Notes & Decisions of the Planning and Development Committee Meeting
Held on Wed 19th August 2020 at 7.30pm via Zoom
| Planning Committee Members: | Bob Tyrrell, Brian Butcher, Murray Harlow, Norma Smith, Andrew Savage, Ex officio Chris Stevenson and Laura Walkingshaw (Parish Clerk) | Next meeting:
Wed 2nd Sept 2020 at 7.30pm via Zoom (Extraordinary Planning Meeting) |
| Apologies: | None | |
| Members of the public present: | One | |
| 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. The Parish Council will take into account the Village Design Statement and the West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan when making comments and decisions on Planning Applications
Item 1: To receive any pre-application representations regarding proposed planning applications
None were received.
Item 2: New & current planning applications:
| Location | Proposal | Application No. and link to CBC planning website | Object / Support / Observations | Decision or Recommendation | Comments made by Planning Committee |
| The Treble Tile, Colchester Road, West Bergholt, CO6 3JQ |
Change of use from public house to Use Classes A1, A2 and B1 on ground floor and Use Class C3 (two-bedroom apartment) on first floor. | 201460 | Observation | Decision | The Parish Council supports this application for a proposed change of use, to ground floor offices and a single flat to the first floor, as it is in accordance with the WB Neighbourhood Plan’s aim to increase local employment opportunities, subject to Colchester Borough Council having satisfied itself that the policy regarding a pub closure has been met. |
| 4 Garthwood Close, West Bergholt, CO6 3EA |
Proposed single storey rear extension. | 201555 | Support | Decision | The Parish Council has no comment. |
| Barton Olivers, 181 Colchester Road, West Bergholt, CO6 3JY |
Construction of new detached two-storey house with garage, drive and new access. | 201472 | Object | Decision | The application for a new two-storey poorly designed house behind 181 Barton Olivers, Colchester Road is clearly outside the West Bergholt settlement boundary however it falls within the remit of the West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan.
The development is backland development, out of keeping with the existing urban grain and threatens the village coalescence with Colchester, being close to the A12. The application is contrary to paragraphs 15.3.2 and 15.3.3., policies PP9, PP10 and PP12 in the West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan now adopted as planning guidance, also contrary to CBC Planning Policies on no development outside settlement boundaries SD1, DP1 and ENV1 which WBPC fully support. Finally, to West Bergholt’s Village Design Statement, approved and adopted by CBC in 2011 specifically policies DG1, DG2, DG3, DG4, DG5, DG7, DG8, DG10, DG11, DG35 and DG37. |
| 155 Colchester Road, West Bergholt, CO6 3JX |
Outline application for erection of two dwellings, complete with access and parking. | 201642 | Object | Decision | The application for two bungalows adjacent to the Colchester Road and is outside the West Bergholt settlement boundary but falls within the scope of the West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan.
The Parish Council totally disagree with the planning statement “that new housing within this existing developed cluster does not threaten coalescence” the new bungalows are adjacent to the main road and thus very visible much of the year and will connect to property on the east of Colchester Road making the cluster double in size. The statement also makes no more than a derisory reference to the adopted Neighbourhood Plan and ignores the fact that the Inspectors decision on 179 Colchester Road was based, as the decision notice says, on the then emerging Neighbourhood Plan. The application is contrary to paragraphs 15.3.2 and 15.3.3., policies PP9, PP10 and PP12 in the West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan now adopted as planning guidance, also contrary to CBC Planning Policies on no development outside settlement boundaries SD1, DP1 and ENV1 which WBPC fully support. Finally, to West Bergholt’s Village Design Statement, approved and adopted by CBC in 2011 specifically policies DG1, DG2, DG3, DG4, DG5, DG7, DG8, DG10, DG11, DG35 and DG37. |