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.

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

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 11 January 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2024 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.

Erection new dwelling. Construct swimming pool and pool plant house. Alterations and extensions to Dower House to provide enhanced internal accommodation; part demolition including existing boiler room, utility room, conservatory, garage, walling, structures within courtyard and detached outbuilding. Reinstatement of carriageway, gates and piers and boundary enclosure; erection of bike stores.

The Lead Project Officer presented the application for the erection of a new dwelling and alternations to an existing dwelling on the Parnham Estate.

Members were shown the location of the application site and an aerial view of the area with the site boundaries highlighted. The site fell within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and outside the Defined Development Boundary. It was also noted that the setting of Parnham House was Grade I listed, the Registered Park and Gardens Grade II* listed and Dower House was Grade II listed.

Photographs of Parnham House were shown, and it was explained that a fire in 2017 had caused extensive internal damage to the building and restoration work was currently ongoing. The Lead Project Officer explained the location of Dower House in relation to Parnham House and provided plans outlining the parts of the dwelling which were proposed to be demolished. Photographs of the tracks linking the two buildings, the access and parking area were also shown.

An application for an extension to the Dower House was approved in 2021 and the current plans were similar in regard to design, scale and materials to the approved application from 2021. The floorplans and elevations of the proposed new dwelling were shown to members, it was explained that it would be a more modern design but use similar materials to the existing Dower House. Both dwellings were intended to be used as holiday lets.

The Lead Project Officer explained that the new dwelling was considered to cause less than substantial harm to Parnham House, Dower House and the Registered Park and Gardens. The new building would approximately double the footprint of the development at the entrance to the estate and the scale of the development was considered to be harmful to the setting of the listed buildings. The public benefits of the application were considered to be limited and included the economic benefits of providing a single holiday let accommodation to the area, increasing choice of holiday accommodation and a biodiversity net gain. It was not considered that the public benefits outweighed the harm caused to the heritage assets.

Public representations were received from the applicant, Mr Grant, Cllr Monks Chairman of Beaminster Town Council and Cllr Alford the member of the adjacent ward to the application site, who all spoke in support of the application. It was highlighted that this application was necessary to create a sustainable business that would in turn support the restoration of Parnham House and the importance of the economic benefits that the application would bring to Beaminster.

In response to questions from members the Lead Project Officer provided the following responses:

·       The historic route linking Parnham House with Dower House contributed to the setting of Parham House and held heritage value and therefore it was considered there was some harm being caused by the additional dwelling.

·       A Section 106 would be needed to link the proposed dwelling as holiday accommodation to the Parnham estate to ensure that it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

Construction of 13 Storage Units.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the application for the construction of 13 storage units. The application had come to committee due to part of the application site being on Dorset Council owned land.

The location of the site within Lyme Regis was shown and the area of land that was owned by Dorset Council was highlighted. Photographs of the access to the site, the site itself and the boundaries of the site were shown to members.

The proposal included the situating of 13 storage units, additional landscaping and a parking area and the proposed plans were shown to members. The proposal was considered to be acceptable subject to conditions.

In response to a question from one member the Senior Planning Officer assured the committee that there would be no adverse impact on the neighbouring medical centre as a result of the proposal.

Members were in agreement that the application posed no issues.

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.

Erect rear/side single storey extension.

The Planning Officer presented the application for the erection of a single storey rear and side extension to a residential dwelling in Portland. It was explained that the application had come to the committee for determination because part of the application site was Dorset Council owned land.

The location of the application site was outlined on a map of Portland and the area of the site owned by Dorset Council was also highlighted. The site fell within the Defined Development Boundary and within the Neighbourhood Plan Area.

The existing and proposed elevations and floorplans of the dwelling were shown to members, as well as photographs of the property showing where the proposed extension would be located.

Members felt that the extension would be in keeping with the residential area and did not present any issues.

Proposed by Cllr Kimber and seconded by Cllr Cocking.

Decision: That the application be granted subject to the conditions set out in 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 scheduled exempt business for this meeting.

There was no exempt business.