Application No: 20/P3364

Ward: Colliers Wood

Recommendation:  Grant Permission subject to conditions and s.106 legal agreement.   

The Planning Officer presented the report

The Committee received a verbal representation from two objectors who made points including

The  Objector commented  that  the  Committee  take  into  consideration  the importance  of  the  comments  of  the  conservation  Officer  for  Merton.  The Officerhadadvised thatanadditionalfloorproposedwouldnotbean enhancement tothe existing building, the objectorsaidthe commentswere critical.The objectorreadfromtheofficers’ commentscitingthecouncils’ policiesrelatingto the development.PoliciesNPPF,CS4 andCS14,DND 2 and 4which advises on weight, enhancement,conservation and designin the WandleValley area

•   The objector mentionedthatthescheme proposed 15 flatsnoneofwhich were affordabledwellings

•   TheObjectordidnotagreewiththePlanningOfficersreportto conserveand believedthatthepolicyrequirementis forenhancement

•   TheObjectorpointedoutthattheConservativesOfficersreportwas notat handfortheCommitteeto review at the last Planningapplication meeting.The report containedConservation andheritageviews

•  TheObjectorurgedthevotingCommitteeto lookatthesignificanceofthe

Conservationreport

•   The  Objector mentioned  that  heritage  views  took  precedence  over  other considerations

•   The  Objector felt  that  the  planning  laws  did  not  protect  heritage  and conservation

•   TheObjectorsaidthattheConservativesOfficersfoundthedevelopmentdid not enhancebutdetracts

•   The  Objectoradvisedthe  Committee  thatheritage  laws  required  that  the proposal be rejectedandvotedagainstapproval of theapplication

TheAgentfor theapplicantmadecommentsincluding

•  Thereport hadgonethroughthescrutinyoflawyers on behalf of theapplicant

•   TheConservationsreportaddressedtheconservationareaandtheeffectof thebuildingonwhichtheextensionwill go

•   Paragraph1.5ofthereportquotesthestatutorytestsoftheconservatory areas,whichin section72requiresthatattentionbepaidto thedesirabilityof

preservingor enhancement,this fulfils statutory testrequirements

•   PlanningOfficershadconcludedthattherewas aneutraleffectin relationto theheritage assetandthis metthestatutory test

•   PlanningOfficershadsetouttherighttests,thefullviews oftheConservation Officerwere setout,PlanningOfficersconcluded  thatno  harmwouldbe caused totheassetand hadmaderecommendations

•   TheAgentto theApplicantinformedtheCommitteethatthereportaddressed reasonsgivenforwhy itwas quashedby agreementonground 1,failureto includeConservationOfficers recommendations

•   TheAgenttotheApplicantreportedthatthesite isin agrowtharea,which aimsto developnew homesinfuture, makinggooduseofland,which the proposal fulfils

•   TheAgenttotheApplicanturgedtheCommitteeto revisitthelastresolution madeandreconsider.The Councils growth expectations canbedelivered

In responseto members questions raised thePlanningOfficer advisedthat

•   Theapplicantwouldhavetosubmita viabilityreport,in termsofaffordable housing,this was assessed by theCouncils independent assessor

•  There arefour single aspect unitsandtherest are dualaspect.

The PlanningOfficerclarifieda point ontheConservationOfficers reportandtoset out reasonswhy thosestepswere taken.ThattheConversations Officerscomments should be amalgamatedwithPlanningOfficersreport, as opposedto beingreported independently. This wasthereason why theConversationsOfficerreport was not included.Going  forward  the  report  will  now  been  included.  The  Planning  Officer further wentonto saythatthesingle aspectunitfollowsonfrom thelayout ofthe floors below.

Memberscontinuedwithcomments,notingthatputtingup another unit detracts and affectstheview ofsurroundingbuildingsin theconservation areaandthe design did notenhance butdetracted

The chair moved tothevote andit was

RESOLVED:

1.       ThatthePlanning Applications CommitteeREFUSED theapplicationfor the followingreasons:

-     Thatthe application detracted from theconservation area

2.   DELEGATED to theDirector ofEnvironment& Regenerationtheauthoritytomake any appropriate amendmentsin thecontextoftheabove tothewording of the grounds of refusal includingreferences to appropriatepolicies