Agenda item

In respect of application numbered S/19/0821/CHHO - Erection of 1no. dwelling, detached garage and associated works (Land At Netherwater, City Corner, Hinton Parva, Swindon) the Committee considered: -

          Name                                 Address/Organisation

          Mrs Peggy Bennett             Applicant

          Nigel Crisp                         Parish Councillor

Councillors Nick Martin and Vera Tomlinson spoke in respect of this application.

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

·       Access to the site would be off Short Drive which provided access to three other dwellings.

·       Planning permission had recently been granted for a dwelling opposite the proposed site.

·       As the Council cannot demonstrate a five year housing land supply paragraph 11 of the National Planning Policy Framework required the Planning Authority to consider a tilted balance in favour of sustainable development.

·       The key issue was whether there was an adverse impact to local amenity that would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the development and there was no evidence that this was the case.

·       The design was simple, traditional and used suitable materials would not be out of character with its surroundings and the linier design of the nearby houses.

·       The dwelling would be set back from Short Drive and be largely screened.

·       The dwelling would also provide accommodation for additional people to support local services and a short-term economic benefit during its construction.

·       The applicant who currently owned Netherwater had lived in the village for over thirty years and would be the self-builder of the proposed new dwelling.

·       The reason for the new dwelling was to provide a smaller home that was more manageable and cheaper to keep than the applicant’s current home.

·       The proposed dwelling was in character with its surroundings and protected the local environment retaining as many trees and hedgerow as possible.

·       The site offered a desirable location in which to self-build whilst protecting the character of the surrounding area and to allow the applicant to continue enjoying village life.

Submissions opposing the application can be broadly summarised as:

·       The application was outside of the settlement boundary of Hinton Parva, it was not of exceptional quality and was therefore contrary to Policy SD2 of the Local Plan.

·       The access would require loss of vegetation including important but unprotected trees.

·       Swindon had invested time and money in developing and updating the Local Plan Framework and the application was acknowledged as being contrary to this plan and therefore unsustainable.

·       The on-going lack of a five year land supply should not be a reason for granting every application that is submitted to the Local Planning Authority.

·       If the argument of the lack of a five year land supply is successfully used for back garden development it could set an unhealthy precedent across the Borough.

·       The officer’s report failed to recognise the full extent of the harm the proposals would have on the local environment, including the removal of the only on-street visitor’s parkin space in the area and it is currently used by the family of Elm Cottage to allow them to turn into their driveway.  Should this be lost part of the garden for Elm Cottage might have to be developed for car parking thereby losing even more hedgerow.

·       There is no mains sewage in the area and the disposal of treated effluence into a nearby stream (which dries up in the summer) would harmfully impact local dogs and wildlife who use the stream for drinking water and would therefore be contrary to Policy SD1 of the Local Plan.

·       The dwelling appear to be significantly higher than the property opposite and would therefore be overbearing.

·       The plan was contrary to SD1, SD2 and DE1 of the Local Plan.

Resolved – That planning permission be granted in respect of application numbered S/19/0821 subject to the conditions set out in the report of the Head of Planning, Regulatory Services and Heritage.