17 SEPTEMBER 2009
Minutes of a meeting of the DEVELOPMENT CONTROL COMMITTEE (WEST) held in the
Council Chamber, Council Offices, Holt Road, Cromer at 9.30 am when there were present:
Councillors
H C Cordeaux (Chairman)
J A Wyatt (Vice-Chairman)
Mrs A R Green
P W High
S C Mears
J H Perry-Warnes
J D Savory
Mrs J Trett
N P Ripley - substitute for B Cabbell Manners
Mrs C M Wilkins - substitute for Mrs A C Sweeney
Mrs H T Nelson - Sheringham South Ward
Officers
Mr G Lyon - Acting Development Control Manager (West)
Mr R Howe - Planning Legal and Enforcement Manager
Mr G Linder - Senior Planning Officer (West)
(98)
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DETAILS OF SUBSTITUTE MEMBERS
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors B Cabbell Manners and Mrs A
C Sweeney. There were two substitute Members in attendance as shown above.
(99)
MINUTES
The Minutes of a meeting of the Committee held on 20 August 2009 were approved
as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
(100) ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS
The Chairman stated that there were no items of urgent business which he wished to
bring before the Committee.
(101) DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillors P W High and J H Perry-Warnes declared interests, the details of which
are recorded under the minute of the item concerned.
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.
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17 September 2009
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.
(102) HOLT - 20090690 - Erection of detached two-storey dwelling and garage; plot 5,
land at Orchard Piece Kelling Road for Character Homes Ltd
Councillor P W High declared a personal interest in this application as he had visited
Mr and Mrs Valentine.
Councillor J H Perry-Warnes declared a personal interest in this application as he
had seen Mr and Mrs Valentine a few weeks previously.
The Committee considered item 1 of the officers’ reports.
Public Speaker
Mr Valentine (objecting)
The Senior Planning Officer reported that the Landscape Officer had no objection
subject to a condition in respect of tree protection. He recommended approval of this
application subject to the imposition of appropriate conditions.
Councillor P W High, a local Member, stated that there was no screening between
the site and the objector’s property and the objector’s garden was at a lower level
than the site. He considered that the proposed dwelling would be dominant and have
an adverse impact on the objectors’ garden and the rear windows of their bungalow.
Councillor J H Perry-Warnes supported the local Member’s view and considered that
the approved siting would be less intrusive.
Councillor J A Wyatt considered that a bungalow would reduce the impact on the
objectors’ dwelling.
The Acting Development Control Manager explained that the outline application
indicated a single-storey dwelling of the same height as the proposed dwelling.
Negotiations with the applicant in respect of the rooflights had resulted in an
amended plan which reduced overlooking. He advised the Committee to determine
the application as now submitted.
Councillor N P Ripley considered that it would be difficult to justify refusal of the
application in the event of an appeal and reluctantly proposed approval of this
application as recommended. There was no seconder.
At the request of Councillor P W High, the Chairman asked Mr Valentine if he would
prefer the dwelling to be sited as previously approved. Mr Valentine confirmed that
this would be acceptable to him.
It was proposed, seconded and
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17 September 2009
RESOLVED by 5 votes to 3 with 2 abstentions
That this application be refused on grounds that the proposed dwelling
would have an overbearing and intrusive impact on the neighbouring
dwelling given the length and orientation of the building.
(103) SALTHOUSE - 20090434 - Erection of two-storey front extension, single-storey
side extension and dormer window; The Patch Coast Road for Mr Colman
Councillor H C Cordeaux vacated the Chair to allow him to speak from the floor as
local Member.
Councillor J A Wyatt (Vice-Chairman) in the Chair.
The Committee considered item 2 of the officers’ reports.
Public Speaker
Mr Colman (supporting)
The Senior Planning Officer reported that two alternative schemes had been
submitted. A further letter had been received from Salthouse Parish Council
reiterating its previous concerns and expressing a preference for a more traditional
design in keeping with other cottages in the village. Environmental Health and the
Conservation, Design and Landscape Manager had no objection.
