3 SEPTEMBER 2009
Minutes of a meeting of the DEVELOPMENT CONTROL COMMITTEE (EAST) held in the
Council Chamber, Council Offices, Holt Road, Cromer at 9.30 am when there were present:
Councillors
Mrs C M Wilkins (Chairman)
Mrs S Arnold
Miss P E Ford
Mrs M Seward
B Smith
P W High - substitute for S J Partridge
N P Ripley - substitute for P J Willcox
J A Wyatt - substitute for Mrs B McGoun
Ms V R Gay - North Walsham West Ward
P W Moore - North Walsham East Ward
Officers:
Mr J Williams - Development Control Manager (East)
Mr R Howe - Planning Legal and Enforcement Manager
Mr I Thompson - Senior Planning Officer (East)
(50)
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DETAILS OF SUBSTITUTE MEMBERS
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M J M Baker, Mrs B McGoun,
S J Partridge, Mrs L Walker and P J Willcox. Three substitute Members attended the
meeting as shown above.
The Planning Legal and Enforcement Manager informed the Committee that
Councillor Mrs Walker was unable to attend because of car problems on the morning
of the meeting and therefore had no time to find a substitute.
(51)
APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIRMAN FOR THE MEETING
The Chairman stated that she wished to vacate the Chair during consideration of an
item on the agenda and requested nominations for a Vice-Chairman for the meeting.
It was proposed by Councillor Mrs M Seward, duly seconded and
RESOLVED
That Councillor J A Wyatt be appointed as Vice-Chairman for the
meeting.
(52)
MINUTES
The Planning Legal and Enforcement Manager reported that a letter had been
received from Councillor M J M Baker regarding comments he had made in respect
of enforcement issues relating to Cooks Farm Barns, Suffield at the previous
meeting. He contended that the minutes should reflect an undertaking to investigate
matters that had been raised at the meeting. The Planning Legal and Enforcement
Manager stated that in his opinion the minutes accurately reflected the debate in
Development Control Committee (East)
1
3 September 2009
stating that he had responded to concerns expressed by Members. He undertook to
prepare a report on this matter for consideration at a Planning Chairs’ meeting and if
it was the Chairs’ wish to do so it would then be submitted for consideration by the
Committee.
The Minutes of a meeting of the Committee held on 6 August 2009 were approved as
a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
(53)
ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS
The Chairman stated that there were no items of urgent business which she wished
to bring before the Committee.
(54)
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
No interests were declared.
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Where appropriate the Planning Officers expanded on the planning applications;
updated the meeting on outstanding consultations, letters/petitions received objecting
to, or supporting the proposals; referred to any views of local Members and answered
Members’ questions.
Background papers, including correspondence, petitions, consultation documents,
letters of objection and those in support of planning applications were available for
inspection at the meeting.
Having regard to the above information and the report of the Head of Planning and
Building Control, the Committee reached the decisions as set out below.
Applications approved include a standard time limit condition as condition number 1
unless otherwise stated.
(55)
NORTH WALSHAM - 20090743 - Erection of one two-storey dwelling and one
one-and-a-half-storey dwelling; 6 New Road for Worstead Properties
The Committee considered item 1 of the officers’ reports.
Public Speaker
Mrs Gadsden (North Walsham Town Council)
The Senior Planning Officer reported that Councillor P W Moore had requested that
this application be called in and not Councillor Ms Gay as stated in the report.
Councillor P W Moore, a local Member, stated that the Town Council had requested
that the application had been called in and the Leader of the Council had asked if he
would be prepared to do so. He requested guidance on the position of local
Members when a Town or Parish Council requested that an application be called in.
The Planning Legal and Enforcement Manager referred to paragraph 13.3 of the
Planning Protocol regarding the calling in of applications. He stated that a Town or
Parish Council could ask a Member to call in any application. However, the local
Member was not obliged to agree to the request.
Development Control Committee (East)
2
3 September 2009
Councillor Moore stated that he had no objection to this application. Whilst he
appreciated the Town Council’s position, he stated that the café proposal did not
form part of this application and the application complied with the Council’s amenity
standards. The density was in fact lower than the Government’s recommendations.
Councillor Miss P E Ford, a local Member, supported Councillor Moore’s comments.
She stated that the proposed development had a lower density than the previously
approved scheme and commended the applicant for proposing a low energy scheme.
She proposed approval of this application.
