Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Michael Dyer and Bill Trite.

Members of the public wishing to speak to the Committee on a planning application should notify the Democratic Services Officer listed on the front of this agenda. This must be done no later than two clear working days before the meeting. Please refer to the Guide to Public Speaking at Planning Committee.

Representations by the public to the Committee on individual planning applications are detailed below. There were no questions, petitions or deputations received on other items on this occasion.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2020.

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2020 were confirmed and signed.

To receive any declarations of interest

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made at the meeting.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning.

The Committee were informed that, owing to the imminent publication of the Inspector’s letter on the Emerging Purbeck Local Plan, consideration of planning application 6/2019/0585, for the erection of 9 dwellings and associated works at the former Royal British Legion Club, Wimborne Road, Lytchett Matravers was to be deferred until the next meeting of the Committee, scheduled for 2 April 2020.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning.

The Committee considered application 3/18/2612 for the provision of a car park to provide 56 designated spaces in place of the existing informal parking area, the removal of trees and associated replacement tree planting and

Landscaping - as amended - to benefit the practical management of The Sheiling Community, Horton Road, Ashley Heath. A more regulated and rationalised management of the parking arrangements would address the issue of indiscriminate parking throughout the site.

With the aid of a visual presentation, officers explained what the main

proposals and planning issues of the development were; how these were to

be progressed; why they were necessary; and what the benefits of the development entailed. Plans and photographs provided an illustration of the

location, dimensions and configuration of the car park, with the presentation

also confirming what the traffic management and access arrangements being proposed would be; how it would look and its setting in the landscape, which was incorporated within the Green Belt. Officers showed its relationship with the Sheiling Community campus and neighbouring property. The

characteristics and topography of the site was shown; what trees were there currently; which ones would be felled and those retained; and what provision there would be for replacement and replanting. The activities and operations in the Community were described in detail by officers, with the measures being beneficial in preventing conflicts between car users and students by moving as many staff cars as possible away from the informal parking areas and out of the student accessible areas.

A previous application had been refused on the grounds that no very special circumstances had been set out to justify a use of land in the way it was being proposed, which would result in inappropriate development causing detriment to the openness of the Green Belt and the proposed car park would damage the generally rural character of this countryside area, as well as being detrimental to what trees were there – these being subject to a Tree Preservation Order - and how their integrity would be compromised.

The amended proposals still represented inappropriate development in, and was harmful to the Green Belt, by definition. However, the current application included planting of additional trees, the landscape management proposals, and reduction in the number of car parking spaces which would be clearly delineated and made readily accessible to the needs of drivers. In addition a more regulated and rationalised management of the parking arrangements would address previous concerns, with the benefits to the wellbeing of the pupils of the facility from reducing the number of vehicles moving within the main campus. These factors, together with the national significance of the Sheiling Community’s Special Educational Needs work, represented the very special circumstances that would outweigh the harm to the Green Belt.

On that basis and this being seen as acceptable, officers were now recommending that this application be approved.

Formal consultation had generated a sustained objection from Dorset Council’s Tree Officer at the loss of trees, whilst St Leonards & St  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

The Committee considered an application 3/19/2441/HOU for development at 74 Amyesford Road Ferndown to raise the roof and ridge height of the property to create first floor, habitable accommodation with a dormer window to its south elevation and three roof lights to the south and north elevations. The application was designed to benefit what living space there was available to the occupants so as to enhance their quality of life and enjoyment of their home.

With the aid of a visual presentation, officers explained what the main proposals and planning issues of the development were; how these were to be progressed; and what the benefits of the development entailed. Plans and photographs provided an illustration of the location, dimensions, elevations and design of the development; how the property would look and; the development’s relationship with the characteristics of neighbouring properties; surrounding town development and landscape around Ameyford Road.

A previous application had been refused on the grounds of an excessive increase in height, bulk, design and scale of the development which and in being overbearing, given its close proximity to 30 Maple Drive and that the scale, design and visual impact would be out of keeping with the character and spatial quality of surrounding properties.

