Agenda and minutes

The Chair reminded Councillors to declare any known interests in any of the matters to be considered by the Committee. 

Councillor Vinay Manro made a personal declaration in respect of agenda item 6 (17 Dovetrees) as he had discussed the application with the applicant.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th February 2020.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th February 2020, be confirmed and signed.

There were no public questions

In respect of application numbered S/HOU/20/0003/PEKO - Erection of first floor front extension (17 Dovetrees, Covingham) the Committee considered: -

            Name                                        Address/Organisation

            Steve Wright                           Agent

Councillors John Ballman, Jenny Jefferies, Vinay Manro, Nick Martin, Stan Pajak, and Carol Shelley spoke in respect of this application.

The application can be broadly summarised as:

·        This application has been brought before the Planning Committee at the request of Councillor Kevin Parry (Ward Councillor).

·        The proposed development would involve the erection of first floor front 2.71 metre wide extension set over the footprint of the existing single storey front with a gable roof.

·        The extension would project approx. 0.3 metres forward of the existing two-storey front gable roof projection.

·        It will have a gable roof link with the existing main front roofline, with a slight set down with a 1.2m wide high-level window at first floor that is proposed to be obscurely glazed.

·        The proposed will provide a shower and WC to serve an existing first floor bedroom.

·        The current application was submitted following the refusal of a similar application (S/HOU/19/1201) in October 2019. This was refused on the grounds that due to its scale, bulk, positioning and design it would represent a dominant and inharmonious addition to the property and would harm the character and appearance of the host dwelling and street scene contrary to Policy DE1 of the Swindon Borough Local Plan 2026; the adopted Supplementary Planning Document 'Residential Extensions and Alterations' (2011); and the provisions of the revised NPPF.

·        Officers considered that the current application had marginal differences to the original application with the wide high-level window at first floor doubling in size from the previous application.

·        The application was recommended for refusal due to the limited proposed changes to the original application.

Submissions in support of the application can be broadly summarised as:

·        The property was set back in the long bend at Dovetrees and was for a first floor extension, set over the footprint of the existing porch and is a 2.7 metre by 2.1 metre construction set against the main body of the house and approximately eight inches in front of the original gable line.

·        The refusal for the first application was based upon it forming a large edifice in the front of the building which would disrupt the street scene and cause harm to No 17 and the street in general, which the applicant believed was out of context with the application.

·        The applicant resubmitted the application, with minor changes to the window, because an appeal to the planning inspectorate would be time consuming and expensive to both them and the Council.

·        The application had support from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69.

In respect of application numbered S/20/0173/PEKO - Change of use from Dwelling to 8 person House in Multiple Occupation (Sui Generis) and two storey rear extension, 79 Lansdown Road, Old Town the Committee considered: -

            Name                                        Address/Organisation

            Ben Williams                           Agent

            Mrs Shakespeare                  Local Resident

            Ms Anish Harrison                Local Resident

            Mr Leon Flowers                    Local Resident

            Councillor Patrick Herrings  Parish Councillor

            Councillor Stan Pajak           Ward Councillor

            Councillor Paul Dixon           Ward Councillor

Councillors Nick Burns-Howell, Paul Dixon, Jenny Jefferies, Nick Martin, and Stan Pajak spoke in respect of this application.

The application can be broadly summarised as:

·        The application was before the Committee at the request of Councillor Stan Pajak following concerns raised by Old Town Residents Association.

·        The proposed development would involve the erection of a two storey rear extension and a change of use from a six bedroom dwelling to 8 person House in Multiple Occupation (Sui Generis) and was recommended for approval.

·        The proposed two storey rear extension would extend 2.4 metres and would be stepped in by approximately 700mm from the side wall boundary line adjacent to the northeast boundary with No. 80 Lansdown Road.

·        The two storey element of the extension would feature a pitched roof design.

·        The application was for four single bed rooms and two double bed rooms and a separate kitchen and dining area.

·        The application met the Council’s guidance in respect of Houses in Multiple Occupation.

Submissions in support of the application can be broadly summarised as:

·        That the planning officer should be commended for his report and recommendation.

·        Houses in Multiple Occupation are a safe, sociable and secure accommodation option for tenants who were unable to afford to buy or rent a property and provided accommodation for many young professionals in and to reduce housing associated costs.

·        Car parking was not necessarily an issue for tenants of Houses in Multiple Occupation as many of them might not be able to afford a car.

·        Houses in Multiple Occupation provided housing in Swindon for workers that would otherwise make living in the town unaffordable and provide for the employment needs of Swindon. Without them the ability to secure the level of employees required to promote Swindon’s economic prosperity might be impacted.

·        The applicant, who owned other Houses in Multiple Occupation in Swindon, prided himself on the level of accommodation and facilities (including cooking, cleaning internet, televisions and garden) provided by his properties.

·        Waste collection and cleaning were undertaken by a private company ensuring the property was well-maintained and reducing the impact on neighbouring properties and added to employment in the Swindon area.

·        All tenants had to provide background checks or references to reduce the possibility of disturbance  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Planning regulatory Services and Heritage, seeking the Committee’s approval to publish a draft Development Brief for the Former Groundwell Park & Ride Site, Cricklade Road, Swindon for public consultation.

Resolved – (1) That, subject to the inclusion of the option within the draft brief of retaining the site as a Park and Ride facility, the Head of Planning, Regulatory Services and Heritage be authorised publish the Draft Development Brief for public consultation.

(2) That the Head of Planning, Regulatory Services and Heritage be authorised to make minor typographical and presentational changes to the content of the document if required before publication.

The Committee considered a report of the Service Manager – Transport Planning, Development & Street Works Management, approval of an updated Parking Standards document following Consultation and seeks authorisation to finalise the standards for adoption as a development management document.

Resolved - (1) That the adoption of the Parking Standards be deferred in order to enable officers to review and provide further clarification in respect (a)  the boundaries of Sector 1, primarily as they relate to Old Town, (b) the application of the Sector 1 relaxation in relation to Houses in Multiple Occupation and (c) the application of the Sector 1 parking relaxation to non-residential development.

(2) That, following the officer review set out in (1) above, a further report be submitted to a future meeting of this Committee.