Issue - meetings

To consider application for the erection of first floor extension with two storey extension to the NE and SW elevations and formation of new vehicular access.

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

The Committee were addressed by a representative of the parish council.  Their comments included:

·         Replacing an old bungalow with a modern house was overdevelopment.

·         The first-floor large, glazed windows were out of character and the dwelling would have a detrimental impact in terms of visual amenity.

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

·         It was a larger than average plot and the proposal has the same footprint as the original bungalow.

·         By accommodating the first-floor bedrooms within the roof space they had managed to reduce the Ridge height to below the roofline of the neighbouring red brick house and only 1.8 metres higher than the neighbouring bungalow to ensure that it was not overbearing or resulted in the loss of daylight to the neighbouring properties.

During discussion, Members commented that whilst the village had a diverse range of dwellings the large gable feature on the front, in blue lias, was not in keeping.

A proposal was made, and seconded, that the application be approved subject to the gable being in red brick. On being put to the vote the proposal was lost by 6 votes in favour, 7 against.

Members then discussed what their main concerns were and agreed that it was purely the visual appearance of the front elevation and dominance of the gable feature.

It was then proposed by Cllr Murphy and seconded by Cllr Bradford that the application be deferred in order for officers and the agent to negotiate and continue with this application. On being put to the vote the proposal was unanimously carried.

Resolved

To defer the application.

The Committee then adjourned for a 15 minute comfort break.