Decision details

The Planning Officer introduced the application to the Committee with the assistance of a slide presentation.

The Committee were addressed by a resident in opposition to the application. Their comments included: -

·         The gap between her property and the fence appeared quite wide in the plans but was in fact about 4 foot at its widest reducing down to only 2 feet at the narrowest.

·         The proposed properties were very close the boundary fence and would cause overshadowing.

The Committee were addressed by the Agent. Their comments included:

·         It accorded with all relevant planning policies and the site fell within the established development boundary for the village.

·         It could clearly be seen from the indicative plan that two 3 bedroom properties with good levels of amenity space and sufficient parking could be accommodated on the site.

·         Any concerns could be addressed at the reserved matters stage.

In response to questions from Members, the Planning Officer advised that the application was for up to two dwellings.

The Committee, whilst understanding the neighbour’s concerns, acknowledged that it was only an outline application and that issues such as loss of light and distances from the boundary would be considered at the reserved matters stage. Consequently, it was proposed by Cllr Filmer and seconded by Cllr Slocombe that the application be approved subject to the conditions in the Planning Officer’s recommendation outlined in the report. On being put to the vote the proposal was carried unanimously.

Resolved

To Grant Permission subject to the following conditions:-

1.     Approval of the details of the 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.

Plans and particulars of the reserved matters referred to above, relating to the access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale, shall be submitted in writing to the local planning authority and shall be carried out as approved.

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.

The development hereby permitted shall be begun either before the expiration of [five] years from the date of this permission, or before the expiration of [two] years from the date of approval of the last of the reserved matters to be approved, whichever is the later.

Reasons: The application was submitted as an outline application in accordance with the provisions of Article 5(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) Order 2015. In accordance with the provisions of Section 92 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1990 (As amended by Section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004).

2.    The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the approved plans listed in schedule A.

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

3.    As part of the reserved matters application a programme of biodiversity mitigation and enhancement measures will be submitted for approval. The approved scheme shall be installed in full prior to the first occupation of the dwelling hereby approved. Once installed, the biodiversity enhancements shall thereafter be retained.

Reason: In the interests of biodiversity net gain in accordance with Sedgemoor Local Plan 2011-2032 Policy D20.

4.    Prior to the first occupation of the development hereby permitted, a lighting design shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The strategy shall show how and where external lighting will be installed (with the provision technical specifications and operation) so that it can be clearly demonstrated that external lighting will be limited to the application site only. All external lighting shall be installed in accordance with the specifications and locations set out in the design, and these shall be maintained thereafter in accordance with the design. No external lighting other than those approved shall be installed without the prior written consent from the local planning authority.

Reason: To prevent light pollution and unacceptable impacts to neighbouring residential dwellings and in accordance with policies D24 and D25 Sedgemoor Local Plan 2011-2032.

5.    If, during the works contamination is encountered which has not previously been identified, then the contamination shall be fully assessed and an appropriate remediation scheme shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.

Reason: To protect the health of future occupiers of the site from any possible effects of contaminated land and in accordance with policy D24 Sedgemoor Local Plan 2011-2032.

Schedule A

Location Plan Drg No. 00126-23-01B

Cllr A Bradford left the meeting.