The proposal sought variation of conditions 8 (wheelwashing facilities) and 12 (drawing numbers) of planning application ref SE/12/00765/FUL to revise the design and siting of the garage block approved and approve wheelwashing facilities. The permission related to the erection of three houses with rear garaging and forecourt with ancillary landscaping and a new footway.

 

The garage as previously approved would comprise a block of three single-width garages sited broadly at right angles to the rear boundary of Well Cottage towards the rear of the site.  It would be set back from the boundary with Well Cottage by between 5-7m. The scheme now proposed increasing the depth of the garage block by 3m by adding secure storage areas at the rear of each garage. The garages would therefore be 2-4m from the boundary with Well Cottage rather than the previous 5-7m. The eves height would rise to 2.5m at the front of the garage but would be only 1.8m to the rear. The ridge height would rise by 0.16m.

 

The report advised that the development would preserve those trees on the site which were important to the visual amenities of the locality, the special character and appearance of the Conservation Area and the setting of the adjacent listed buildings. Any potentially significant impact on the amenities of nearby dwellings could be satisfactorily mitigated by way of the conditions imposed.

 

Members’ attention was drawn to the tabled Late Observations sheet.

 

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

 

Against the Application:       Ritch Sibthorpe

 

For the Application:              Graham Norton

 

Parish Representative:         -

 

Local Member:                      Cllr. Miss. Stack

 

It was noted that a Members’ Site Inspection had been held for this application.

 

In response to a question Officers confirmed that the neighbouring wall was listed as it was connected to Rose Cottage. The public speaker against the application presumed that this wall was owned by the applicant. Where the area was most open the wall was 2.7m tall from the side of the application site.

 

Permitted Development rights had been removed from the site and so the owners would have no automatic right to install a shed.

 

It was MOVED by the Chairman and was duly seconded that the recommendation in the report, as amended by the Late Observations Sheet, to grant permission subject to conditions be adopted.

 

Concerns were raised regarding the impact of the garages on the conservation area, on the listed wall and on neighbouring amenity. It was suggested that the increased height could make the garages visible from the neighbouring properties, especially if some of the boundary foliage were lost.

 

Other Members suggested it was unlikely the extension to the garage could be seen from next door because the wall was sufficiently high and the garage roof sloped away from the adjoining properties..

 

One Member noted that the increased storage area could benefit the site as it would reduce the number of objects left in the open.

 

The motion was put to the vote and there voted –

 

11 votes in favour of the motion

 

4 votes against the motion

 

Resolved: That

 

A. That subject to the submission of an agreed and signed Deed of Variation in respect of the Affordable Housing Contribution by midday on 26^th November 2012, planning permission be GRANTED  subject to the conditions below:

 

1)      The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

 

In pursuance of section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

 

2)      No occupation shall commence until full details of soft landscape works have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Council.  Those details shall include:

-         planting plans (identifying existing planting, plants to be retained and new planting);

-         written specifications (including cultivation and other operations associated with plant and grass establishment);

-         schedules of new plants (noting species, size of stock at time of planting and proposed number/densities where appropriate); and

-         a programme of implementation

-         details of all materials proposed for hard landscaping.

The scheme shall be carried out in accordance with the approved plans. If within a period of 5 years from the completion of the planting scheme any of the plants die, become diseased, are damaged or removed, the plants shall be replaced with a species, of a size and in a position to be agreed with the Local Planning Authority.

 

To ensure a satisfactory appearance upon completion in accordance with the provisions of policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks District Local Plan.

 

3)      No occupation shall take place until the first floor bathroom window in the flank elevation of unit 1 has been fitted with obscured glass and fixed permanently shut.  The window shall be retained permanently as such thereafter.

 

To protect the privacy and amenities of the adjacent residents in accordance with the provisions of policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks District Local Plan.

 

4)      Notwithstanding the submitted drawings, no occupation shall take place until details have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority  of:

-         details of any repairs/replacement to the existing boundary wall between this site and the adjacent houses of St Ediths View, Well Cottage and Rose Cottage.

-         proposed means of boundary treatment along the rear of the site

The approved scheme for the means of enclosure around the whole site shall be carried out in accordance with the approved plans prior to first occupation  and shall be permanently retained thereafter.

 

To ensure a satisfactory appearance within this Conservation Area in accordance with the provisions of policies EN1 and EN23 of the Sevenoaks District Local Plan and policy SP1 of the Core Strategy.

 

5)      No extension or external alterations shall be carried out to the houses; hereby approved, despite the provisions of any Development Order.

 

In the interests of the character and amenities of the surrounding Conservation area.

 

6)      No window(s) or other opening(s) shall be inserted at any time in the houses or garages hereby approved without the prior approval in writing of the Local Planning Authority despite the provisions of any Development Order.

 

To protect the amenities of nearby residents and character and appearance of the surrounding conservation area in accordance with the provisions of policies EN1 and EN23 of the Sevenoaks District Local Plan and policy SP1 of the Core Strategy.

 

7)      No occupation of the development hereby permitted shall take place until the access, garaging, car parking and turning areas shown on the approved plan have been provided.  Thereafter no development shall take place that would prevent the permanent use of the access, garages and parking spaces for that purpose.

 

To ensure satisfactory levels of off street parking.

 

8)      No occupation shall take place until details have been submitted in writing to and approved by the Local Planning Authority of a scheme to demonstrate that the visibility splays shown on the approved drawing can be achieved. No occupation shall take place until the visibility splays are formed in accordance with the approved scheme. Thereafter no development or planting shall obscure the visibility splays between a height of 0.6m above ground - 2m above ground.

 

In the interests of highways safety.

 

9)      The scheme shall be constructed using the following materials unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority:Wienerberger Bloomsbury Multi Stock Brick, Terca Baggeridge Warnham Red Stock, Keymer Traditional Elizabethan Tiles,  Sandtoft Village Blend tiles, Redland Cambrian Natural Weathered Slates.

 

To ensure satisfactory appearance upon completion.

 

10)    No building or enclosure other than those shown on the approved plans shall be erected within the curtilage of the dwelling hereby approved, despite the provisions of any Development Order.

 

In the interests of the character and amenities of the surrounding Conservation Area.

 

11)    Wheelwashing facilities shall be provided on site for the duration of the development works and shall be provided in accordance with the details shown on drawing number PLK-104.

To ensure that no mud or other debris is deposited on the nearby public highway.

 

12)    The scheme shall be carried out in accordance with the following plans: PLK-500,PLK- 004C, 009C, 020A,100, 101F, -103, 104, 010C, 1002B, 200, 202, 203, 204.

 

In the interests of the proper planning of the area.

 

Or,

 

B. If an agreed and signed Deed of Variation has not been submitted by midday on 26^th November 2012  permission shall be REFUSED because –

 

The proposed development makes no provision for a contribution towards the Councils Affordable Housing initiative and, nor has it been demonstrated that such a contribution would render the scheme unviable.  This scheme is therefore contrary to the provisions of policy SP3 of the Sevenoaks Core Strategy and policy H3 of the South East Plan.