Agenda item

Demolish Barn B and erection of 4 x 1-bed residential dwellings.

That planning application 2023/2304/FUL  be APPROVED in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation.

Votes – 9 in favour and 1 abstention

Demolish Barn B and erection of 4 x 1-bed residential dwellings.

The Officer’s Report stated that this application was for a new residential development outside of settlement limits. The officer recommendation was for approval and, therefore, in accordance with the scheme of delegation the application was referred to Planning Committee as a departure from the local plan.

The application sought full planning permission to demolish the barn and to erect 4 one-bed dwellings.

In summary, the Planning Officer stated that whilst the site was located outside the settlement limits it had the benefit of an extant approval to form four dwellings under LPA case ref: 2022/1619/PAA. The height, scale and massing of the proposed new dwellings was reflective of the approved scheme. The new build development was considered acceptable and raised no new amenity, highway or ecological impact issues over and above the scheme already approved. The application scheme had not identified any demonstrable harm and, given the fallback position, the proposals were considered to be acceptable as a departure from the development plan. The application was therefore recommended for approval.

The Planning Officer explained the application to the Committee with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation.

The Chair then read out a statement from an objector to the application. In it he made the following comments:

• If approved, the site will have developed from a single farmhouse to a hamlet of 8 dwellings in 15 years.
• The proposed access and refuse bin collection point on Ham Street will greatly affect his property.
• The speed and volume of traffic on Ham Street is greater than the alternative access point onto Tilham Street.
• It would make more sense for the domestic waste storage to be at the Tilham Street access point rather than Ham Street as it is much closer to the proposed development.
• The development would cause noise and pollution which would impact the amenity of his property.

Next to speak was the agent. He made the following points:

• The proposal would provide 4 sustainable, low energy dwellings.
• Conversion had been carefully considered but it was felt that a new build would provide greater benefits in terms of energy performance and a lower lifetime carbon footprint.
• The existing steel frame is over-engineered for a single storey building and would be recycled. Renewable timber framing would be used instead.
• As the principle for 4 new dwellings had already been granted, there were no reasons for refusal that could not be addressed by the fallback position.
• Somerset Council Waste Services had raised no concerns.

In the discussion which followed Members noted:

• The application site was outside the development limits.
• Somerset Council Waste Services had recommended a storage area be provided near the roadside on Ham Street to prevent blocking the entrance and visibility to the highway.
• Ham Street is a wider road than Tilham Lane and would be a better access point for the site.

In response to questions raised, the Planning Officer advised that it had been agreed with the applicant that a bin store would be provided at the Ham Street access point.

At the conclusion of the debate, it was proposed by Councillor Edric Hobbs and seconded by Councillor Shane Collins to approve the application in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation.

On being put to the vote the proposal was carried with 9 votes in favour and 1 abstention.

RESOLVED

That planning application 2023/2304/FUL  be APPROVED in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation.

Votes – 9 in favour and 1 abstention