However, the amended scheme was seen to have addressed the concerns previously raised, by simplifying and reducing the amount of additional roof extension, so as to mitigate the visual impact of the development on the character and appearance of the area and on neighbouring properties. The amended design has considered the site location adjacent to other dwellings and to its position on a prominent corner in the street scene. The ridge length would be reduced, and the gables removed to give a simple, hipped sloping roof to the eastern facing elevation. The outward facing elevations were now to be simple roof slopes, with rooflights facing north, with the roof over the garage being simplified to retain the spaciousness between the site and 30 Maple Drive. The north facing dormer windows had been removed and replaced by three, high level roof lights, which had removed additional bulk and reduced the  overall prominence of the roof form. Whilst there was a dormer window to the side roof slope serving the stairway and which was not characteristic of the area, the proposed dormer was not readily visible and, as such, would be acceptable.

Overall, the amended proposal was seen to have taken into consideration the planning inspector’s comments in his previous refusal and being amended following pre-application consideration. For those reasons, it is considered that the proposed amendments had overcome the previous reasons for refusal. As such, it was considered that, on balance, the proposal would be compatible with its surroundings in respect of its scale, height, design, materials and visual impact and, on that basis, was seen as acceptable, with officers now recommending that this application be approved.

Formal consultation had generated objections from a number of local residents that the development would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning.

The Committee considered application 3/19/1365/FUL for the erection of 14 commercial units for B1(b), B1(c) and B8 use, together with access and associated parking at land north of Casa Velha, Ringwood Road, Three Legged Cross to provide capacity for light industrial and storage businesses to complement the principle of new employment development to meet economic need.

Whilst the application site had not been allocated for employment development in the Christchurch and East Dorset Local Plan Part 1 – Core Strategy, it was located within the urban area of Three Legged Cross and, as such, the principle of new employment development was generally acceptable subject to compliance with other relevant planning policy.

With the aid of a visual presentation and having regard to the provisions of the Update Sheet, officers explained what the main proposals and planning issues of the development were; how these were to be progressed; and what the benefits of the development entailed. Plans and photographs provided an illustration of the location, dimensions, configuration and design of the development, with the presentation also confirming what the highways and access arrangements being proposed would be – in sharing the access with the Oakdene Nursing Home; what the landscaping and tree retention arrangements would be; how the units would look and their setting within that part of Three Legged Cross; and showed the development’s relationship with Oakdene Nursing Home, together with the characteristics of the surrounding area.

In response to consultee comments and officer concerns, an amended application was submitted - which members were now being asked to consider - proposed that:

·       units be moved further away from Ringwood Road to allow existing vegetation to be retained and additional landscaping added,

·       units be moved away from the southern boundary, with additional landscaping added,

·       unit layout be revised and reconfigured and allow for the above changes,

·       units fronting Ringwood Road to be reduced from 5 to 4 units and divided into one, separate larger unit and a block of 3, to improve management of the site,

·       eaves height of units to the south be reduced to the rear, to reduce bulk and

impact on neighbouring amenity,

·       additional landscaping be provided to the western boundary.

Given these revisions, it was considered that, on balance, the proposal was now acceptable and officers were now recommending that this application be approved.

Formal consultation had generated objections from a number of local residents and the East Dorset Environmental Partnership (EDEP) concerned that the development would be out of keeping with the characteristics of the area; did not comply with the fundamental principles of the Core Strategy and prove to be a nuisance and cause a disturbance to neighbouring residential property and the adjacent Oakdene Nursing Home. Verwood Town Council objected on the grounds that the proposals were contrary to Policy HE2 of the Christchurch and East Dorset Core Strategy (Part 1) 2014 in terms of layout; its site coverage having a detrimental impact on the residents of the adjacent nursing home, architectural  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79.

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972

The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items for consideration at the meeting.

 Update Sheet