Minutes of the Planning and Development Committee Meeting

Meeting held on Wed 17th November 2021 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:

Bob Tyrrell (Chairman), Brian Butcher (Vice chairman), Andrew Savage (3 members therefore still quorate)

Also in attendance:

Laura Walkingshaw (Parish Clerk) and 5 members of the public

Agenda items:

1. Apologies for absence:

Cllrs Norma Smith and Joel Fayers.

2. Declarations of interest:

None

3. Public participation:

There were no pre-application representations, however several residents were in attendance to hear the Committee’s comments on planning application 212945, The Settlers, and were invited to express their concerns.

4. Planning applications:

To discuss and make decisions on the following new applications:

212871 – 48 Valley Crescent, West Bergholt, CO6 3ED

Proposed Single Storey Rear Extension & Garage Conversion with Internal Alterations (Revised information).

Comment:

The Parish Council has no problem with the rear extension to the property, however it does have concerns with the rearrangement of the internal alternations which will lead to a lack of parking. Unless there are proposals to add additional parking to the front the Council objects to the application, referencing the Village Design Statement guidance on parking within PP10 of the CBC-adopted West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan:

PP10 Design: All new development should be of a high-quality design and sustainable construction is encouraged. Account should be taken of the guidance and principles in the Village Design Statement, namely “for residential uses specifically…2.25 car parking spaces for each dwelling of 2 or more bedrooms…”

Decision:

OBJECT

212945 – The Settlers, Newbridge Hill, West Bergholt, CO6 3ER

Two storey side extension and alterations to roof and external finishes.

Comment:

Several residents were present at the meeting, and all objected to the Parish Council about this application. They consider the proposals are overdevelopment as the existing bungalow is already at a high point on Newbridge Hill.

The Parish Council is of the view that no consideration has been given to the loss of privacy to neighbouring properties, a majority of the new first floor windows will directly overlook the adjacent properties and gardens. There is no section showing the topography of the site and local buildings, there is also no street scene, again this needs to show the true topography of the area. The Council is of the view that the proposals will dominate the skyline. As there is inadequate information provided by the applicant the Council would refer to the PP10 of the CBC-adopted West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan:

PP10 Design: All new development should be of a high-quality design and sustainable construction is encouraged. Account should be taken of the guidance and principles in the Village Design Statement, which seeks to promote or reinforce local distinctiveness. In particular new development and any additions or extensions to existing dwellings will be expected to:

Have an acceptable visual impact on the valley sides; and
Give careful consideration to mitigating the impact on views across the village; and
Buildings must respect the character of and be in harmony with their surroundings in respect of plot width, layout, building lines, materials, height, proportion, scale and massing; and
Planning applications must show contextually the impact of their proposals on adjacent buildings by means of adequately detailed plans with accurate street elevations to avoid unacceptable adverse impact upon the amenities of the occupiers of nearby residential properties; and
Details of boundary walls, fences and gates shall reflect the character, design and materials of means of enclosure within the village to mitigate the impact of urbanisation.

Recommendation to Parish Council Meeting:

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
15/09/21	Support	212416	11 Firmins Court	Single Storey rear and side extension and internal alterations.	27/10/21	Approved	N/A
20/10/21	Support	212481	Priors Cottage, Hall Road	Two and single storey front extension and single storey rear extension	28/10/21	Approved	N/A
15/09/21	Support	212444	3 Firmins Court	Single-storey front extension.	29/10/21	Approved	N/A
15/09/21	Support	212442	St Andrews, Chapel Lane	Demolition and rebuilding of garage. Fenestration alterations and additions. Rear conservatory and covered way. Extension of raised decking.	02/11/21	Approved	N/A
17/2/21	Object	ESS/11/21/COL	Colchester Skip Hire, Greenacres, Packards Lane,	Continuation of use of waste recycling facility without compliance with condition 11 (HGV Movement Times) of planning permission ESS/09/18/COL …	03/11/21	Refused
20/10/21	Support	212733	48 Chapel Road	Two storey side and single storey front and rear extensions (as previous approval 09/01/2018)	16/11/21	Approved	N/A

6. Date of next meeting:

The next Planning Committee meeting will be held on Wed 15th December 2021 in the John Lampon Hall, Lexden Road, CO6 3BW.

The meeting closed at 8.10pm.