Agenda item

To consider the report of the Head of Planning Services.

 

(Report circulated)

Councillor Choules declared a personal interest as he lives in the vicinity.

 

The Head of Planning Services presented the application for redevelopment to provide 10 dwellings and garages, parking, access to highway and associated works at 4-6 Countess Wear Road.

 

This site already had planning approval for 10 dwellings in 2 terraces of 5, and this application was for the provision of dormer windows to replace rooflights in the rear of the properties to serve a bedroom.

 

21 representations had been received but only 2 of these related to the overlooking and visual impact of the proposed dormer windows.

 

Members’ attention was drawn to the fact that the submitted drawings included 2 roof lights on the rear of each property in addition to the dormer windows. These roof lights would serve a landing and en-suite to one of the top floor rooms. These roof lights were considered visually acceptable and would not lead to any significant overlooking of adjoining properties.

 

A further letter of objection had been received referring to the implications of the development in terms of additional pressure on existing on-street parking facilities, particularly in terms of impact on the continued functioning of the Church.

 

The recommendation was for approval subject to conditions.

 

Councillor Sheldon having given notice under Standing Order no. 44 spoke on this item. He raised the following points:-

• was representing local residents
• the plans on the internet of the previous approval were not correct as they gave the impression that the level of parking would be greater
• the proposed dormer windows would cause overlooking
• the developer was not adhering to the “hours of construction” condition and was starting at 7.30am.

 

Mr Daurge spoke in opposition to the application. He raised the following points:-

• 500 residents were affected by this development
• the issues were the dormer windows, the design and the effect the development would have on on-road parking in the area
• there were changes to the parking and Devon County Council had not been consulted
• the dormer windows would cause overlooking to the gardens and living accommodation to the properties to the rear
• there was a lack of retaining structure on the boundary which was causing water to cascade down on the properties in Mill Road
• the original scheme was for 5 bungalows
• this proposal was considerably higher than the surrounding development.

 

Mr Turner (agent) spoke in support of this application. He raised the following points:-

• representing the developer
• had to make a new application although the only amendment to the proposal was for the dormer windows in the rear and the 2 rooflights
• had written to all the neighbours to inform them of the change
• there was a considerable distance between the dormer windows and the  properties to the rear of the development
• understood that the hours of construction condition must be adhered to
• this proposal would enhance one room within the dwellings
• the proposed skylights would provide additional light
• asked the Committee to support the application.

 

A Member stated that he felt that this proposal would create greater amenity space within the dwellings.

 

RESOLVED that planning permission for redevelopment to provide 10 dwellings and garages, parking, access to highway and associated works be approved subject to the following conditions:

 

1)         C05  -  Time Limit – Commencement

 

2)         C15  -  Compliance with Drawings

 

3)         C17  -  Submission of Materials

 

4)         C35  -  Landscape Scheme

 

5)         C37  -  Replacement Planting

 

6)         C23  -  Permitted Development Restriction

 

7)         C12  -  Drainage Details

 

8)         C57  -  Archaeological Recording

 

9)         C70  -  Contaminated Land

 

10)       No part of the development hereby approved shall be occupied until the access to Countess Wear Road, off-street parking facilities, access courtyard and visibility splays have been provided in accordance with the requirements of this permission and retained for those purposes at all times unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: To ensure that adequate facilities are available for the traffic attracted to the site

 

11)       The development hereby approved shall be constructed in accordance with detailed drawings, which shall previously have been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority, showing the datum level at which it is to be constructed in relation to an agreed fixed point or O.S. datum

Reason: To ensure that the development is constructed at levels appropriate to the surroundings in terms of visual impact and relationship to adjoining properties.

 

12)       The development hereby approved shall not be commenced until details of all proposed boundary walls and fences have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The dwellings shall not be occupied until these have been provided in accordance with the approved details.

Reason: In the interests of the amenities of the area.

 

13)       The development hereby approved shall not commence until sections and elevations to a scale of not less than 1:20, indicating the following details, have been submitted to and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority:

(i)rain water goods;

                        (ii) eaves overhang;

                        (iii) reveals to window/door openings;

                        (iv) glazing bars and window frames.

The buildings shall not be occupied until it has been completed in accordance with these details. The above-mentioned details will be expected to show sash opening windows.

Reason: To ensure that the architectural detailing of the development is completed to an appropriate standard.

 

14)       Notwithstanding condition no 2, no work shall commence on site under this permission until full details of the following have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and the following shall thereafter be provided in accordance with such details:

a) hours of operation of construction works,

b) site compound and,

c) railings.

Reason: Insufficient information has been submitted with the application and in the interests of visual amenity.

 

15)       No part of the development hereby approved shall be occupied until the access, visibility splays and frontage footway have been provided in accordance with details that shall previously have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and retained for those purposes at all times.

Reason: To ensure that adequate facilities are available for traffic attracted to the site.

 

16)       Notwithstanding condition No. 2 no work shall commence on site under this permission until visibility splays have been provided and laid out at the site access to Countess Wear Road in accordance with the attached Diagram C where the visibility splays provide intervisibility between any point on the X and Y axes at a height of 0.6 metres above the adjacent carriage way level and the distance back from the nearer edge of the carriage way of the public highway (identified as X) shall be 2.4 metres and the visibility distances along the nearer edge of the carriage way of the public highway (identified as Y) shall be 60 metres in both directions.

Reason: To provide adequate visibility from and of emerging vehicles.

 

17)       The existing accesses shall be effectively and permanently closed in accordance with details that shall previously have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority as soon as the new access is capable of use.

Reason: To prevent the use of substandard accesses and to minimize the number of accesses onto the public highway.

 

18)       H03 - Highways – Drainage

 

19)       No other part of the development hereby approved shall be commenced until adequate areas shall have been made available within the site to accommodate operatives’ vehicles, construction plant and materials during the construction period in accordance with details that shall previously have been submitted to, agreed and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: In the interests of public safety and to avoid obstruction of and damage to the adjoining highway.

 

(Report circulated)