Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 1^st July 2026.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 1^st July 2026 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To remind Members of the need to record the existence and nature of any personal, disclosable pecuniary or other registrable interests in items on the agenda, in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of interest received.

(Note: The Chairman, with the consent of the Committee, reserves the right to alter the order of business on this agenda based on public interest and participation in individual applications).

1.    The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 25/01252/FUL in respect of the erection of one detached 5-bedroom dwelling, alongside the demolition and replacement of an existing garage building.

2.    Ms Catherine Ireland introduced the report to Members, which took account of all the relevant policy considerations and other material planning considerations. In conclusion the report detailed that the proposal was acceptable in planning terms and officers recommended that the Development Manager be authorised to grant planning permission subject to the conditions outlined in the main and update reports.

3.    The Chairman asked Mr Paul Goddard if he had any observations relating to the application and he raised the following points:

·       The application had been challenging to assess due to restricted visibility at the existing and proposed access points.

·       The site had an existing access onto the public highway which, until approximately five years ago, had served Apple Tree Cottage and provided agricultural access. These uses had subsequently transferred to the access serving Elangeni to the east. Whilst the former access had not been used in recent years, it remained available and could be used to serve the proposed dwelling.

·       The proposal would relocate the access slightly to the east, resulting in a modest improvement in visibility. Whilst the proposed access would not comply with current visibility standards, it would provide a marginal improvement over the existing arrangement. Given the fallback position that the existing access could continue to be used, officers considered it would be difficult to justify an objection on highway grounds or sustain a refusal at appeal.

·       The proposed parking, cycle storage and electric vehicle charging provision were considered acceptable and, on this basis, no highways objection was raised.

4.      In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Ms Trish Kilgour, Parish Council representative, Mrs Jan Boyd and Mr Richard Church, objectors, Mr John Neville, applicant, and Councillor Laura Coyle, Ward Member, addressed the Committee on this application.

Parish Council Representation

5.      Ms Kilgour addressed the Committee. The full representation can be viewed here:

Eastern Area Planning Committee – Recording

Member Questions to the Parish Council

6.      Members asked questions of clarification and were given the following responses:

·       A Community Speed Watch scheme had only been operating in the area for approximately 14 months. Figures available indicated that between 10% and 15% of vehicles recorded at the monitoring location were exceeding the speed limit.

Objector Representation

7.      Mrs Boyd and Mr Church addressed the Committee. The full representation can be viewed here:

Eastern Area Planning Committee – Recording

Member Questions to the Objector

8.      Members asked questions of clarification and were given the following responses:

·       It was explained that the access serving Elangeni was located to the east of the site but was not shown within the application's red line boundary. The objector considered that the plans did not accurately demonstrate how the retained land would be accessed and suggested that a blue line boundary would have provided greater clarity.

·       Regarding ownership and maintenance of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.(1)

1.      The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(2)) concerning Planning Application 25/02375/FUL in respect of a proposed new dwelling including new landscaping and parking.

2.      Catherine Ireland introduced the report to Members, which took account of all the relevant policy considerations and other material planning considerations. In conclusion the report detailed that the proposal was acceptable in planning terms and officers recommended that the Development Manager be authorised to grant planning permission subject to the conditions outlined in the main and update reports.

3.      The Chairman asked Mr Goddard if he had any observations relating to the application and he raised the following points:

·       Churn Lodge would be accessed via Acer Lodge to the north, whilst the proposed dwelling would be accessed via the private track to the south.

·       Acer Lodge and Churn Lodge were within the same ownership.

·       As an existing access already served the private track, and the parking and layout arrangements were considered acceptable, no highways objection was raised.

4.      In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Mr Denis Burke, objector, Mr Nigel Parsons and Dan Fleming, applicant / agent, and Councillor Laura Coyle, Ward Member, addressed the Committee on this application.

Objector Representation

5.      Mr Burke addressed the Committee. The full representation can be viewed here:

Eastern Area Planning Committee – recording

Member Questions to the Objector

6.      Members did not have any questions of clarification.

Applicant/Agent Representation

7.      Dan Fleming (agent - Colony Architects) addressed the Committee. The full representation can be viewed here:

Eastern Area Planning Committee – recording

Member Questions to the Applicant/Agent

8.      Members did not have any questions of clarification.

Ward Member Representation

9.      Councillor Coyle addressed the Committee. The full representation can be viewed here:

Eastern Area Planning Committee – recording

Member Questions to the Ward Member

10.   Members did not have any questions of clarification.

Member Questions to Officers

11.   Mr Till addressed the Committee on a procedural matter raised by the objector in their presentation noting that the Officer’s report did not directly address how the current application was considered to overcome the reasons for refusal of the previous application. Whilst this was considered implicit within the report, he advised that there was a reasonable prospect of judicial review if the application were approved in its current form. He therefore recommended that consideration of the application be deferred to allow amendments to the report, noting that the application could be returned to Committee before the introduction of the national scheme of delegation.

12.   The Chairman advised that, notwithstanding the recommendation to defer the application, Member questions should continue in order to identify any additional matters that could be addressed within the amended report.

13.   Members asked questions of clarification and were given the following responses:

·       Construction traffic was considered a temporary impact and could be managed through a Construction Management Plan. It was further noted that spoil removal could be addressed through a planning condition. It was advised that although land stability could be a material planning consideration,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.(2)