Agenda item

Recommendation: Conditional approval

Proposal: Householder application for the proposed single storey side/rear extension including conversion of existing garage to additional habitable accommodation, and insertion of 4no. rooflights, internal alterations and changes to fenestration (part-retrospective).

Applicant: Mr Muhammad Dawood

The Committee received and reviewed a report about this application, set out in agenda pages 189 to 208.

The Committee were advised that the Members’ Update included:

·           Clarification that a condition requiring the implementation of the proposed parking was inadvertently omitted from the recommendation. However, there was space for 3 vehicles on the existing driveway and it was therefore not considered necessary to condition this. For clarity, the condition requiring the proposed paving to be permeable was retained;

·           Additional neighbour comments and Officer notes;

·           Additional comments from Earley Town Council and Officer notes.

Muhammad Khan, applicant, spoke in support of the application. Muhammad stated that he had no objections to any of the conditions as set out within the report and would abide by them fully. Muhammad demonstrated a new plan, which had not been formally submitted to Officers beforehand. This demonstrated a reduction in the proposed hard standing in the front garden. Muhammad stated that now only 60 percent of the front garden would be paved, with 40 percent of the garden retained as a grass surface.

Caroline Smith, Ward Member, spoke in objection to the application. Caroline stated that the proposals were out of keeping with the character and appearance of the area. Caroline added that should the Committee be minded to approve the proposals, that the flat roof could not be used as a balcony without prior approval and requested that the fence be reinstalled. Caroline requested that a hard and soft landscaping scheme and a sustainable drainage scheme be provided as part of the application.

Simon Weeks queried whether any new balustrading could be added to the proposed site. Stefan Fludger, Case Officer, stated that it was conditioned to ensure that no new balustrading could be installed. Stefan added that it was possible to pave the entire front garden under permitted development rights, however it was not a requirement under the planning permission for all of the front garden to be paved.

The were some queries from Members regarding a new set of plans shown on the evening by the applicant which only proposed to pave over 60 percent of the garden. Marcia Head, Development Management Team Leader, stated that the Committee had to approve the plans as set out within the report. Marcia added that the grass area had already been retained and the applicant would be in breach of the approved plans should they alter this without permission at a later date. Simon weeks suggested that the applicant could submit a non-material planning application to alter the percentage split of hard paving and grass area to the front of the property should the application be approved.

Simon Weeks commented that the applicant could work with Officers to ensure that parking was not permanently occupied, for example by a caravan, therefore retaining the 3 parking spaces as required.

Andrew Mickleburgh stated that there had been a considerable improvement with the application before the Committee compared to previous iterations. Andrew added that despite this, not all of the Town Council’s concerns had been addressed. Andrew requested that a condition be implemented to ensure that the parking spaces not be permanently occupied and that a sustainable drainage condition be added due to the slope of the site. Stefan Fludger confirmed that condition 6 addressed the sustainable drainage concerns raised.

RESOLVED That application 191879 be approved, subject to conditions and informatives as set out in agenda pages 189 to 191 and clarifications as set out within the Members’ Update.