Agenda item
24/03177/FUL Land South of the Paddocks
Minutes:
James Nelson, Principal Planner presented the application for the erection of a single detached dwelling and associated works (amended plans).
The principal planner’s presentation addressed the following points:
- The application had been deferred from the last Sub-Committee for more information relating to foul water.
- The application was brought before the Sub-Committee due to objections from the Parish Council.
- The principal planner drew the Sub-Committee’s attention to the additional representations report and the amended plans that had been submitted during the application process which re-sited the dwelling.
- The proposed site was located at the southern edge of the village with access off Bull Street onto the residential close, The Paddocks.
- The site was in the Aston Conservation area with open countryside to the south and west of the site.
- The proposed two storey dwelling would be built in the centre of the site with a garage using local materials.
Tony Pascoe spoke in objection to the application which raised the following points: the application was not supported by the Parish Council, the development would put stress on the infrastructure, particularly the sewage system, the dwelling was not in character with the rest of the Paddocks and the Southwestern building line protected the boundary of the village. The access route from Bull Street and between resident’s dwellings would be under stress with the proposed dwelling.
Clive Mitchell, the applicant raised the following points: The sewage problem was an immotive subject as was drainage water, however the drainage officer had not objected to the application. The applicant would consider an independent sewage treatment system. The Council could not demonstrate a 5 year housing land supply and the tilted balance applied as per the officer’s recommendations in the report.
Members asked the applicant if they would be willing to have a separate sewage treatment system if it was added as a condition, the applicant agreed that they would. Members raised concerns that this would increase traffic to the site, the applicant confirmed that a risk assessment had not been done however on an average of 15 households a tank would be emptied twice a year.
The Principal Planner’s presentation addressed the following points:
- The proposed development was a residential house and complied with policy H2 of the Local Plan. The proposed dwelling was formed a logical compliment to the existing houses on the site of the Paddocks.
- The proposed dwelling would be slightly lower in height in comparison to neighbouring dwellings. The design would be of a compact footprint built with local materials and in keeping with existing dwellings.
- The amended plans have re-sited the proposed dwelling resulting in the no adverse impacts on numbers 3 and 5 The Paddocks and would not result in overlooking or loss of light.
- The site lay in flood zone 1. There was no comment from Thames Water or objections from the drainage officer.
- The Highways Authority had been consulted, and no objections were raised to the application subject to conditions that parking and turning facilities were provided on the site.
- The recommendation was to approve the application subject to the conditions set out in the officer’s report.
The Chair invited the Sub-Committee to discuss the application which raised the following points:
- Members were concerned there were no comments from Thames Water and no Environment Agency (EA) report. The Principal Planner explained that the scale of the proposed site and dwelling did not identify a meaningful impact on the sewage system. The EA were not statutory consultees.
- The members highlighted the concern that the proposed dwelling would extend the village pushing the boundary southwards. This would encourage over development. The Principal Planner confirmed the site was contained well and adjacent to the neighbouring property not extending out into the open countryside.
Councillor Steve Cosier proposed the Sub-Committee refuse the application against officer recommendations. This was seconded by Councillor Dan Levy and put to the vote.
Voting Record – 4 For, 5 Against, 3 Abstentions – the vote fell.
The Chair proposed the Sub-Committee approve the application as per officer recommendations with 1. additional condition to require foul water to be disposed by septic tank, 2. to add an informative to suggest that the Committee did not see the use of septic tanks as an appropriate long term solution. This was seconded by Councillor Alistair Wray and put to the vote.
Voting Record – 7 for, 4 against, 2 abstentions.
The Sub-Committee Resolved to:
- Approve the application as per officer recommendations with additional condition to require foul water to be disposed by septic tank.
- Add an informative to suggest that the Committee did not see the use of septic tanks as an appropriate long term solution.