Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of Planning and Regulatory Services (copy enclosed).

The Officer presented the report to the Committee, and drew attention to the Members’ Update detailing the response from Wickham Bishops Parish Council and the Coast and Countryside Officer.  The photographs mentioned in the Members’ Update were presented to the Committee in addition to the Officers report.

The Committee discussed whether the change of use was relevant and, following a request from Members, the Development Management Team Leader clarified the differentiation between both amenity and residential land.

Members considered that although the boarding at the back of the gate was not aesthetically pleasing, and would have preferred hedgerows to the fence, it was agreed that it was logical for the gate to be set back from the road to allow for access.

Councillor H M Bass proposed that the application be approved contrary to the Officer’s recommendation; this was duly seconded and agreed.

RESOLVED that the application be APPROVED, subject to the following conditions:

1.         The development hereby permitted shall begin no later than three years from the date of this decision.

REASON: To comply with Section 91(1) of The Town & Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by Section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

2.         The development shall be carried out in accordance with the plans listed above.

REASON:  To ensure that the development is carried out in accordance with the details as approved.

3.         The permission hereby granted does not include the approval of the gate and fencing that has been installed at the Wickham Hall Lane frontage of the site.  Prior to the change of use of land hereby approved, details of and means of enclosure to this frontage of the site (including any proposed gate, fencing and replacement soft landscaping) and a timetable for the implementation of those works shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The works and any approved soft landscaping shall subsequently be provided / installed in accordance with the approved timetable.  If within a period of five years from the date of the planting of any tree or plant, or any tree or plant planted in its replacement, is removed, uprooted, destroyed, dies, or becomes, in the opinion of the local planning authority, seriously damaged or defective, another tree or plant of the same species and size as that originally planted shall be planted in the same place, unless the local planning authority gives its written consent to any variation.

REASON:  To protect and minimise the visual impact on the character of the countryside in accordance with policies S1, S8, D1 and H4 of the Maldon District Local Development Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework.

4.         Notwithstanding the provisions of Class A of Part 2 of Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (or any Order amending, revoking or re-enacting that Order) no wall, fence, gate or other means of enclosure shall be erected within or around the site without the prior grant of planning permission by the local planning authority.

REASON:  To protect and minimise the visual impact on the character of the countryside in accordance with policies S1, S8, D1 and H4 of the Maldon District Local Development Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework.

5.         The use of the land hereby permitted shall be used only for purposes incidental to the residential enjoyment of the dwelling to which this permission relates. Notwithstanding the provisions of Classes E and F of Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (or any Order amending, revoking or re-enacting that Order) no buildings, swimming pools, or other structures shall be constructed nor any hardstanding be laid on the extended garden area without express planning permission having been obtained from the local planning authority.

REASON:  To protect and minimise the visual impact on the character of the countryside in accordance with policies S1, S8, D1 and H4 of the Maldon District Local Development Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework.