Application Number: 19/P1743                  Ward: Village

Officer Recommendation: GRANT Planning permission subject to conditions

PAC Resolved that Application 19/P1743 is:

Granted Planning Permission subject to Conditions

Proposal: Erection of a two storey rear extension, single storey rear and side extensions, provision of accommodation at basement level and conversion of roof space including rear roof extension, erection of garage, new vehicular access onto Lancaster road, together with associated landscaping works.

The Committee noted the officer’s report and presentation and additional information in the Supplementary Agenda-Modifications

The Committee received verbal representations from two objectors to the application, who made points including:

·         The application needs to respect the privacy of neighbouring locally listed property. This can be done by adding a condition to increase the height of the wall by screening or trellis.

·         The application seeks to remove a group of trees to make way for the garage. However if this garage was moved to the other side of the house the trees could be retained or replaced thus preserving the privacy of the neighbouring property.

·         This application will increase the floorspace and value of the property and it is not unreasonable to expect the applicant to respect the privacy of neighbours

·         A further condition is required to mitigate traffic problems as the new car entrance will be on a single track road.

The Committee received a presentation from the applicant’s agent, who made points including:

·         The property requires modernisation

·         We have met with Council Officers

·         The External finish on the building will be high quality and will complement the Conservation area

·         The Council’s tree Officer has visited and given full approval to the landscaping plans. Some of the trees being removed are diseased, and the remaining trees will be protected by the plan and by TPO

·         Removal of 2.5m of the boundary wall will not harm the conservation area, will allow cars to be parked on site and will ease demand for on street parking in the area.

·         The house is a positive building in the Conservation area, and the removal of the wall will open up the view of the house

·         The Conditions include some obscure glazed windows to ensure privacy

In reply to the neighbours suggested conditions the Planning Officer said that;

·         It would be difficult to raise the boundary wall height within this scheme,

·         Moving the position of the garage could not be done by condition

·         A construction Traffic Management Plan could be requested

In reply to members’ questions the Planning Officer made points including:

·         The current door in the wall will remain

·         In planning terms trees are not considered as screening because they change size and cannot be relied on in perpetuity. There is a condition to provide further landscaping. The condition on Boundary treatment could include the requirement for a trellis to increase height

Members commented that that the proposed opening in the wall was appropriate in the light of the visual aspect of the house it would afford.

Members asked officers to include a condition to ensure that this opening contained gates that could be seen through.

RESOLVED

The Committee voted unanimously to GRANT Planning Permission subject to conditions in the officer’s report and additional and amended conditions regarding the wall, gate and construction traffic management plan. The wording of these additional and amended conditions is delegated to the Director of Environment and Regeneration