Minutes:
50.1 Item 8A
Application DC/21/02359
Proposal Planning Application. Demolition of existing agricultural barn and erection of 1no one and a half storey dwellinghouse. Change of use from agricultural land to C3 dwellinghouse.
Site Location ATHELINGTON – Land East of Horham Road, Athelington, Suffolk.
Applicant Giles and Kirsty McGarry
50.2 Before determination of the application the Governance Officer outlined that Councillor Hicks had been given dispensation by the Deputy Monitoring Officer to remain in the meeting despite a pecuniary interest in the application. Cllr Hicks was granted a dispensation under the Localism Act 2011(Part 1, Chapter 7, Section 33) Paragraph C: whereby the relevant authority considers that granting the dispensation is in the interests of persons living in the authority’s area.
50.3 The Area Planning Manager presented the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members, the layout of the site, the contents of the tabled papers, and the officer recommendation of approval with the additional condition that Permitted development rights be removed.
50.4 The Case Officer responded to Members’ questions on issues including the prior approval of a Class Q application on the site and the associated implication that sustainability of the location was not something that members could take into consideration due to the principal of development being established.
50.5 The Case Officer responded to further questions from Members on issues including: the height of proposed dwelling, the floorspace of the new dwelling compared to the Class Q approval, that the application was considered controversial due to ownership of the adjacent land.
50.6 Members considered the representation from Elizabeth Gibson-Harries of Horham and Athelington Parish Council who spoke in support of the application.
50.7 Members considered the representation from Giles McGarry and Andrew Hughes who spoke as the Applicant and Agent respectively.
50.8 The Applicant and Agent responded to Members’ questions on issues including: the proposed design, the height of the proposed dwelling, the sustainability features of the building as detailed in the tabled papers, and possible light pollution from the windows.
50.9 Members considered the representation from the Ward Member, Councillor Matthew Hicks who left the meeting after the completion of his statement.
50.10 Members debated the application on the issues including: the sustainability of the location and the sustainability measures proposed, the height of the building, the size of the windows, that the structure would become a dominant feature in the countryside, the biodiversity enhancement measures, including the conditions from place services regarding lighting, the environmental cost of creating new foundations, the representation from the Parish Council and the possibility of birds flying into the windows and possible prevention measures.
50.11 Councillor Andrew Mellen proposed that the application be approved as detailed in the updated officer recommendation with the additional condition as detailed below:
- Scheme to be agreed for the prevention of bird impacts.
50.12 Councillor Rowland Warboys seconded the motion.
50.13 By 6 votes to 2.
50.14 RESOLVED
1) That the Chief Planning Officer be authorised to GRANT permission, subject to conditions as summarised below and those as may be deemed necessary by the Chief Planning Officer:
· Standard time limit
· Approved Plans (Plans submitted that form this application)
· All highway conditions recommended by SCC
· Biodiversity mitigation and enhancement measures conditions as recommended by our Ecologist
· Swift Nest Bricks installation to be agreed
· Hedgehog fencing scheme to be agreed
· Energy and renewable integration scheme to be agreed prior to commencement.
· Rainwater harvesting to be agreed .
2) And the following informative notes as summarised and those as may be deemed necessary:
· Proactive working statement
· SCC Highways notes
· Support for sustainable development principles
Additional Conditions:
- Removal of Permitted Development Rights
- Scheme to be agreed for the prevention of bird impacts.
Supporting documents: