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Agenda item

Application No. & Parish: 20/02500/HOUSE - 19 Paradise Way, Chapel Row, Reading

Proposal:	Demolition of existing one storey side extension and erection of two storey side extension and associated works.
Location:	19 Paradise Way, Chapel Row, Reading, RG7 6PA
Applicant:	Mr and Mrs James
Recommendation:	Delegate to the Head of Development and Planning to grant planning permission subject to conditions.

Minutes:

(Due to a technical issue Agenda Item 4(2) was considered by the Committee prior to 4(1))

The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(2)) concerning Planning Application 20/02500 in respect of the demolition of existing one storey side extension and erection of two storey side extension and associated works.

Mr Bob Dray introduced the report and highlighted the key points. There were no objections to the proposal and Officers were recommending that planning permission be approved.

Removal of Speaking Rights

As resolved at the Extraordinary Council meeting held on 29 April 2020, public speaking rights were removed for virtual Council meetings. This right was replaced with the ability to make written submissions. This decision was made in accordance with The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panels Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020.

The above changes to speaking rights were subsequently amended at the Council meeting on 10 September 2020. It was agreed that parties making written submissions in relation to a planning application would be invited to attend the Remote Meeting of the Planning Committee to answer any questions that Members of the Committee might wish to ask in order to seek clarification on any part of their statement.

There were no written submissions received for the application.

Councillor Graham Pask as Ward Member addressed the Committee on the application.

Ward Member Representation

Councillor Graham Pask in addressing the Committee raised the following points:

· The proposal was not contentious in anyway. It was before the Committee because the applicant was a member of staff from West Berkshire Council’s Planning Service. In Councillor Pask’s view it had been very sensitively designed.

· Councillor Pask commended the photo generated view of the application site, which had been extremely helpful and he felt that other applications would benefit from such information.

There were no Member questions for the Ward Member.

Member Questions to Officers

Councillor Royce Longton asked for clarification on what a bird nesting brick was. Mr Dray reported that this was a specially designed brick that had a hollowed out area for birds or bats. This did not form part of a mitigation, but was a proposal to enhance the biodiversity.

There were no further questions for Officers.

Debate:

Councillor Graham Pask felt that the proposal had been very sensitively designed and he had no hesitation in proposing Officer recommendation to approve the application with the conditions outlined within the report. This was seconded by Councillor Tony Linden. At the vote the motion was carried.

RESOLVED that the Head of Development and Planning be authorised to grant planning permission subject to the following conditions:

1.	Commencement of development The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission. Reason: To comply with Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended by Section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004).
2.	Approved drawings The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the approved plans and documents listed below: Drawing No. 01 A (Proposed Two Storey Side Extension), Drawing No. 02 (Location Plan & Block Plan). Reason: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interest of proper planning.
3.	Materials The external materials used in the extension hereby approved shall be as stated in the application form and approved drawings and shall match those used in the exterior of the existing dwelling in colour, size and texture. Reason: In the interests of visual amenity, in accordance with the requirements of the NPPF and Policies CS14 and CS19 of the West Berkshire Local Plan Core Strategy (2006-2026) 2012 and Policy C6 of the West Berkshire Housing Site Allocations DPD (2017).
4.	Parking spaces The extension hereby approved shall not be occupied until the three parking spaces shown on the approved drawings have been surfaced in accordance with the approved Drawing No. 02 (Location Plan & Block Plan). The parking spaces shall be retained for the parking of private motor vehicles and kept free of obstructions at all times. Reason: In order to ensure the site is provided with sufficient space for parking vehicles and to alleviate the need for on street parking in the interests of highway safety in accordance with the requirements of Policy CS13 of the West Berkshire Local Plan Core Strategy (2006-2026) 2012 and Policy P1 of the West Berkshire Housing Site Allocations DPD (2017).
5.	Electric vehicle charging point The extension hereby approved shall not be occupied until an electric vehicle charging point has been provided in accordance with the approved Drawing No. 02 (Location Plan & Block Plan). An electric vehicle charging point shall be retained on the site in accordance with the approved drawing thereafter and kept available for charging of electric vehicles. Reason: To ensure the provision of sufficient infrastructure for charging of electric vehicles in the interests of reducing carbon emissions in accordance with the NPPF and Policy P1 of the West Berkshire Housing Site Allocations DPD (2017).
6.	Bat and bird bricks The extension hereby approved shall not be occupied until the bat and bird bricks have been provided in accordance with the details shown on Drawing No. 01 A (Proposed Two Storey Side Extension). The bat and bird bricks shall thereafter be retained in accordance with the details shown on the approved drawing. Reason: In order to secure biodiversity gain in accordance with the requirements of the NPPF and Policy CS17 of the West Berkshire Local Plan Core Strategy (2006-2026) 2012.

Informatives

1.	This decision has been made in a positive way to foster the delivery of sustainable development having regard to Development Plan policies and available guidance to secure high quality appropriate development which improves the economic, social and environmental conditions of the area.
2.	The attention of the applicant is drawn to the Berkshire Act, 1986, Part II, Clause 9, which enables the Highway Authority to recover the costs of repairing damage to the footway, cycleway or grass verge, arising during building operations.
3.	The attention of the applicant is drawn to the Highways Act 1980, which enables the Highway Authority to recover expenses due to extraordinary traffic.
4.	Bats and their roosts are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). It is an offence, subject to exceptions, to, amongst other things, kill or disturb animals listed in Schedule 2; this includes a single bat, not just a population of a species. This application involves repair works to a roof and this is included within the list of activities that could potentially affect bats set out in Government Guidance (Bats: protection and licences). If, at any time during the repair, any evidence of bats or their roosts is discovered, work should cease immediately and the relevant authorities notified.

Supporting documents: