Issue - meetings

(Councillors Jeff Beck, Adrian Edwards and Anthony Pick declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that they were members of Newbury Town Council and its Planning and Highways Committee. As their interest was personal and not prejudicial or a disclosable pecuniary interest, they determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.

Councillor Howard Bairstow declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that he was a member of Newbury Town Council but not its Planning and Highways Committee. As his interest was personal and not prejudicial or a disclosable pecuniary interest, he determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.

Councillors Howard Bairstow, Adrian Edwards and Anthony Pick declared that they had been lobbied on Agenda Item 4(1).)

1.     The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 17/01808/OUTD in respect of an outline application for the erection of a dwelling with integral garage.

2.     Matthew Shepherd introduced the report to Members, which took account of all the relevant policy considerations and other material considerations.  The application had been brought to Committee as it had received in excess of 10 objections.  The Update Sheet included an additional condition that recommended the removal of permitted development rights for the construction of dormer windows in the roof of the dwelling.  In conclusion the reported detailed that the proposal was acceptable and a conditional approval was justifiable.  Officers consequently recommended that the Committee grant outline planning permission.

3.     In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Councillor Adrian Edwards, Ward Member addressed the Committee on this application.

4.     Councillor Edwards in addressing the Committee raised the following points:

·         The current property was a substantial house with a generous amount of garden, typical of the other houses in Normay Rise.

·         The garden was adjacent to Willowmead Close, which had houses and gardens of a similar size.

·         The development would overlook the existing house at 5 Normay Rise as it would be built on a significant slope.

·         Newbury Town Council’s Town Design Statement published in 2005 was referred to in the planning officer’s report.  It stated that one of the principles of the Statement was to conserve the garden suburb character of the area and this application did not meet this principle.

·         However the planning officer did not quote the reference to Normay Rise on Page 60 of the Statement or sections 5.1 and 5.4 on Page 63 which stated that the ‘garden suburbs’ enhanced the gateway into Newbury and should be preserved.

·         The development would compromise the street scene by reducing the garden size making it cramped.

·         It was overdevelopment and would create a precedent for other residents to build in their gardens.

·         He asked the Committee to refuse the outline application.

5.     Councillor Paul Bryant sought clarification of the need for the additional condition in the Update Report, related to removal of the permitted development rights for the construction of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21