Issue - meetings

To consider the above planning application.

Note: Councillor Rachel Bailey (Neighbouring Ward Councillor) attended the meeting and addressed the Committee on this matter.

The Committee considered a report regarding the above planning application, an oral update by the Southern Area Manager - Development Management and an oral report of the site inspection.

RESOLVED – That, contrary to the planning officer’s recommendation for refusal, the Head of Development be granted delegated authority to APPROVE, subject to receipt of a satisfactory Protected Species survey with regard to bats and the following conditions:

1. Standard time limit
2. Submission of materials
3. Prior to commencement details of the access to be submitted and approved
4. Prior to commencement detailed site layout plan to be submitted and approved
5. Permitted Development rights A-F to be removed
6. Landscaping to be submitted and approved
7. Garaging to parking of vehicles and storage only, not be converted to accommodation.
8. Ecology (if required)

And an Informative from Network Rail in respect of works close to the railway.

Reason for the decision:

The application site is located within the Open Countryside where there is a presumption against inappropriate development and where the construction of new residential dwellings is strictly controlled. The application proposals would not satisfy the criteria set out in Policy RES.5 for Residential Development in the Open Countryside. Notwithstanding this, the existing building is in dilapidated condition and the site is partly brownfield. Furthermore, there is a deficit in Councils housing land supply. In the light of these material considerations, it is considered that the proposed development would not cause significant detrimental harm to the character and appearance of the Open Countryside and is acceptable, as a departure to Local Plan Policies NE.2 (Open Countryside) and RES.5 (Housing Development in the Open Countryside). It is considered that there would be no harm to the amenity of surrounding residential properties, or future occupants of the dwelling as conditioned. The site can also be satisfactorily accessed without causing harm to highway safety and would not result in an adverse impact on Protected Species. The proposed development is therefore considered to be in accordance with other Policies BE.1(Amenity), BE.2 (Design Standards), BE.3 (Access and Parking), NE.5 (Nature Conservation), and NE.9 (Protected Species) of the Borough of Crewe and Nantwich Replacement Local Plan 2011.