Issue - meetings

Recommendation: Conditional approval subject to legal agreement

Proposal: Full application for the erection of 5no. dwellings with double garages following removal/demolition of the existing outbuildings.

Applicant: Mr Patrick Bancroft

The Committee considered a report about this application, set out in agenda pages 39 to 114.

The Committee were advised that updates contained within the Supplementary Planning Agenda included:

·         Clarification that moderate weight was applied to the Finchampstead Neighbourhood Plan, which was now at the examination stage;

·         Clarification that the application was still acceptable when applying the tilted balance irrespective of tempering due to housing over delivery;

·         Clarification that 13 resident submissions had now been received;

·         Officer responses to issues raised by resident submissions;

·         An amendment to condition 4;

·         An amendment to condition 18;

·         Additional condition 27 in relation to archaeological work.

Roger Marshallsay, Finchampstead Parish Council, spoke in objection to the application. Roger stated that the Parish Council objected to this application, and were supportive of comments and concerns raised by Councillor Charles Margetts. Roger stated that the main concerns he would raise were that the application was not in accordance with the Finchampstead Neighbourhood Plan and was not situated in a sustainable location. Roger stated that the Supplementary Planning Agenda made comment that moderate weight should now apply to the Finchampstead Neighbourhood Plan. Roger stated that policy ADH1 in the Finchampstead Neighbourhood Plan set out criteria where development was allowed outside off the development limits, however none of the criteria were met by this application. Roger stated that an appeal relating to a previous application on the site for 25 houses resulted in the Planning Inspector commenting that they were not convinced that the site was set in a location which would encourage the use of sustainable transport methods to reduce the need for vehicular use. Roger stated that the application was contrary to policies CP1 and CP6, and asked that the application be refused.

Patrick Bancroft, applicant, spoke in support of the application. Patrick stated that the developer had been building houses in the area for 30 years, and had worked closely with officers to make sure that the application was policy compliant. Patrick noted that the officer report was satisfied that the scheme was policy compliant, and stated that a 10m landscape and wildlife buffer would be in place around the outside of the site to ensure that all trees and wildlife were protected. Patrick stated that the application met parking standards, and had sufficient turning space for emergency and refuse vehicles. Patrick added that the properties would be spread out and would therefore not present issues of overlooking. Patrick commented that the site already had existing lawful brownfield use permissions, which would be permanently removed should this application be approved. Patrick stated that the site could only be glimpsed at from outside of the development, whilst the application would contribute to housing numbers as the Council could not currently demonstrate a five-year housing land supply. Patrick stated that there were no planning grounds to refuse the application, and asked that the Committee approve  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69