Agenda item

20/01565/FUL - Demolition of no's. 163 & 165 Birmingham Road and construction of eight detached dwellings, 163 - 165 Birmingham Road, land to the rear of 151 and 157 Birmingham Road and 73 All Saints Road, Bromsgrove, W & J and R & S Thorn and Hughes

Meeting of Virtual meeting, Planning Committee, Tuesday 27th April 2021 6.00 p.m. (Item 121/20)

Minutes:

Officers clarified that the Application had been brought to the Planning Committee for consideration as the floor area of the development exceeded 1000 square metres, and therefore, under the Council’s Scheme of Delegation had to be referred to the Planning Committee for determination.

A further representation was received on 27th April 2021, which was also forwarded to all Planning Committee Members. A summary of the representation and the officer’s response was detailed in the published Committee Update, copies of which were provided to Members and published on the Council’s website prior to the commencement of the meeting.

Officers provided a detailed presentation and informed the Committee that the application site comprised of 163 and 165 Birmingham Road. These were two brick built detached dwellings that dated from the mid-19^th century and were located adjacent, thus in the setting of, the Grade II listed Bartleet House. Plus, land to the rear of 151 and 157 Birmingham Road and 73 All Saints Road, Bromsgrove.

The application sought planning permission to demolish the two existing dwellings and erect 8 detached dwellings. This would result in a net increase of 6 dwellings.

The site was (0.34ha) and was located between several residential dwellings fronting Birmingham Road, as detailed on page 30 of the main agenda report.

The effect of the proposal on nearby designated and non-designated heritage assets , the impact on the Setting of nearby Designated Heritage Asset and the Conservation Officers comments were detailed on pages 31 to 33 of the main agenda report.

There was an extant planning permission for 5 dwellings on part of the application site (20/00483/FUL). This had been approved by the Planning Committee on 7^th September 2020. This was on a site that comprised two residential dwellings fronting numbers 163 and 165 Birmingham Road and their rear garden curtilages.

The application site had been enlarged to include part of the rear curtilages of 151 and 157 Birmingham Road and 73 All Saints Road.

Officers drew Members’ attention to ‘The Planning Balance’, as detailed on page 37 of the main agenda report.

The Democratic Services Officer explained that Mr. & Mrs. W. Roberts, who had objected to the application, had emailed their concerns to all Planning Committee Members and officers had also summarised their representation in the Committee Update report. Therefore, they had chosen not to address the Committee.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Mrs. S. Jones addressed the Committee in objection to the Application. Mr. K. Lawrence, the Applicant’s architect addressed the Committee on behalf of the Applicant.

The Committee then considered the Application, which officers had recommended for approval.

Some Members commented that they were disappointed that there were no smaller dwellings on the proposed scheme and questioned the concerns raised by the residents of All Saints Road with regard to being overlooked. However, Members noted that the rear gardens of each property would comfortably exceed the Council’s minimum requirements, as detailed on page 34 of the main agenda report, which referred to the High Quality Design SPD.

In response to questions from Members with regard to amending the application, the Council’s Legal Advisor reminded the Committee that they had to determine the application as presented.

Other Members commented that the application made better use of the rear gardens on All Saints Road and Birmingham Road, then the previous application (20/00483/FUL).

Officers further responded to Members questions with regard to the objections received from The Bromsgrove Society, as detailed on page 28 of the main agenda report.

Officers stated that with regard to drainage, as detailed on page 36 of the main agenda report, North Worcestershire Water Management (NWWM) had no objections to the proposals.

There was not a blanket ban on the development of rear gardens and that the Council had a 5 year housing supply shortfall.

With regards to the layout and design, officers considered the scheme to be a good scheme and that it did its best in keeping with the character and appearance of the local environment, as detailed on page 34 of the main agenda report.

Highways Officers had raised no objections to the proposal subject to conditions.

The principle of the demolition of the non-designated heritage assets had been established with the grant of planning permission under planning application 20/00483/FUL. The new application did not alter the assessment and conclusions made at that time.

The additional houses were located to the south west and therefore further away from the listed building and it was not considered that on their own they would further harm the setting of Bartlett House.

In response to concerns raised by Members in respect of the existing boundary walls, officers referred to Condition 16, as detailed on page 41 of the main agenda report.

RESOLVED that Planning Permission be granted subject to the Conditions as set out on pages 38 to 41 of the main agenda report.

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