was considered to be subservient to the existing building and similar to others in the locality and that, although the proposed works to the front and side of the house would be visible from the street, they would complement the existing building in terms of its height, scale and detailed design and would have no adverse impact on the street scene. Members noted that the proposed roof works were considered to be of an appropriate design, with the increase in ridge height matching that of the attached neighbouring property and, together with the two rear dormer windows that were well-proportioned and set appropriately within the roof space, achieved a well-proportioned roof in relation to both the neighbouring property and the wall height of the existing house, to safeguard the character and appearance of the locality.

The Committee was advised that the application site was located at the beginning of a cul-de-sac with the rear of the property facing towards a principal elevation of 7 St. Mary’s Way, which was separated from the existing house by the length of its rear garden and a pair of garages. A number of members of the Committee raised concern with regard to the potential harm in terms of overlooking into the first-floor flank wall windows of 7 St. Mary’s Way, arising from the proposed rear dormer windows. The Service Director (Planning Services) reported that such harm was considered to be minimal and not significant enough to justify the refusal of the application, as the rear wall of the application site was a distance of approximately 23 metres from the principal elevation of 7 St. Mary’s Way, which was not unusual on modern housing estates. Members noted that the affected elevation of 7  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

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.

Exclusion

To consider whether, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press should be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below on grounds that they will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the following paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended) or are confidential under Section 100(A)(2):

The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, which came into effect on 1 March 2006, requires the Council to consider whether maintaining the exemption listed above outweighs the potential public interest in disclosing the information. Any member who considers that this test should be applied to any currently exempted matter on this agenda should contact the proper officer at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

Background Papers

Article 17 (Access to Information) of the Constitution defines background papers as being documents relating to the subject matter of the report which in the Proper Officer's opinion:

(a)        disclose any facts or matters on which the report or an important part of the report is based;  and

(b)        have been relied on to a material extent in preparing the report and does not include published works or those which disclose exempt or confidential information and in respect of executive reports, the advice of any political advisor.

The Council will make available for public inspection one copy of each of the documents on the list of background papers for four years after the date of the meeting. Inspection of background papers can be arranged by contacting either the Responsible Officer or the Democratic Services Officer for the particular item.

The Committee noted that there was no business that necessitated the exclusion of the public and press from the meeting.