Agenda item

Planning Application 18/00761/FUL - Highfield Farm, Windmill Lane, Pibsbury.

Meeting of Area North Committee, Wednesday 27th June 2018 3.00 pm (Item 33.)

Minutes:

Proposal: The erection of 2 No. detached dwellings (Revised Application).

The Planning Officer presented the application and made reference to planning appeal decisions for the site. He reminded members of the planning history for this and the neighbouring site, and noted the reason for recommending refusal remained the same as in previous applications.

A representative for Huish Episcopi Parish Council addressed members and noted it was good to see bungalows being built and they could see no harm being caused by the proposal. The Parish Council fully supported the application.

The agent noted that the issues raised by the officer solely related to visual impact. He explained that circumstances had changed and why a revised application had been submitted. The area of the proposed buildings did not go into open countryside and would not go beyond the existing building line. He felt it was incomprehensible that a scheme that would be well screened and barely visible would have a detrimental visual impact.

Ward member, Councillor Clare Aparicio Paul, noted there were other new houses nearby. She felt it was a sustainable location as there were several local facilities nearby, and she struggled to understand some of the Inspector’s reasons for dismissing previous appeals. She proposed that the application be approved contrary to the officer recommendation, on the grounds that the site is in a sustainable location and would have no detrimental impact.

There was no debate. The Planning Officer suggested the wording for the justification and advised that conditions would be required for:

· Time limit

· Approved plans

· Materials

· Parking and turning

· Landscaping

On being put to the vote, the proposal to approve the application was carried 8 in favour with 1 abstention.

RESOLVED:

That planning application 18/00761/FUL be APPROVED, contrary to the officer recommendation, subject to the following:

Justification:

01. The proposed development, by reason of its size, scale and materials, respects and relates to the character of its surroundings, has no adverse effect on local landscape character, visual or residential amenity and highway safety. As such the proposed development is considered to accord with the aims and objectives of policies SD1, SS1, SS2, TA5, TA6 and EQ2 of the South Somerset Local Plan (2006-2028) and the provisions of chapters 4, 6, 7, 10 and 11 and the core planning principles of the National Planning Policy Framework.

Subject to the following conditions:

01. The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

Reason: To accord with the provisions of section 91(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

02. The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans: '6761-01', '6761-02' and '6761-03.'

Reason: For the avoidance of doubt as to the development authorised and in the interests of proper planning.

03. No works shall be carried out in relation to the construction of the external surfaces of the development hereby permitted unless particulars of materials (including the provision of samples) to be used for the external walls and roof have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: In the interests of visual amenity, in accordance with policy EQ2 of the South Somerset Local Plan (2006-2028) and the provisions of chapter 7 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

04. No development shall be carried out on site unless there has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority a scheme of landscaping, which shall include indications of all existing trees and hedgerows on the land, and details of any to be retained, together with measures for their protection in the course of the development, as well as details of any changes proposed in existing ground levels; all planting, seeding, turfing or earth moulding comprised in the approved details of landscaping shall be carried out in the first planting and seeding season after the development hereby permitted is first brought into use; and any trees or plants which within a period of five years from the completion of the development die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species, unless the Local Planning Authority gives written consent to any variation.

Reason: In the interests of visual amenity, in accordance with policy EQ2 of the South Somerset Local Plan (2006-2028) and the provisions of chapter 7 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

05. The area allocated for parking and turning on the approved plan, shall be kept clear of obstruction and shall not be used other than for parking and turning of vehicles in connection with the development hereby permitted.

Reason: In the interests of highway safety, in accordance with policies TA5 and TA6 of the South Somerset Local Plan (2006-2028) and the provisions of chapter 4 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

Informatives:

01. Please be advised that approval of this application by South Somerset District Council will attract a liability payment under the Community Infrastructure Levy. CIL is a mandatory financial charge on development and you will be notified of the amount of CIL being charged on this development in a CIL Liability Notice. You are required to complete and return Form 1 Assumption of Liability as soon as possible and to avoid additional financial penalties it is important that you notify us of the date you plan to commence development before any work takes place. Please

complete and return Form 6 Commencement Notice.

(Voting: 8 in favour, 1 abstention)

Supporting documents: