Erection of open market dwelling (amended size, scale, siting and design) (amended description & plans). Report by the Senior Planning Officer (attached).

The Committee considered a report by the Senior Planning Officer (SE) (circulated previously) regarding planning application 76857.

Graham Townsend (Planning agent – supporter), Oliver Perrin (objector), James Bradley (objector), Jemma Grigg (applicant) and Matt Steart (agent) addressed the Committee.

The Senior Corporate and Community Services Officer read a statement on behalf of Liz Lillicrap (objector) to the Committee.

In response to comments made, the Service Manager (Development Management) advised the following:

·       In accordance with section 36 of the Planning Act, all planning applications  should be determined in accordance with the Planning Acts and also in accordance with the development Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

·       An interpretation of principal built form relating to Patchole was referenced in the Planning Inspectorate Appeal decision of 2022.

·       The principle consideration in relation to this application was the tenure of development and whether the site was within the principal built form or well related to the settlement.

·       The Planning Policy Officer, who had been involved in the preparation of the Local Plan, was present at the meeting, to answer any questions in relation to the interpretation of the principal built form.

·       If the Committee were minded to approve the application, there was a need to evidence the reasons for going against the officer recommendation.

In response to questions from the Committee, the Service Manager (Development Management) advised the following:

·       The National Design Guide was a material consideration and was required to be considered as part of the balance of weighting of the whole application. 

·       In accordance with Planning law, all applications were required to be determined in accordance with the Development Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.  The Development Plan was sound as it had been tested.

·       The interpretation of policy for each settlement under Policy DM23  would be different depending on the physical circumstances of the particular settlement.

·       Approval of this application could set a precedent although future applications would be determined on their merits and facts.

·       The Planning Inspectorate Appeal decision of 2022 sets out a view as to where the principal built form is located in Patchhole.

·       In accordance with Policy DM23 of the Local Plan, defining the principal built form of a settlement would be a question of application of the accepted principle based on the physical layout of the settlement and its relationship to a development site.

·       There was a housing crisis and officers consider that this site should support the provision of affordable housing as it wasn’t considered to be part of the principal built form but could be considered to be well related to the settlement.

·       It was considered that the property located at the North East was outside of the built form.

In response to questions from the Committee, the Senior Planning Officer (SE) advised the following:

·       The ownership and use of the land adjacent to the listed barns was unknown to Officers at the time of the Committee meeting. The curtilage of the site was a separate matter.  In his opinion, the area referred to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76

Erection of open market dwelling (amended size, scale, siting and design) (amended description & plans). Report by the Senior Planning Officer (attached).

The Committee considered a report by the Senior Planning Officer (SE) (circulated previously) regarding planning application 76857.

RESOLVED (unanimous) that the application be DEFERRED for a minimum of one committee cycle to allow for the consultation period to expire as recommended by the Senior Planning Officer (SE).