The Chair introduced the item to the committee and invited the Development Management Team Leader to present his report. 

The Development Management Team Leader summarised the report for the committee and referred to the update sheet and a revised drawing that had been received. The Chair invited Ms. Angela Banderas to address the committee. 

Ms. Banderas explained that from the outset, the application had caused confusion amongst local residents by the change of address to 250 St Albans Road, when in fact the address was, to all practical extents, in Cromer Road.  She added that the road was very tight on space and further obstructed by bins from the nearby shops.  Ms. Banderas also complained that the people responsible for the application had left a car in Cromer Road for five months, in a road that was already over-crowded and this application would result in increased parking congestion. 

Ms. Banderas then dealt with her concerns over the proposed building and stated that she felt the garage was too small to hold a vehicle, the windows overlooked her property and also the Balmoral Road property to the rear.  She added that the dormers and higher roofline would block her light.  She added that the property was never used as a workshop and that the workshop building was used merely as a cynical stepping stone to the current application. 

Ms. Banderas concluded by imploring the committee to refuse the application as it was causing considerable upset to her and the other local residents.

The Chair thanked her for her comments, summed up the salient planning points of the submission and asked the Development Management Team Leader to address the four main planning issues raised. 

The Development Management Team Leader addressed the points:

1.     The confusing change of address – any change of address would require an application to the Post Office and the council, but accepted that it may well end up as a Cromer Road address.  The application referred to where the land was sited. 

2.     Bins obstructing the road - it was not possible for planning to control where bins were left by other properties.  But the application detailed both bin and cycle storage. 

3.     Parking issues- the proposal had an integrated garage and the garden area to one side of the property could hold a further vehicle if required.  Thus the application was in accordance with the maximum parking standards for a two-bedroom dwelling. 

4.     Overlooking- the dormer windows were to the front of the property, facing directly down the turning head.  Thus, the Balmoral Road property to the rear was not overlooked at all, nor were properties in Cromer Road as the dormer windows faced directly down the turning head.  Accordingly, the size and positioning of the windows was considered acceptable.

The Chair invited Councillor Ian Stotesbury, Ward Councillor for Callowland, to address the committee. 

Councillor Stotesbury thanked Ms. Banderas for her comments and confirmed that the application had caused confusion amongst the residents and generated strong  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4