Agenda item

F/2015/0770 - The Lodge, North Court, The Ridges, Finchampstead

Recommendation: Conditional Approval.

Minutes:

Proposal: Proposed erection of 4-bedroom dwelling with associated parking, access following demolition of existing dwelling.

 

Applicant:Ms Rebecca Stead

 

The Committee received and reviewed a report about this application, set out in Agenda pages 127 to 164.

 

The Committee was advised that the Members’ Update included:

·       clarification of the volume and floor space of the original, extant permission and proposed building;

·       clarification of the number of parking spaces;

·       comments from the Parish Council and the public;

·       recommended amendments to condition 1;

·       a recommended addition of a new condition 10.

 

It was noted that Members visited the site on 6 November 2015 to view the site in the context of the wider area and countryside setting.

 

Frances Jones spoke in objection to the application and presented a photograph which she said indicated that the height of the original building was 4.5m - 1.3m lower than the proposed height. She believed that this increase exceeded guidelines.

 

Jim Bailey, Agent, spoke in favour of the application.  He said that they could not proceed with the previous approved plans because a wall had collapsed.  He believed that the new application involved an identical design.

 

Roger Marshallsay, representing Finchampstead Parish Council, spoke in objection to the application.  He referred to a covenant that restricted height to 15ft and believed that this suggested that the height of the original building was 15ft (4.57m).

 

Members discussed the disputed height and asked about the quality of the original plans on which the previous application had been based.  The Planning Officers said that there is a dispute about the height of the original dwelling and whether the building now proposed is of greater height. This cannot be resolved as the building is no longer in existence. However, it is believed that the previous plans were sufficient to gauge the size of the extension proposed. The current plans are satisfactory to determine the current proposal and members must consider if the application is acceptable on the basis of what is before them.

 

Clare Lawrence, Head of Development Management and Regulatory Services, said that the fact that the Committee had previously approved a similar design meant that if they refused this application, it would likely be overturned on appeal.

 

RESOLVED: That application no. F/2015/0770 be approved, subject to the conditions set out on Agenda pages 128 to 130 with condition 1 amended and a new condition 10 as set out in the Members’ Update.

Supporting documents: