Wed 17th Apr 2019, John Lampon Hall, Lexden Rd at 7.30pm

  DG2 Where it is a planning issue any remaining hedgerows, native trees and small copses should be retained in the new landscape plans

  DG3 General Design – all proposed new build and extensions must enhance the area and make a positive architectural contribution

  DG4 Back land and infill proposals will be resisted except in exceptional cases, nuisance of adjacent dwellings will be considered

  DG5 Garden sizes may need to be substantially larger than these minimum standards in order that garden sizes reflect the size and shape of gardens in the area

  DG7 Buildings must be in harmony with the surroundings in respect of materials, colour, texture, proportion and scale.

  DG8 Planning applications must show contextually the impact of their proposals on adjacent building by means of adequately detailed plans with accurate street elevations

  DG10 Any infill development should reflect the character of the surrounding area and protect the amenity of neighbours. It should reinforce the uniformity of the street by reflecting the scale, mass, height, form, materials, fenestration and architectural details of its neighbours.

  DG11 The width of new building plots should be similar to that prevailing in the immediate area

  DG35 New parking directly in front of property should be avoided

  DG37 General street-scape Guidance

Village Design Statement

The Parish Council produced a Village Design Statement (VDS) in 2011 and this was adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance by Colchester Borough Council subsequently. The VDS provides a detailed description of the existing character and main features of design in the village of West Bergholt and a guideline for how this should be respected in any new development. The VDS was a product of consultation with the community and a derivative document of the successful Parish Plan. The VDS describes how the residents of West Bergholt would like new development – including new buildings, change of use, alterations or improvements to buildings or the landscape – to contribute to the unique character of the village. The VDS contains 37 policies and the most important strategic ones have been incorporated within the general Housing Planning Policies at the end of this section.

Policy DG3 General Design – all proposed new build and extensions must enhance the area and make a positive architectural contribution.

DG7 Buildings must be in harmony with the surroundings in respect of materials, colour, texture, proportion and scale.

DG8 Planning applications must show contextually the impact of their proposals on adjacent building by means of adequately detailed plans with accurate street elevations.

DG10 Any development should reflect the character of the surrounding area and protect the amenity of neighbours. It should reinforce the uniformity of the street by reflecting the scale, mass, height, form, materials, fenestration and architectural details of its neighbours.

Policy DG37 (lack of a street scape), providing no information on the visual impact it will have on neighbouring properties and the greater affect on the street scene.

DG13 (New buildings should respect the height of buildings immediately adjacent), being too tall next to the neighbouring bungalow and the existing extension of the house to the left. The roof pitch is significantly steeper.

The neighbouring bungalow garden wraps around the back of Springbourne, and will now be overlooked by the first floor of the proposed extension.

This area is identified in the emerging Regulation 16 West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan Map PP6 identified Spring Lane as part of a Character Area and therefore the loss of the uniqueness of the properties in this area which contribute to its particular character should be resisted.

The PC would support a proposal with a reduce ridge height and more in keeping with the adjacent properties and with mitigating measures to address the overlooking.