Minutes of the Planning and Development Committee Meeting

Meeting held on Wed 16th February 2022 at 7.30pm in the John Lampon Hall

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, the West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan, Government National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and CBC Planning Policies when commenting on individual applications.

Planning Committee Members:

Cllrs Bob Tyrrell (Chairman), Andrew Savage and Joel Fayers

Also in attendance:

Laura Walkingshaw (Parish Clerk) and 0 members of the public

Agenda items:

1.   Apologies for absence:

Cllr Brian Butcher

2.   Declarations of interest:

There were no declarations of interest.

3.   Public participation:

There were no questions raised by the public.

Although Cllr Tyrrell did take the opportunity to discuss the recent meeting with Colchester Borough Council Planning Department. The meeting held on Friday 11th Feb with Simon Cairns (CBC Development Manager) and Sandra Scott (CBC Place Strategy Manager) via Zoom covered both some recent CBC planning decisions which the WBPC Planning Committee had queried, and amendments needed to the WB Neighbourhood Plan.

CBC Planning assured the Committee that, although they could understand the Parish Council’s concerns, they were confined by planning law in respect to some recent approval decisions to which WBPC had objected. The Borough Council also promised to ask Planning Enforcement to investigate one recent development, but later advised that in that particular case there was no breach of the planning application at present.

A discussion was held at the meeting in regard to amending the Neighbourhood Plan, with a suggestion that the Village Design Statement (VDS) could be fully included. Grants are available to seek further advice from planning experts, with the inclusion of design codes recommended with standard clauses.

ACTION – Clerk to check with the planning advisors previous used on the Neighbourhood Plan to seek their opinion.

4.   Planning applications:

To discuss and make decisions on the following new applications:

220115 – 99 Chapel Road, West Bergholt, CO6 3HB

Erection of single-story garden office approximately 12m2.

Comment:

The Parish Council has no comment.

Decision:

SUPPORT

220164 – 20 Bradbrook Cottages, Armoury Road, CO6 3JW

Rear single storey extension and alterations to dwelling.

Comment:

The Parish Council has no comment.

Decision:

SUPPORT

220165 – annexe to, 20 Bradbrook Cottages, Armoury Road, CO6 3JW

Change of use of residential annexe and associated land to single dwellinghouse.

Comment:

The Planning Committee is disappointed at the loss of a granny annexe, as there are not many dwellings available in the parish of that type. It also fears that this change of use may encourage more people to apply for annexes on their property just so that they can be sold as separate dwelling houses in the near future.

Decision:

OBSERVATION

220358 – The Glen, Spring Lane, West Bergholt, CO6 3HJ

Rear two storey extension.

Comment:

The Parish Council has no comment.

Decision:

SUPPORT

5.   Planning decisions:

The following planning decisions were received from CBC and noted:

West Bergholt PC Decision Date	WBPC Decision	Application No. and link to CBC planning website	Location	Proposal	CBC/Appeal Decision Date	CBC/Appeal Decision	Appeal Pending
19/1/22	Support	213414	3 Sackville Way	Proposed First floor Extension over garage and internal alterations.	04/02/22	Approved	N/A
19/1/22	Object	213344	Barns at, Hall Road	Re-use of a traditional Essex barn for residential accommodation…	08/02/22	Approved	N/A
15/12/21	Object	213286	5 Whitehouse Cottages, Bourne Road	Double storey side extension. Single storey rear extension…	09/02/22	Approved	N/A
16/09/20	Support	201925	Land adj, 12 Colchest. Rd	Outline application for up to 7 dwellings with access …	O/S
21/07/21	Support	211838	1 Armoury Road	Two storey front extension.	O/S
20/10/21	Support	212695	33 Lexden Road	Replacement of large single storey self-contained extension with proposed rear two storey extension	O/S
17/11/21	Support	213106	2 Garthwood Close,	Proposed front single storey porch extension	O/S
19/1/22	Object	213465	land adj. Rosaville, White Hart Lane,	Outline permission with all matters reserved for a detached dwelling and double garage.	O/S
19/1/22	Support	212415	The Thatchers, Nayland Road,	Siting of two Portacabins and one storage container and including change of use …	O/S
26/1/22	Support	220096	Highfields, Cooks Hall Road	New outbuilding to be used as storage.	O/S
26/1/22	Object	220103	3 Garret Place	Proposed Loft Conversion and First Floor Alterations.	O/S

6.   Date of next meeting:

The next Planning Committee meeting will be held on Wed 16th March 2022 in the John Lampon Hall, Lexden Road, CO6 3BW.

The meeting closed at 7.55pm.