Notes & Decisions of the Planning and Development Committee Meeting

 Held on Wed 16th December 2015 at the John Lampon Hall at 7.30pm

Planning Committee Members:	Bob Tyrell (Chair), Brian Butcher ( Vice Chair), Murray Harlow, Andrew Savage & Laura Walkingshaw (Parish Clerk)	Next meeting: Wed 20th Jan 2016 in the J L Hall
Apologies:	Chris Stevenson, Phil Cook, Philip Spencer
Members of the public present:	3
Declarations of Interest:	None

It is the aim of the Parish Council to seek a high standard of design for all new developments and extensions in the Village .

Item 1:         To receive any pre-application representations regarding proposed planning applications

Item 2:         Other matters –

Review Planning Decisions – Planning Decisions were reviewed.

Item 3:         Current planning applications

Location	Proposal	Application No. and link to CBC planning website	Object / Support / Observations	Decision or Recommendation	Comments by Planning Committee
Bacote, The Crescent, West Bergholt, CO6 3DA	Demolition of single storey extension and construction of two storey extension.	152541	Support	Decision	The Parish Council would support the application assuming the Planning Officer ensures any appropriate roof lights are constructed of obscured glass.
31 Albany Road, West Bergholt, CO6 3LB	Single and two storey extensions to the rear and side of existing dwelling to replace existing garage and lobby, plus internal alterations.	152639	Observation	Decision	The Parish Council notes that part of our previous concerns with the proposed application have been addressed and sees that the mass has been reduced in size. However, the proposal is still very large compared to the adjacent bungalow and therefore the lack of a street scene again makes it difficult to determine the true impact so that the Planning Officer can ensure that the proposed extension will provide a positive contribution to the streetscape (please refer to DG7 & DG8 of the Village Design Statement). Also,with regards to parking provision (please refer to DG35 & DG36 of the VDS), the Parish Council looks to the Planner Officer to check that the application complies with the Borough’s parking standards and Essex Design Guide.
Land north of Poplar Cottage, Spring Lane, West Bergholt, CO6 3HJ	Proposed construction of 1.5 storey detached dwelling and associated landscaping.	152673	Object	Decision	The Parish Council has no concerns with the design of the house itself, however finds it impossible to relate the elevations to the adjoining properties as there is no street scene provided, please refer to DG7 & DG8 of the Village Design Statement. In particular, the Parish Council cannot determine the relative levels to the neighbouring Salix and other surrounding buildings, in order to establish the dwelling’s mass in relation to them.  Based on a previous planning decision in Donard Drive, we would like to see levels of the proposed and the adjacent building, so as to avoid the building being over-dominant when constructed.

Note: where the reference to the Village Design Statement (VDS) has been made in the above comments. The VDS has been adopted by the Parish Council and Colchester Borough Council.