Agenda and minutes

To disclose any pecuniary, other registerable or non-registrable interest as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their disclosure councillors are asked to state the agenda item, the nature of the interest and any action they propose to take as part of their declaration.

If required, further advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

Cllrs Bolwell and Clayton declared an interest in item 5e and 5f due to having sat on the Bridport Town Council Planning Committee, which expressed support for these applications and therefore left the Council Chamber for the duration of these items. Cllr Bolwell also clarified that item 5c had been considered by the Symondsbury Parish Council not the Bridport Town Council and that he would take part in that item.

Cllr Williams declared an interest in items 5e and 5f due to knowing the applicant and left the Council Chamber for the duration of these items.

Cllr Kimber declared an interest in item 5a due to being pre-determined on the application and left the Council Chamber for the duration of this item.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 19 October 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 October 2023 were confirmed and signed.

To consider the applications listed below for planning permission

Members considered written reports submitted on planning applications as set out below.

Conversion of existing hostel accommodation into 5 No. residential flats.  Install solar panels.

Cllr Kimber had declared an interest in this item, he left the Council Chamber and did not take part in this item.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the application for the conversion of an existing 28 bed youth hostel into 5 residential flats. She noted that the application no longer included the installation of solar panels, but instead included the installation of a roof vent. The application had come to committee because Dorset Council was the landowner and applicant.

Members were shown the location of the application site within Portland and photographs of the building and its surrounding areas. It was also explained that the site fell within the Underhill Conservation Area.

The existing and proposed layout of the building were shown to members, as well as the existing and proposed elevations, showing little change other than an accessibility ramp and the proposed roof vent.

The Senior Planning Officer explained that, although the Local Plan stated that the loss of tourism accommodation should be avoided, due to a restructuring of the Youth Hostel Association, the building was no longer viable as a youth hostel and the lease had not been renewed. The building had not been used as a youth hostel since before the pandemic, as such it was appropriate that the building be used for other purposes and the benefits of the provision of housing outweighed the loss of tourism accommodation.

In response to a question from one member, the Development Management Area Manager S/W stated that it was not necessary to condition the specifics of who would use the residential flats given the site’s sustainable location within the defined development boundary and lack of policy justification for doing so.

Members were in agreement that there were no issues with the application as set out before them.

Proposed by Cllr Clayton and seconded by Cllr Worth.

Decision: That the application be granted subject to the conditions set out in the appendix to these minutes.

Cllr Kimber returned to the Council Chamber.

Removal and reinstatement of railing to Harbour Wall 4 to facilitate permitted development works to Repair, refurbish, and maintain harbour Walls 4 and 4i including raising of the capping beam to improve level of flood protection.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the application for the removal and reinstatement of railings, to facilitate repair works to the Harbour wall in Weymouth. The application had come to committee because Dorset Council was the landowner and the applicant. It was also explained that the scope of the application had been reduced, as some of the railings fell under permitted development due to being under 1 metre high.

The proposed plans were shown to members, with the location of the works highlighted. Photographs of the railings, which were set to be removed and reinstalled, were also provided. Although there would be a harmful impact to the area from the railings being removed, because they were to be reinstated, there was not considered to be any overall harm.

Members felt that there were no issues with the application, as it was needed to facilitate repairs to the Harbour Wall.

Proposed by Cllr Worth and seconded by Cllr Williams.

Decision: That the application be granted subject to the conditions set out in the appendix to these minutes.

Retain and alter ancillary building.

The Planning Officer presented the application for the retention and alteration of an ancillary building. Members were shown the location of the application site outside of Bridport. The application site fell outside of the Defined Development Boundary and was not a listed building.

The existing floor plan and elevations were shown to members as well as the proposed floor plan and elevations. It was explained that the decking area and steps would be removed, and the size of the building would be reduced by approximately 1/3^rd.

The design and scale of the building were considered to be acceptable and would not cause harm to the AONB. There were also not considered to be any impacts on highways or wildlife and habitat. It was confirmed that the building would not be used for holiday accommodation, and this was included in the conditions.

