Agenda item

Erection of 3 dwellings, new vehicular and pedestrian access & associated parking (outline application to determine access, layout & scale only).

The Case Officer presented to members the Erection of 3 dwellings, new vehicular and pedestrian access & associated parking. Members were shown the location of the site as well as aerial photographs and views from neighbouring properties. The proposed elevations of the dwellings were also presented. Members were provided with details of the AONB, they were informed that the site was near but not within it and the proposed site didn’t cause any harm to it. The recommendation was to grant planning permission.

Public Participation

Members of the public and the Parish Council spoke in objection of the planning application. They raised their concerns regarding the development being outside the settlement boundary and the damage it would have caused to the AONB. Neighbours to the proposed site were concerned about privacy as a well-used area in their garden would’ve been completely overlooked due to the plans of the roof height being metres higher than their home. The Parish Council didn’t see any environmental, social, or economic benefits of the development and didn’t believe that it met the need of the village. The public reminded members to refer to the neighbouring plan as it reflected the setting and heritage of the village, they believed that this development would have been detrimental to the area. Particularly ruining views from listed buildings. They urged the committee to refuse the planning application.

The agent spoke on behalf of the applicant. She shed light on the council’s position to provide housing on suitable land for developments and gave details of the size of the development. She believed that the site was an appropriate size and would be an asset to the village. The agent asked the members to support the recommendation to approve planning permission.

Members questions and comments

·       Further development in the area

·       Confirmation on ridge height of the proposed dwellings.

·       Impact on AONB and nearby listed buildings

·       Risk of flooding

·       Visual harm of the development to the area.

·       Impacts on the amenities of the existing dwellings.

·       Members raised their concerns regarding the proposed site being outside of the settlement boundary. Officers were commended for reducing the number of dwellings, however, members believed that the development was not needed in the area. Members discussed the importance of following local neighbourhood plans, therefore didn’t approve of a development being outside the settlement boundary.

Having had the opportunity to discuss the merits of the application and an understanding of all this entailed; having considered the officer’s report and presentation; the written representatives; and what they had heard at the meeting, in being proposed by Cllr Ridout and seconded by Cllr Pothecry.

Decision: To overturn the proposal and refuse the planning application for the following reasons:

The location of the proposed development would extend beyond the existing built form into the undeveloped landscape, impacting important views across the existing undeveloped paddocks and towards the Grade II listed Church tower to the detriment of the landscape quality of the area, the setting of the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire AONB and the setting of the listed Church. Accordingly, the proposal was considered to be contrary to sections 12, 15 and 16 of the National Planning Policy Framework, policies 4, 5 and 24 of the North Dorset Local Plan and policies 1, 2, 3 and 10 of the Bourton Neighbourhood Plan.