The Senior Planning Officer answered Members’ questions regarding the size of the
dwellings, density and car parking standards.
Councillor Mrs M Seward expressed concern regarding highway safety. She stated
that the road was very busy and considered that the problems would be exacerbated
if the café was a success.
The Senior Planning Officer outlined the proposed highway conditions in response to
a request by Councillor Mrs Seward.
It was proposed by Councillor Miss P E Ford, seconded by Councillor N P Ripley and
RESOLVED by 6 votes to 0 with 1 abstention
That this application be approved subject to the imposition of
appropriate conditions.
(56)
ROUGHTON - 20090680 - Erection of detached two-storey dwelling; Sunnyside
Chapel Road for Mrs Fairchild and Mr Flowerday
The Committee considered item 2 of the officers’ reports.
The Senior Planning Officer reported that the comments of the Parish Council were
awaited.
Councillor Mrs S A Arnold, the local Member, considered that it was a shame to
divide the large garden. She reported that the Parish Clerk had received no
comments from Parish Council Members.
It was proposed by Councillor Mrs S A Arnold, seconded by Councillor B Smith and
RESOLVED unanimously
That this application be approved in accordance with
recommendation of the Head of Planning and Building Control.
(57)
the
WORSTEAD - 20090748 - Conversion and extension of forge to provide annexe
and erection of single-storey rear extension; Forge Cottage Westwick Road for
Mr Gilligan
Councillor Mrs C M Wilkins vacated the Chair to allow her to speak from the floor as
local Member.
Councillor J A Wyatt (Vice-Chairman for the meeting) in the Chair.
Development Control Committee (East)
3
3 September 2009
The Committee considered item 3 of the officers’ reports.
The Senior Planning Officer reported that the Parish Council objected to this
application on grounds of overdevelopment in the Conservation Area. Environmental
Health had made advisory comments regarding contaminated land issues.
The Senior Planning Officer reported that amended plans had been received. He
recommended approval of this application subject to conditions to include approval of
materials, removal of permitted development rights, restricting occupancy of the
annexe to be incidental to the use of Forge Cottage as a single dwelling, no
demolition of the forge building except as shown on the plans and as required by
Norfolk Landscape Archaeology.
Councillor Mrs C M Wilkins, the local Member, stated that the dwelling had been
extended previously and she considered that this application was contrary to Core
Strategy Policy HO8. She referred to a previous application which had been refused
and dismissed on appeal. She stated that this site was an important gateway to the
historic village. She considered that this proposal would have an adverse impact on
the Conservation Area and two Listed Buildings. She proposed refusal of this
application.
Councillor N P Ripley considered that the proposed development would visually
enhance the site. He proposed approval of this application in accordance with the
officer’s recommendation.
In answer to Members’ questions the Senior Planning Officer explained that the
amount of amenity space was appropriate for the dwelling. The applicant also owned
additional land. The forge building would remain visible from the road. Planning
permission would be required to use the annexe as a separate dwelling but as such
use would be contrary to policy it would not be encouraged.
The Development Control Manager explained that the previous application, which
was refused and dismissed on appeal, involved the subdivision of the site. The
appeal was not dismissed on that ground but because of the amount of new building
involved. He considered that there were no reasons to refuse this application.
It was proposed by Councillor Mrs C M Wilkins, seconded by Councillor Mrs S A
Arnold and
RESOLVED by 5 votes to 2
That this application be refused on grounds that the proposals, taking
into account previous extensions of the property, do not comply with
Core Strategy Policy HO8 as they would, cumulatively, represent a
disproportionately large increase in the overall scale of the dwelling.
(58)
APPLICATIONS APPROVED UNDER DELEGATED POWERS
The Committee noted item 4 of the officers’ reports.
(59)
APPLICATIONS REFUSED UNDER DELEGATED POWERS
The Committee noted item 5 of the officers’ reports.
Development Control Committee (East)
4
3 September 2009
(60)
NEW APPEALS
The Committee noted item 6 of the officers’ reports.
(61)
PUBLIC INQUIRIES AND INFORMAL HEARINGS - PROGRESS
The Committee noted item 7 of the officers’ reports.
(62)
WRITTEN REPRESENTATIONS APPEALS - PROGRESS
The Committee noted item 8 of the officers’ reports.
(63)
APPEAL DECISIONS
The Committee noted item 9 of the officers’ reports.
The meeting closed at 10.35 am.
Development Control Committee (East)
5
3 September 2009