Public representation was received from Mr Ludgate, the agent for the applicant, who spoke in favour of the application.

The Senior Lawyer clarified that a Section 106 legal agreement was necessary, in order to ensure the works were carried out within 6 months.

Proposed by Cllr Worth and seconded by Cllr Kimber.

Decision: That authority be delegated to the Head of Planning and the Service Manager for Development Management and Enforcement to grant planning permission subject to the completion of a S106 agreement to require that the works to alter the building in accordance with the approved plans are carried out within six months of the date of the planning permission and subject to the planning conditions set out in the appendix to these minutes.

Form new roof structure, (remove remnants of existing) and covering together with reinstatement of entrance door and side window within existing opening.

The Planning Officer presented the application for the formation of a new roof structure and covering, together with the reinstatement of an entrance door and side window. The location of the site within Portland was shown to members, as well as an aerial image of the application site. The site fell within the Fortuneswell Defined Development Boundary and was not a listed building, but did sit within the setting of a building of local importance.

Photographs of the existing building were provided, as well as the existing and proposed floor plan and elevations. The principle of development was considered to be acceptable due to the application being within the Defined Development Boundary and due to being in keeping with the character of the area.

Several members felt that this application would bring benefits to the area due to the reinstatement of a building that had fallen out of use.

Proposed by Cllr Williams and seconded by Cllr Kimber.

Decision: That the application be granted subject to the conditions set out in the appendix to these minutes. 

Install Solar Thermal Panels.

Cllr Bolwell, Clayton and Williams declared an interest in this item and left the meeting.

Applications P/HOU/2023/04779 and Application P/LBC/2023/04780 were presented together, as they related to the same dwelling.

The Planning Officer presented the applications for the installation of two roof mounted solar panels and listed building consent. The application had come to committee because it had been supported by Bridport Town Council which was contrary to the officer’s recommendation.

The location of the site within Bridport was highlighted, the application site fell within the Bridport Conservation Area, was a Grade II listed building in its own right and was also part of a group of six surrounding listed buildings, which had group value.

The Planning Officer detailed the planning history of the site, noting that the application had previously been rejected in 2008 and 2011, as the solar panels were considered to cause an adverse impact on the character and setting of the area. Appeals for the 2011 applications had also been dismissed, as the benefits of renewable energy provision did not outweigh the harm to the listed building and the conservation area.   

Photographs were provided of the property and its surrounding area showing where the solar panels would be installed and the nearby listed buildings. The Planning Officer explained that policies in the NPPF stated that great weight was given to the conservation of designated heritage assets and any level of harm to a heritage asset required clear and convincing justification.

The scale and design of the application were considered to cause harm to the character of the area and the applicant had failed to demonstrate that the same energy efficiency benefits couldn’t be achieved by other forms of renewable energy elsewhere on the property without causing this level of harm to the character and setting of the listed building and conservation area.

Public representation was received from Mr Ludgate, the agent for the applicant, who spoke in support of the application. He noted the small scale of and temporary nature of the solar panels and the important renewable energy benefits that they would provide.

In response to questions from members the Planning Officer stated that although the solar panels were reversable, the lifespan of the panels was not known, and they were unlikely to be removed. It was considered that they would cause harm to the area and designated heritage assets whilst they were in place. There had also not been any engagement from the applicant to look at alternative proposals that would provide energy saving benefits without causing harm to a heritage asset.

Members felt that the impact that the application would have on the character of the area was too severe to be outweighed by the modest renewable energy benefits and that the applicant needed to explore other possible renewable energy options.

Proposed by Cllr Worth and seconded by Cllr Ireland.

Decision: That the application be refused for the reasons set out within the appendix to these minutes.    

Install Roof Mounted Solar Thermal Panels.

Proposed by Cllr Worth and seconded by Cllr Ireland.

Decision: That the application be refused for the reasons set out within the appendix to these minutes.    

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.

To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered.

There is no exempt business scheduled for this meeting.

There was no exempt business.