Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence

No apologies for absence were received at the meeting.

To receive any declarations of pecuniary interest from Members.

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

Councillor Bill Trite indicated that he did not wish to participate in the discussion or vote on minute as he had chosen to comment solely as a local Ward Member. Other than speaking as local Member, he played no part in consideration of that minute.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 6 January 2021.

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 January 2021 were confirmed and

would be signed at the first opportunity.

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 consider a report by the Head of Planning.

The Committee were informed that application 6/2019/0656 – an outline application on a rural exception site for a development of 8 dwellings (6 affordable & 2 open market) with details of access (all other matters reserved) at Crack Lane, Langton Matravers - was being recommended by officers to be deferred in order to update the officer report to address the implications of the latest housing delivery figures for the Isle of Purbeck published on the 20 January 2021.

In understanding and acknowledging the reason given, the Chairman – on

behalf of the Committee - agreed that application 6/2019/0656 should be

deferred, to be considered at the earliest opportunity.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning.

The Committee considered application 6/2020/0292, to erect a temporary agricultural worker’s dwelling at New Park Farm, Dolmans Hill, Lytchett Matravers, in the form of a caravan, on land at New Park Farm, Lytchett Matravers.

With the aid of a visual presentation, officers provided context of what the

main proposals, principles and planning issues of the development were; how

these were to be progressed; what the proposal was designed to do; and

what this entailed. The temporary dwelling would be for a three year period, so as to provide the applicant with the opportunity to develop their business and test the business model.

Plans and photographs provided an illustration of where the caravan would be located, its dimensions and appearance – being in a log cabin style -  all being described to the Committee, along with what the characteristics of the landscape in which it was to be sited were. How it would be used, by whom and for what purpose was also explained: being necessary to accommodate herdsman to enable them to have close and ready access to their bovine livestock, so as to be able to monitor them at any given time. As the site was within the Dorset AONB, what considerations needed to be made and criteria to be met for such a development were outlined.

How the enterprise was proposed to be managed, so as to ensure it was as viable as it could be, was explained. A Rural Workers Dwelling Appraisal by Reading Agricultural Consultants accompanied the application, setting out the perceived necessity for such a dwelling.

Having assessed the material considerations, officers considered there not to be any matters which would warrant a refusal of planning permission. Moreover, the proposal accorded with the focus of the NPPF on building

and supporting prosperous rural economies by supporting sustainable growth and the expansion of all types of businesses in rural areas. Accordingly, officer’s recommendation was being made on that basis.

The Committee were notified of the written submissions received and

officers read these direct to the Committee. Having heard what was said, officers responded to some of the pertinent issues raised, being confident that each one could be addressed by the provisions of the application.

Lytchett Matravers Parish Council had objected to the application on the basis that a precedent would be set by allowing open countryside, particularly in the AONB,  to be compromised by very small holdings such as this being disaggregated in such a way to allow for unregulated piece meal development, particularly as there was already a ready supply of existing

accommodation locally. However the consultants had established that there were no existing dwellings on site or buildings capable of conversion or indeed any practical alternatives.

The Woodland Trust raised concerns regarding the new site location on account of potential disturbance to Old Park Farm Wood.

The opportunity was given for members to ask questions of the presentation

and what they had heard, in seeking clarification of aspects so as to have a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 172.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning.

The Committee considered an application - 6/2020/0281 - proposing

alterations to an existing dwelling at 5 Ballard Estate, Swanage, so as to erect single storey extensions with pitched roofs and insert three rooflights within the north east elevation and install a rainwater harvest tank.

With the aid of a visual presentation, officers provided context of what the

main proposals, principles and planning issues of the development were; how

these were to be progressed; what the proposal was designed to do; and

what this entailed. The presentation focused on not only what the

development entailed and its detailed design, but what effect it would have on

residential amenity and the character of that area of Swanage, being in the

Dorset AONB. The planning history of the site and the Ballard estate was described too.

Plans and photographs provided an illustration of the location, dimensions –

form, bulk, size and mass - and appearance of the extension, along with  ground floor plans, layout and elevations; comparisons between the existing dwelling and that proposed; the materials to be used; the topography of the site; its relationship with the highway network; the characteristics of the site; its relationship with other adjacent residential development; and the impact on amenity, environmental and planning designations relating to its setting within Swanage. Views into and around the application site were shown, which provided a satisfactory understanding of what the application entailed.

Whilst a number of objections had been received  including from the Town Council, assessments made by officers had considered it to be acceptable in terms of scale, height, design and layout and in terms of impact on local character and neighbouring properties and on that basis, the recommendation to approve was being made.

Following formal consultation, Swanage Town Council had objected to the

application on the grounds of its bulk and being detrimental to the street scene and character of the area, considering it to have a potential adverse impact on neighbouring amenity. Representations received from neighbouring residents, also objecting, raised concerns about the design and dimensions of the extension, with its height and mass giving rise to concerns of overbearance: being not in keeping with the character of the area. It was not seen to accord with restricted covenants and conditions emplaced on the estate – particularly that all dwellings on the estate should be single storey.

The Committee heard directly from one of the two Ward members for Swanage, Councillor Bill Trite – on this occasion solely as a Ward member in his own right – who agreed with the views of those objecting and the Town Council  - expressing concern that this could well be regarded as a two storey property and, as such, should not be supported.

In asking the Committee to refuse the application, he also asked that there be a site visit, so his concerns might be seen at first hand. The Council’s Solicitor had previously outlined the guidance from the Planning Advisory Service and the LGA that, in the current  ...  view the full minutes text for item 173.

To consider the outcomes of recent planning appeals.

For its information, the Committee received a summary of recent appeals –

and their outcomes - to planning decisions made by the Council.

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.