Agenda item

This Application had been brought to the Planning Committee for consideration at the request of Councillor M. Marshall, Ward Councillor. At this stage in the meeting Councillor M. Marshall sat in the public gallery.

It was noted that there was no Committee Update for this item.

Officers presented the report and presentation slides, as detailed on pages 76 to 83 of the main agenda pack.

Members’ attention was drawn to the objections received and the principal issues raised, as detailed on pages 62 and 63 of the main agenda pack.

Members were asked to note that Worcestershire County Council (WCC),  Highways and the Council’s Conservation Officer had raised no objections to the application. A Construction Environment Management Plan (CEMP) had been submitted and accepted. A bat survey had also been submitted, and biodiversity net gain had been addressed.

The site was located at 7 Churchfields Road and measured approximately 0.053 hectares. The surrounding properties were residential. The site was bound by No.5 and No.9 Churchfields Road. The site was currently a pitched roof bungalow. There was a hardstanding driveway in the form of bricked paving, as well as a front garden and rear garden. The site was located within the residential area of Sidemoor, immediately adjacent to the west of Bromsgrove Town Centre.

The proposal for this planning application was for the demolition of the existing bungalow and the erection of 3 dwellings (3 x 2 bedroom), with associated external works and car parking. The three dwellings would form a terraced block. The size and measurements of the proposed 3 dwellings were detailed on page 65 of the main agenda pack.

With regard to the proposed garden area for the future occupiers of the development, the Council's High Quality Design SPD recommended a minimum garden area of 70 square metres for all dwellings and a minimum garden length of 10.5 metres for two storey dwellings.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Mr. S. Martin, on behalf of local residents addressed the Committee in objection to the application. Councillor M. Marshall, Ward Councillor, also addressed the Committee in objection to the application.

Having addressed the Committee, Councillor M. Marshall left the meeting room.

Members then considered the application which officers had recommended be granted.

Members raised a number of questions and concerns in respect of the following issues:-

·       Car parking spacing - were the spaces 4.5 metres or less than 4.5 metres? Was there sufficient space for 4.5 metre car parking spaces once the dwellings have been built? The area was a very tight area.

·       Visibility Splays – some Members had serious concerns about this and were of the opinion that the visibility splays had not been assessed with due diligence. There was a telegraph pole in situ which vehicles would have to reverse around.

·       Look at housing needs, were bungalows in demand?

A deferment of the application was briefly referred to, in order to enable a robust assessment, with due diligence, to be carried out.

Some Members expressed their disappointment with the WCC, Highways Officer leaving the meeting prior to this application being presented.

Officers explained that WCC Highways attended Planning Committee meetings in a strategic role.

Officers further responded and in doing so, highlighted that WCC Highways had not raised any objections to the application. WCC Highways had assessed the application, and it met the required criteria. The car parking spaces would be the standard 4.5 metres, and all three dwellings would each have 2 designated parking spaces, therefore meeting the requirements of the Streetscape Design Guide. The Local Development Plan did look at smaller dwellings, however, the need for bungalows was determined by the market.

With the agreement of the Chairman, the Council’s Legal Advisor drew Members’ attention to Condition 6, as detailed on page 72 of the main agenda ack, which stated that:-

‘The development hereby approved shall not be occupied until the access and parking facilities have been provided as shown on drawing 25-10-01.

Reason: To ensure conformity with submitted details.’

Some Members further reiterated that they had serious concerns about the visibility splays and the severe impact on the highway, referring again to the telegraph pole in situ and the area being tight for vehicles to manoeuvre safely.

A Recommendation to defer the application was proposed and seconded and on being put to the vote, it was

RESOLVED that the planning application be deferred pending further reconsideration by Worcestershire County Council, Highways.