Agenda item

The Chairman introduced the first application of the meeting, application number 145568, for the erection of 2 dwellings, construction of an access road and change of use of agricultural land to a paddock. This application had been referred to the Committee following objections from third parties on balanced planning matters.

The Planning Officer gave an update to the published report.  An objection letter from four neighbours had been retracted following positive talks with the landowner and following the amendments that had been made to the application which they believed met their initial concerns.

However, West View on Private Lane still had an objection to the requirement from Lincolnshire County Council for the extension of the footway along Private Lane.  They believed that the number of pedestrian movements down Private Lane was insignificant and that it was not needed on highway safety grounds and also from a visual amenity point of view.  They believed that a tarmac footpath would have a negative impact on the street scene, a grass verge currently existed.  The Planning Officer then gave a brief history of the site and outlined the proposals as referred to in the application.

The Chairman then invited Mr Andrew Clover, agent for the applicants, to address the Committee:-

“Thank you very much and good evening.  Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak in support of this application but before I get into my speech, I just wanted to point out that there are actually some 3D visuals of the properties on the application which if you've had the opportunity to see, may explain the design a little bit more easily than the elevations.

This application is before you today, as a joint objection was submitted by 4 local residents on the 2nd of January.  As you have heard, following these objections my clients, have taken time to discuss the application with each of the residents to explain the proposal and to alleviate their concerns. Consequently, on Monday of this week three of the objections were fully retracted and the fourth partially retracted.  The partial retraction is from West View, the property adjacent the proposed access point off Private Lane.  

These residents have no objections to the proposed dwellings or the proposed access route.  Their only remaining objection relates to the Lincolnshire County Council request for the roadside footpath to be extended approximately 20 metres in front of their property up to the site entrance.   The applicant understands why West View feel this is unnecessary and are of a similar opinion. However, as the request was made by Highways and supported by the Planning Officer, it was agreed to add this to the scheme.

If the objections had been retracted earlier, I'm sure this application would not have been before you today and would have been approved under delegated powers.  The applicant obtained pre-application advice prior to instructing us to prepare the scheme. The advice provided by officers has been followed and any subsequent requests for changes or further information has been acted upon and incorporated into the scheme. As a result of these proactive discussions, concerning which I must pass my sincere thanks to Richard Green, the application process has been relatively straightforward and has resulted in the proposal being recommended for approval. I therefore respectfully ask that you set this recommendation.”

The Chairman thanked Mr Clover for his statement and opened the application to formal debate.

Councillor Summers considered that the design of the proposed dwellings fitted in with the character of the area and that they were reasonable in terms of size and design.  This view was echoed by a number of other Members of the Committee.

A Member raised a query about the proposed usage of the paddock. The Development Management Officer clarified that the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan excluded paddocks from being considered as part of the developed footprint.

Having been proposed and seconded, the Chairman put the application to the vote and it was agreed unanimously that planning permission should be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:-

Conditions stating the time by which the development must be commenced: 

1.             The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

Reason: To conform with Section 91 (1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended).

Conditions which apply or require matters to be agreed before the development commenced: 

None. 

Conditions which apply or are to be observed during the course of the development:

2.              With the exception of the detailed matters referred to by the conditions of this consent, the development hereby approved shall be carried out in accordance with the following drawings: 30922-105 dated 11/02/2022, 30922106 dated 11/02/2022, 30922-107 dated 11/02/2022, 30922-103 A dated 19/01/2023, 30922-101 A dated 19/01/2023 and 30922-104_REV C dated 19/01/2023. The works shall be carried out in accordance with the details shown on the approved plans and in any other approved documents forming part of the application. 

Reason: To ensure the development proceeds in accordance with the approved plans in the interests of proper planning.

3.             The development hereby permitted shall not be occupied before a footway to match the existing width, to connect the development to the existing footway network, has been provided in accordance with details that shall first have been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority. The works shall also include appropriate arrangements for the management of surface water run-off from the highway.

Reason: To ensure the provision of safe and adequate pedestrian access to the permitted development, without increasing flood risk to the highway and adjacent land and property in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework and Policies LP13 and LP14 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan.

4.             No development, other than to foundations level, shall take place until a scheme for the disposal of foul and surface waters (including the results of soakaway/percolation tests) have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall only be carried out in accordance with the approved details and completed prior to occupation of the dwelling it serves.

Reason: To ensure adequate drainage facilities are provided to serve the development in accordance with Policy LP14 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan.

5.             No development, other than to foundations level shall take place until the proposed new walling, roofing, windows, doors and other external materials have been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The development shall thereafter be constructed in accordance with the approved details. The details submitted shall include; the proposed colour finish, rainwater goods and type of pointing to be used.

Reason: To ensure the use of appropriate materials to safeguard the character and appearance of the locality in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework and Policies LP17 and LP26 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan.

6.             New hardstanding shall be constructed from a porous material or shall be appropriately drained within the site and shall be retained as such thereafter.

Reason: To ensure appropriate drainage to accord with the National Planning Policy Framework and Policy LP14 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan.

7.             No development, other than to foundations level shall take place until, a scheme of landscaping including details of the size, species and position or density of any trees and hedging to be planted and boundary treatments (including boundaries within the site) and hardstanding have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall only be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

Reason: To ensure the site is visually softened by appropriate methods and to enable any such proposals to be assessed in terms of their impact on the locality in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework and Policies LP17 and LP26 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan.

Conditions which apply or relate to matters which are to be observed following completion of the development:

8.             All planting and turfing approved in the scheme of landscaping under condition 7 shall be carried out in the first planting and seeding season following the completion of the development, whichever is the sooner; and any trees or hedging which within a period of 5 years from the completion of the development die, are removed, or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species, unless the Local Planning Authority gives written consent to any variation. The landscaping should be retained thereafter.

Reason: To ensure the site is visually softened by appropriate methods and to enable any such proposals to be assessed in terms of their impact on the locality in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework and Policies LP17 and LP26 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan.