Agenda item

Application Proposal: Outline application for the erection of a retirement bungalow with a new vehicular access onto Whitechurch Lane

The Planning Officer presented his report to members with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation. He informed members that a late letter of objection had been received from a local resident who had concerns over the access to the site.

He advised members that the application site was within the rural hamlet of Whitechurch and recommended that the application be refused.

Mr N Ball, who urgently had to leave the meeting before discussion of the item, left a short summary of his comments with the Chairman before he left, which were read out.  His comments included;

·         The applicant has enjoyed the view from Park House for many years and now seeks to deprive the villagers of this view.

·         Inappropriate rural location.

·         Will set a precedent for the adjoining paddock

Mr J Allen and Mr J Dyer spoke in objection to the application. Their comments included;

·         This is not an advantage for the village

·         A precedent could be set by allowing this application

·         Other land is available within the village

·         Concern raised over the consultation process

Mrs A Barton, Mrs Courtenay and Mrs E Archer spoke in support of the application. Their comments included;

·         The site is a small open site and is in the centre of the hamlet

·         The site is opposite a farm building and if the bungalow is built suitably to match, it would fit into the area.

·         It is not relevant that a view could be lost.

·         Applicant has resided in the village for a long time and wants to remain in the village that is familiar to her.

·         If designed correctly, the bungalow could be an advantage to the village.

·         This application is not for an offensive dwelling.

Mrs D Heath, the applicant, addressed the Committee. She advised members that she wished to remain in the village that she knows, alongside her close circle of friends. She pointed out that this was a small site and the dwelling would be single storey.

Mr M Williams, the planning agent, addressed the Committee. He advised members that the SSDC Local Plan supports downsize retirement bungalows and that the Parish Council had offered support to the proposal. He further advised that the single storey bungalow will relate well to existing properties and received no objections from Somerset County Highways.

Councillor Tim Inglefield, Ward Member, advised that Henstridge Parish Council offered support to the application.

Councillor William Wallace, also Ward Member, offered his support to the application and suggested that there were good reasons to grant approval. 

During discussion of the item, it was suggested that a condition to ensure that the bungalow could only be used by the applicant or as a retirement bungalow could be included. However, the Legal Services Manager suggested that this restriction would be unsuitable.

Following the discussion, it was proposed and seconded that the application be approved, contrary to the officer recommendation, subject to conditions to restrict the time limit for implementation and for submission of the reserved matters application, list the approved plans and confirm visibility splay requirements and to ensure that the dwelling is single storey only.

On being put to the vote, this was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED:  that planning permission 16/02976/OUT be approved, contrary to the officer recommendation for the following reason, subject to the following conditions;

01.          The proposal constitutes an acceptable form of development of an infill site in a sustainable location that would meet a local need without detriment to visual or residential amenity or highways safety. As such the proposal complies with policies SS2, EQ2 and TA5 of the South Somerset Local Plan 2006-2028 and the policies contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS;

01.       Approval of access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale (hereinafter called 'the reserved matters') shall be obtained from the Local Planning Authority in writing before any development is commenced.

            Reason:  To accord with the provisions of Article 3 of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 2015.

02.       Application for approval of the reserved matters shall be made to the Local Planning Authority before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

            Reason: As required by Section 92(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

03.       The development hereby permitted shall be begun, not later than the expiration of two years from the final approval of the reserved matters or, in the case of approval on different dates, the final approval of the last such matter to be approved.

            Reason: In accordance with the provisions of S92 (2) Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended by S51 (2) Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004)

04.       The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans: 16115-1 RevA received 1 July 2016.

            Reason: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

05.       The dwelling hereby approved shall be single storey only.

            Reason: In the interests of meeting local need and character and appearance further to Policy EQ2 of the South Somerset Local Plan 2006- 2028.

06.       Visibility splays shall be provided on the basis of no obstruction over 43 metres in either direction measured from a point 2.4m back from the highway edge centred on the proposed access point.

            Reason: In the interests of highway safety further to Policy TA5 of the South Somerset Local Plan 2006- 2028.

(Voting: Unanimous)