Minutes:
95.1 A short comfort break was taken between 11:30-11:37 after the completion of application DC/19/04429 but before the commencement of DC/19/04273.
95.2 Item B
Application DC/19/04429
Proposal Outline Planning Application (Access to be considered, all other matters reserved) – Erection of 1No attached dwelling.
Site Location THWAITE- Land North of Willow Hall, Norwich Road, Thwaite, IP23 7ED
Applicant Messrs M. and O. Passmore
95.3 The Case Officer presented the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members, the layout of the site, the previous applications on the site, and the officer recommendation of refusal with the updated recommendation regarding policy numbers.
95.4 The Case Officer responded to Members’ questions on issues including: the response from Suffolk County Council’s Highways Department, and previous applications on the site.
95.5 Members considered the representation from Philip Cobbold who spoke as the Agent.
95.6 Members considered the written representation from Councillor David Burn which was read out by the Chair.
95.7 Members debated the application on the issues including: previous applications that had been approved on site that had not been implemented, the access to the site from the highway, the reports on crashmap that showed traffic incidents in the area.
95.8 Councillor John Field proposed that the application be refused as detailed in the officer recommendation. Councillor John Matthissen seconded the motion.
95.9 By a unanimous vote.
95.10 RESOLVED
That the application is REFUSED planning permission/ for the following reasons:-
1. This application seeks outline planning permission with access only for the erection of a detached dwelling and is considered to represent unsustainable development in a countryside location, contrary to the provisions of polices CS01, CS02 and H07 of the adopted Development Plan.
Whilst paragraph 11 of the NPPF provides a presumption in favour of sustainable development, it is necessary to consider whether any adverse impacts of granting planning permission would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in the Framework taken as a whole; or specific policies in this Framework indicate development should be restricted. The assessment of the application has identified that the proposal does not comply with the development plan and it is further considered that the unsustainable location in relation to its connectivity to services and facilities which results in a heavy reliance on a motor vehicle and encroaching built form into the open countryside. This harm significantly and demonstrably outweighs the benefits of the development when considered against the Framework as a whole.
2. Development on the application site would make Willow Hall (Grade II listed building) part of a row of modern dwellings, rather than being on the edge of modern development. This would reduce its prominence and erode what remains of its historic open rural setting, as well as diminish its connection to the countryside to the north. This impact is contrary to policies GP1, H15 and HB01 which seek to protect the character of the surrounding area and setting of a listed building.
Great weight is given to this as per paragraph 193 of the NPPF. As a result of the proposal being defined as unsustainable development and in the presence of a 5 year land supply there are no public benefits that would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the identified harm to the listed building.
As a result, the proposal is contrary to Policies GP1, H15 and HB01 of the Mid Suffolk Local Plan (1998) and the NPPF (2019) and is hereby refused.
Supporting documents: