Issue - meetings

The Development Management Team Leader summarised his report to the meeting, including the relevant planning history of the site.

The Chair invited Mr Barry Sheddon to address the meeting. 

Mr Sheddon expressed concern about the application pointing out apparent discrepancies in the way the drawings were scaled and that buildings now appeared to be higher than the initial plans indicated.  This raised concern that existing properties would be overlooked, leading to a loss of their privacy.  He added that this issue might be addressed by removal of certain windows and the addition of a privacy screen. 

He also expressed that the proposed planting scheme was inadequate. 

The Chair summed up Mr Sheddon’s submission as being about three issues, discrepancies in the drawings, overlooking causing a loss of privacy and inadequate planting.  He invited the Development Management Team Leader to respond to those points, who stated that he had scaled the drawings differently at 4.25 metres height, with the ridge at 4.6 metres.  This was extremely close to heights contained in the approved application.

As regards the overlooking, the building was 0.9 metres from the boundary, which was the minimum required to enable the dwelling to be constructed so any discrepancy with the approved drawing would be very minor. This would have impact on overlooking. 

The planting had already been approved, so this was not an issue that should be re-visited at this meeting. 

The Chair then invited the agent for the applicant, Mr Rob Marsh-Feiley, of Hollins Architects to address the meeting. 

He gave a short presentation pointing out that this was a variation from a previously approved application and the changes were in line with earlier recommendations.

The Chair invited questions from the members. 

There was general support for the application with just one comment seeking clarification about the issue around overlooking of neighbouring properties. 

The Chair pointed out that the height of the building was what had been previously agreed and invited the Development Management Team Leader to respond. 

The Development Management Team Leader commented that whilst it might well be possible to see into the neighbouring gardens from the balconies, these remained unchanged from the previously approved application and it was not for this meeting to reconsider that, but to comment on the proposed changes.  He added that he was satisfied the roof height had been reduced as had been requested.

The Chair then invited the Head of Development Management to deliver his decision.  He commented that in making his decision he had taken into account the views of all those who had spoken, but that the issue here was the potential impacts arising from the changes from those associated with the previously approved application. These were not considered to be significant so the application, and subject to the conditions contained in the officer’s report, should be approved. 

DECISION –

Grant planning permission subject to the following conditions:        

Conditions

1.         The development to which this permission relates shall be begun before 28^th March  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66