2nd April 2008 - Agenda

Members

Mr C W Arthey
Mr P K Beer
Mr P G Gibson
Mr A J Hinton
Mr P J Holbrook

Mr L S Johnson
Mr P Jones
Mr D H Keane
Mr B L Lazenby
Mr D C Rose

Mr R C Smith
Mr R W Thake
Mr A J Ward
Mr G S White
Mr R Whiting

ITEM

BUSINESS

1

SUBSTITUTES AND APOLOGIES

Any Member attending as an approved substitute to report giving his/her name and the name of the Member being substituted.

To receive apologies for absence.

2

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

Members to declare any interests as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at this meeting.

3

MINUTES

To confirm and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 March 2008 as a correct record.

4

PETITIONS

The Head of Corporate Services to report, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 13, the receipt of any petitions submitted to the Chief Executive.

5

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS

The Chairman to answer any questions on any matters in relation to which the Council has powers or duties which affect the District and which fall within the terms of reference of the Committee of which due notice has been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 15.4 – (a) and (b).

6

SITE INSPECTIONS

In addition to any site inspections which the Committee may consider to be necessary, the Chief Planning Control Officer will report on any other applications which require site inspections.

The provisional date for any site inspections is Wednesday 9 April 2008.

Paper G238

7

PLANNING APPLICATIONS FOR DETERMINATION BY THE COMMITTEE

Schedule of applications attached.

An Addendum to Paper G238 will be circulated to Members prior to the commencement of the meeting summarising additional correspondence received since the publication of the agenda but before 12 noon on the working day before the meeting together with any errata.

Paper G234

8

REVIEW OF THE PLANNING PROTOCOL

Joint report by the Monitoring Officer and  Chief Planning Control Officer attached.

The Standards Committee will consider Paper G234 at its meeting on 26 March and its comments on the proposed revisions to the Planning Protocol will be reported to Development Committee.

Paper G240

9

PLANNING APPLICATIONS – LOCAL VALIDATION REQUIREMENTS – RESPONSE TO CONSULTATION

Report by the Chief Planning Control Officer attached.

10

Request for minor amendment to application reference B/07/00674/FHA  Construction of garage and retention of stables: Westgate Park, Westgate Street, Long Melford. 

The Chief Planning Control Officer to report that subsequent to the approval of the development on 1 November 2007 the applicant has submitted amended plans for retrospective approval that provide for:

• a reduction in the width of the garage doors from 3 metres previously proposed to 2.5 metres,
• the addition of two windows to the rear (northern) elevation,
• an increase in the height of the eaves from 4 metres above ground level to 4.5 metres.
• an increase in the pitch of the roof from 30⁰ to 35⁰, and,
• an increase in the overall height of the building from 6.8 metres to 7.8 metres. 

Additional consultation was undertaken in connection with the proposed amendments and one letter of representation has been received from the occupier of an adjoining property.  In summary they object to the retrospective nature of the request, the inappropriate nature of the proposed development, the resultant size of the garage, its impact upon the adjoining property and the public footpath. 

The Chief Planning Control Officer does not condone the wilful breach of planning control that has occurred but having assessed the revisions does not consider them to unacceptably affect public amenity subject to the insertion of obscure glazing to the new windows on the rear, northern elevation.

It is recommended that subject to the insertion of obscure glazing to the new windows on the rear, northern elevation, that the minor amendments to the approved plans under B/07/00674 in respect of Westgate Park, Westgate Street, Long Melford be agreed. 

11

REQUEST FOR MINOR AMENDMENTS TO APPLICATION REFERENCE B/05/01330/FUL – EXTENSION TO TESCO, WOODHALL BUSINESS PARK, LONG MELFORD

The Chief Planning Control Officer to report that planning permission was granted for the above development on 14 August 2007.  The applicants have submitted a request to amend the internal road/parking layout and landscaping details to parts of the west and south boundaries of the site. Other amendments were also requested. These were un-contentious and have been approved.

A letter of objection has been received from Chilton Parish Council, raising the following concerns:

• The Parish Council has no material objections other than we can see no justifiable reason for the reduction in the planting boundary from 8 to 5 metres and would like to see the 8 metres retained.

The Chief Planning Control Officer is of the view that there would be no material impact upon the character or appearance of the countryside from the reduction in the area for landscaping for the following reasons or impact on highway safety:

• The area of landscaping in question is adjacent to the car park, where a lesser degree of planting would normally be required.

• The landscaping proposed at the affected areas (5 metre wide areas of landscaping) is comparable to the width of landscaped areas adjacent to the extension itself.

• The amendments would not significantly reduce the overall amount of planting proposed.

• The amendments would facilitate safer pedestrian movement within the site without reducing parking capacity.

To conclude, the request for these minor amendments to the approved landscaping areas and vehicle parking/manoeuvring and pedestrian routes is acceptable as it would not lead to a development which would compromise highway or pedestrian safety or have a significant detrimental impact upon the character of the countryside.  The changes would be in accordance with adopted development plan policies.

It is recommended that the minor amendments to the approved plans B/05/01330/FUL in respect of Tesco Stores Ltd, Woodhall Business Park, Long Melford, be agreed.

Notes:

(1)      A buffet lunch will be provided for Members in Committee Room 1.

(2)     Where it is not expedient for plans and drawings of the proposals under consideration to be shown on the power point, these will be displayed in the Council Chamber prior to the meeting.