Agenda and minutes

The Chairman advised that the following matters had been withdrawn from the Agenda:

·                          3/13/0804/OP – Land at Bishop’s Stortford North – Application by Bishop’s Stortford North Consortium and Landowners; and

·                          Planning Statistics.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on Wednesday 12 March 2014.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 March 2014 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Recommended for Approval.

Mr Meyer addressed the Committee in support of the application.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services recommended that, subject to the applicant entering into a legal obligation pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, in respect of application 3/13/2251/FP, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.

The Director referred Members to the Additional Representations Schedule, in particular two additional conditions that would ensure that the use of the property remained as proposed by this application.

Councillor M Alexander, as the local ward Member, stated that this pub had been empty for far too long.  He commented that the site was unlikely to be used as a public house and this application represented a good reuse of the land.

The Committee supported the recommendation of the Director of Neighbourhood Services as now submitted.

RESOLVED – that, subject to the applicant entering into a legal obligation pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, in respect of application 3/13/2251/FP, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.

Recommended for Approval.

Mrs Bickmore addressed the Committee in objection to the application.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services recommended that, in respect of application 3/13/2268/RP, the reserved matters be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.

The Director reminded Members that the Committee had already approved outline planning permission for what was a very significant addition to the local community.  He stated that the approach taken so far had been to contain the development within the confines of the site and thereby reduce the impact on the surrounding green belt.

The Director believed that the approach would be that existing boundary treatments would remain on this site.  He emphasised that the orientation of the proposed dwellings had already been approved by Members.  Officers were seeking additional information in respect of boundary treatments in respect of this application.

The Director advised that this application proposed some changes to the layout and orientation of the dwellings.  Members were reminded that the proposed pedestrian access to the west of the site via Burnt Mill Lane would be retained as a link to the surrounding area.

The Director advised that the consultants acting for the applicant had undertaken a further site inspection visit in respect of ecological matters on 31 March 2014.  This had confirmed that there was no further information or activity to report.

Councillor M Newman, as the local ward Member, commented that, where the proposed development fronted onto Eastwick Road, the boundary fence was embedded in woodland.  He referred to an agreement with a previous developer that some of the razor wire on top of the boundary fence would be removed and, in places, the actual fence itself would be replaced with a more sympathetic design.

The Director stated that condition 5 could be amended to cover the means of enclosure used to surround the site to the north as well as to the west.  In response to a query from Councillor D Andrews, the Director advised that the conditions dealing with permitted development rights also covered any details of gates within the site.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the Committee supported the recommendation of the Director of Neighbourhood Services as now submitted.

RESOLVED – that in respect of application 3/13/2268/RP, the reserved matters be granted subject to the following amended conditions:

1.           Approved plans (2E10)

        (13.141.002A, 13.141.003A, 13.141.004A, 13.141.100A, 13.141.101A, 13.141.102A, 13.141.103, 13.141.104, 13.141.105, 13.141.106, 13.141.107, 13.141.110A, 13.141.111, 13.141.112A, 13.141.113A, 13.141.114A, 13.141.115A, 13.141.116A, 13.141.117A, 13.141.118A, 13.141.119A, 13.141.120A, 13.141.121A, 13.141.125, 13.141.126)

2.    Prior to the commencement of works above ground level for the dwellings hereby approved, the external materials of construction shall be approved in writing by the Local Planning Authorityand the development  shall thereafter be implemented in accordance with the approved materials.

        Reason: In the interests of the appearance of the development, and in accordance with policy ENV1 of the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007.

3.    Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 3  ...  view the full minutes text for item 638.

Recommended for Approval.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services recommended that, in respect of application 3/14/0224/FP, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the Committee accepted the recommendation of the Director of Neighbourhood Services as now submitted.

RESOLVED – that in respect of application 3/14/0224/FP, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.

Recommended for Refusal.

Shirley Course addressed the Committee in support of the application.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services recommended that, in respect of application 3/14/0026/FP, planning permission be refused for the reasons detailed in the report now submitted.

The Director referred to the long standing national and local policies in respect of property extensions in Green Belt locations.  Members were reminded that such extensions were not necessarily inappropriate provided that any development was not disproportionately larger than the main house.

The Director emphasised that each application for a property extension in the Green Belt was considered on its merits as and when each application was submitted.  Members were advised that the properties at Broad Green Wood were closely related and there had been various extensions to these properties over the years.

The Director stated that Officers generally sought to ensure that a degree of openness was maintained at first floor level between the properties at Broad Green to enable views to be maintained through to the Green Belt.  Officers believed that there were no special circumstances for approving this application.

Members were also advised that an appeal inspector had, in reaching a decision on a similar application, ruled that an extension of this scale would be inappropriate in the Green Belt.

Councillor L Haysey, as the local ward Member, confirmed that the applicant, having sought pre–application advice in respect of this application, had initially been advised that the application would be approved.  The applicant had subsequently been advised that the application was being reported to Development Management Committee and, in light of the appeal decision in respect of 6c, Broad Green Wood, Bayford, the application had been recommended for refusal.

Councillor Haysey believed that a majority of residents were supportive of the application.  The Parish Council had not objected to the application and the Landscape Officer was also supportive.  She believed that the development refused on appeal at property 6c was in a very different position on Broad Green Wood.

Councillor Haysey concluded that other extensions in this area were on a similar, if not greater, scale to the proposed development.  She further believed that the reasons for refusal were not justified and she urged Members to support this application.

In response to a queries from Members, the Director confirmed that the proposed extension included solar panels in the roof space of 3 Broad Green Wood.  Members were advised that the proposed extension would only increase the floor space at ground and first floor level.  The Director also confirmed that the house, as originally constructed, had a floor area of approximately 130 square metres and an existing conservatory at the rear of the property had a floor area of 32 square metres.The Director believed that the total increase in floor area from the existing and proposed extensions would be approximately 111 square metres, which constituted an 85% increase in the floor area of the original dwelling.

Councillor K Crofton commented that this application would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 640.

Enforcement.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services recommended that, in respect of the site relating to E/13/0387/A, enforcement action be authorised on the basis now detailed.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the Committee accepted the Director’s recommendation for enforcement action to be authorised in respect of the site relating to E/13/0387/A on the basis now detailed.

RESOLVED – that in respect of E/13/0387/A, the Director of Neighbourhood Services, in conjunction with the Director of Finance and Support Services, be authorised to take enforcement action on the basis now detailed.

(A)  Appeals against refusal of Planning Permission/ non?determination.

(B)  Planning Appeals Lodged.

(C)     Planning Appeals: Inquiry and Informal Hearing Dates.

(D)     Planning Statistics – ‘To Follow’.

RESOLVED – that the following reports be noted:

(A)   Appeals against refusal of planning permission / non determination;

(B)       Planning Appeals lodged; and

(C)       Planning Appeals: Inquiry and Informal Hearing dates.