Agenda item

Recommended for Approval.

Mr Romanos addressed the Committee in opposition to the application.  Mr Spearman spoke for the application.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services recommended that, in respect of application 3/11/0350/FP, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions now detailed.

Councillor N Poulton, as the local ward Member, stated that Watton at Stone Parish Council, local residents, in particular the adjacent land owner, objected to this application.  He stressed that the Committee must determine this application on its merits now, rather than taking into account what had taken place previously.

Councillor Poulton stated that there was little, if any, amenity space proposed as part of the scheme.  He also referred to concerns in relation to car parking provision, particularly in reference to White House Close.  Members were urged to consider the concerns of the Parish Council, the Conservation Officer, local residents and the local ward Member and refuse the application.

The Director stressed that the same policy issues were as relevant now as when the application had been approved previously.  He stated that all of the relevant issues were before Members and it would be necessary to articulate what had changed that would merit refusing the application now.  He emphasised that Members must consider what weight to attach to the issues for and against this scheme given the previous approval.

Councillor M Alexander commented that the Committee had, in the past, taken great care to listen to the comments of Town and Parish Councils.  He emphasised that Watton at Stone Parish Council was clearly concerned about this application and had put forward a number of constructive reasons for refusal.

The Director stated that any refusal reasons that related to listed structures should be restricted to the listed stable rather than buildings in the wider area.  He indicated that issues around overdevelopment of the plot and the scale of the building were matters of judgement.

The Director emphasised that the issue of amenity space and proximity to nearby dwellings was a weaker argument.  He stated that the distance between plots and buildings was similar to many locations across the District.  

Councillor J Taylor proposed and Councillor B Wrangles seconded a motion that application 3/11/0350/FP be refused on the grounds of overdevelopment, the proposed development would be detrimental to the setting of the listed stable building by virtue of the scale and mass of the proposed development and is therefore contrary to national planning guidance in PPS5, the proposal would be detrimental to the area of the site and that part of the Watton at Stone Conservation Area by virtue of its scale and massing, and would therefore be contrary to Policy BH6 of the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.

The Committee rejected the recommendations of the Director of Neighbourhood Services that application 3/11/0350/FP be granted subject to the conditions now detailed.

Councillors W Ashley and S Rutland-Barsby requested that their votes against the motion be recorded.

RESOLVED – that in respect of application 3/11/0350/FP, planning permission be refused for the following reasons:

1.            Overdevelopment (B021)

2.            The proposed development would be detrimental to the setting of the listed stable building by virtue of the scale and mass of the proposed development and is therefore contrary to national planning guidance in PPS5.

3.            The proposal would be detrimental to the area of the site and that part of the Watton at Stone Conservation Area by virtue of its scale and massing, and would therefore be contrary to Policy BH6 of the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007.