The Senior Planning Officer explained that discussions had taken place following the
last meeting. An amended plan had been received which indicated the same overall
form but with a thickened timber frame and rendered infill panels either side to
reduce the amount of glazing. A further design had been received by email on the
morning of the meeting which appeared to be more in keeping with brick and flint
quoins which wrapped around the corners, but with a narrower timber frame.
However, there had been no time to consider this option and the latest amendment to
the application therefore remained the thickened frame with rendered panels.
Councillor H C Cordeaux, the local Member, expressed concern at the timing of the
submission of two further schemes which the Parish Council had not seen. He
considered that the recent schemes were an improvement and asked if it would be
possible to amend the proposal further to incorporate a heavier timber frame within
the most recent brick and flint design.
The Chairman asked Mr Colman which scheme he would prefer. He replied that he
preferred the wider oak frame.
Councillor H C Cordeaux considered that this application should be deferred to
request the applicant to amend the application and seek the views of the Parish
Council.
Councillor N P Ripley considered that the applicant had gone a long way to reduce
the amount of light pollution and proposed approval of this application, as amended
with a thickened oak frame and rendered panels, subject to the imposition of
appropriate conditions. This was seconded by Councillor Mrs A R Green.
Councillor Mrs C M Wilkins expressed concern that the further design which had
been submitted within 24 hours of the meeting had been brought before the
Committee. It had been agreed some time ago that late amendments would not be
accepted and she considered that this could set a precedent.
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17 September 2009
The Committee discussed the merits of the designs that had been put forward by the
applicant.
Councillor Mrs H T Nelson, Cabinet Member for Tourism, stated that she was very
reassured over the light pollution issue. One of the most important tourist attractions
in North Norfolk was the night sky.
Councillor H C Cordeaux expressed a preference for the most recent design as he
considered that it was more in keeping with the dwelling. Whilst he would prefer a
heavier oak frame he was prepared to accept the design as drawn to avoid further
complication. As an amendment, he proposed that the applicant be requested to
formally submit an amended plan in respect of the most recent design of brick and
flint quoins and that the Head of Planning and Building Control be authorised to
approve the amended application subject to no further planning objections being
received from the Parish Council and subject to the imposition of appropriate
conditions.
On being put to the vote, the amendment was declared lost with 3 Members voting in
favour and 6 against.
The original proposition was put to the vote and it was
RESOLVED by 6 votes to 3
That the Head of Planning and Building Control be authorised to
approve this application, as amended with a thickened oak frame and
rendered panels, subject to no new grounds of objection being received
from the Parish Council and subject to the imposition of appropriate
conditions.
(104) APPLICATIONS RECOMMENDED FOR A SITE INSPECTION
The Committee considered item 3 of the officers’ reports.
RESOLVED
That consideration of this application be deferred to allow a site
inspection by the Committee and that the local Members and Town
Mayor be invited to attend:
SHERINGHAM – 20090818 - Demolish all buildings except Nos. 7, 9 and
11 Cromer Road and Erection of A1 (Retail Supermarket), 5 Class A1/A3
Retail Units, 2 Flats and a Class D1/D2 Community Space with
Associated Access, Landscaping, Car Parking and Servicing
Arrangements
The Chairman requested that Members who had not visited the Aylsham branch of
Tesco do so as it was approximately the same size as the proposed store.
The Planning Legal and Enforcement Manager stated that it had been suggested that
this application and the other Sheringham supermarket application for Greenhouse
Community Projects (20090777) be considered at a special meeting on 22 October
2009. However, this was to be confirmed.
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17 September 2009
(105) APPLICATIONS APPROVED UNDER DELEGATED POWERS
The Committee noted item 4 of the officers’ reports.
(106) APPLICATIONS REFUSED UNDER DELEGATED POWERS
The Committee noted item 5 of the officers’ reports.
(107) NEW APPEALS
The Committee noted item 6 of the officers’ reports.
(108) PUBLIC INQUIRIES AND INFORMAL HEARINGS - PROGRESS
The Committee noted item 7 of the officers’ reports.
(109) WRITTEN REPRESENTATIONS APPEALS - PROGRESS
The Committee noted item 8 of the officers’ reports.
(110) APPEAL DECISIONS
The Committee noted item 9 of the officers’ reports.
The meeting closed at 10.35 am.
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17 September 2009