Development Management Committee - Wednesday, 27th May, 2015 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

All Members who believe they have a disclosable pecuniary interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting may not participate in any discussion or vote taken on the matter and if the interest is not registered, it must be disclosed to the meeting. In addition, Members are required to leave the meeting while the matter is discussed.

Having regard to the Members’ Code of Conduct, the following declarations of interest were made.  Those Members with a disclosable pecuniary interest left the meeting during the debate on the relevant agenda items:

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 29th April, 2015 (copy attached).

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 29th April, 2015 were approved and signed by the Chairman with a request that the wording on Minute No. 81 (Declarations of Interest) be amended to read ‘association with a member of the Planning Group of The Farnborough Society who leads The Farnborough Street Resident’s Association’.

RESOLVED: That

(i)            permission be given for the following applications set out in Appendix “A” attached hereto, subject to the conditions, restrictions and prohibitions (if any) mentioned therein:

*                  15/00280/FULPP       (No. 36 Woburn Avenue, Farnborough)

15/00281/ADVPP           (No. 36 Woburn Avenue, Farnborough)

*                  15/00328/NMA    (Tragordon, No. 21 York Crescent, Aldershot);

(ii)          the applications dealt with by the Head of Planning, where necessary in consultation with the Chairman, in accordance with the Council’s Scheme of Delegation, more particularly specified in Section “D” of the Head of Planning’s Report No. PLN1525, be noted; and

(iii)         the current position with regard to the following applications be noted pending consideration at a future meeting:

                   15/00068/LBC2PP    (Gun Hill House and Water Tower, Gun Hill, Aldershot)

                   15/00069/REMPP      (Gun Hill House and Water Tower, Gun Hill, Aldershot)

15/00176/FULPP            (Proposed Extension to Princes Mead, Westmead, Farnborough)

15/00194/FULPP            (Site of the former Chrismas Lodge, Evelyn Avenue, Aldershot)

15/00326/COU                (Nos. 28 – 50 Kingsmead, Farnborough).

*      The Head of Planning’s Report No. PLN1525 in respect of these applications was amended at the meeting.

In accordance with the guidelines for public participation at meetings, the following representation was made to the Committee and was duly considered before a decision was reached:

The Committee received the Head of Planning’s Report No. PLN1526 regarding the unauthorised installation of UPVC windows at No. 14 Church Circle, Farnborough.  It was reported that the site was located on the north west side of Church Circle and within the South Farnborough Conversation area.  In May, 2014, a complaint had been received that UPVC windows had been installed in the main building without the necessary planning permission. UPVC windows had also been installed in the extension which was in breach of Condition No. 2 of the planning permission for the extension.  Visits to the site had confirmed this.  The Committee was asked to note that outstanding matters relating to conditions imposed on this permission were being dealt with separately.

An objection had been received from the Council’s Conservation Officer and, following contact with the owner and the site’s agent about the breach of planning control, an e-mail had been sent to the agent/owner setting out available options and seeking a response as to the actions that would need to be taken to resolve the issue.  In the absence of a response, the Council had advised that a report would be made to Committee.  In response the agent had advised that he was waiting for a detailed survey report from his surveyor prior to meeting with the Council again to discuss how to resolve the issue.

RESOLVED: That an Enforcement Notice be served to require the replacement of the unauthorised UPVC windows with timber sliding sash windows with a period of six months for compliance for the following reason:

That the replacement windows, by reason of their inappropriate design and use of materials, detracts from the visual appearance of the building and thereby harms the overall character and appearance of the South Farnborough Conservation Area, contrary to the objectives of Policy CP2 of the Rushmoor Core Strategy, saved Local Plan Policies ENV34 and ENV36, the National Planning Policy Framework and Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act, 1990.

To consider the Head of Planning’s Report No. PLN1525 on planning applications recently submitted to the Council (copy attached with a copy of the index appended to the agenda).

The Committee received the Head of Planning’s Report No. PLN1527 which outlined the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order, 2015 which came into force on 15th April, 2015.  The Committee was informed that the Order consolidated recent legislative change and implemented further changes referred to in recent Ministerial statements. 

It was explained that one significant change to permitted development rights was that the time limited period to carry out larger domestic rear extensions under permitted development (Class A) had been extended until 30th May, 2019.  Other changes related to change of use of properties which were outlined in full in the Report.  However, it was highlighted that most new rights would be subject to a prior approval process which would allow the Council some capacity to intervene on specific matters.  This would require the person wishing to use the permitted development rights to first submit relevant details to the Council and to obtain prior approval of those details before the work could proceed as permitted development. 

Other new areas included in the permitted development rights were also fully outlined in the Report and included areas relating to solar voltaic installations on roofs of non-domestic buildings and the modification of shop loading bays.

RESOLVED: That the Head of Planning’s Report No. PLN1527 be noted.

To consider the Head of Planning’s Report No. PLN1526 (copy attached) which reports on cases of planning enforcement and possible unauthorised development.

Items for information

The Committee received the Head of Planning’s Report No. PLN1528 concerning the following appeal decision:

RESOLVED: That the Head of Planning’s Report No. PLN1528 be noted.