Agenda item

The Committee considered an application for the retention of an existing house within a reduced curtilage and erection of a 3 bedroom detached house which included a new dropped kerb.

[NOTE 1: The Planning Officer advised the Committee of an update to Condition 3 as follows:

Prior to the commencement of the development hereby permitted, details, including samples, of all external materials to be used in the construction of the dwelling and any hard landscaping shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be carried out and thereafter retained in accordance with the approved details unless otherwise first agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: In the interests of the visual amenities of the area and in accordance with Policy CS21 of the Woking Core Strategy 2012.

Prior to the commencement of the development hereby permitted, details, including samples of bricks and roof tiles to match those of No. 19 Evelyn Close, of allexternal materials to be used in the construction of the dwelling and any hard landscaping shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be carried out and thereafter retained in accordance with the approved details unless otherwise first agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: In the interests of the visual amenities of the area and in accordance with Policy CS21 of the Woking Core Strategy 2012].

[NOTE 2: In accordance with the procedure for public speaking at Planning Committee,  Mr Len Walker attended the meeting and spoke in objection to the application].

It was noted that the objector thought the proposal would not be compatible with existing dwellings in Evelyn Close and would present as cramped and contrived.  It was believed that the proposal would contravene policies 2027 of the Woking Development Plan and CS21 of the Woking Core Strategy

Councillor Ashall, Ward Councillor welcomed the objectors comments and spoke in against the application, commenting that the proposal layout would not be in proportionate to the already well established area of existing dwellings along Evelyn Close and considered the sub-division to be unacceptable.

Councillor Ashall proposed and Councillor Chrystie seconded a motion to refuse the application on the grounds that the proposal was thought to be contrived, an inappropriate sub-division of land, contrary to Policies CS21 and CS24 of the Woking Core Strategy 2012 and the Development Management Policy DM10.

Councillor Morales spoke in support of the application and welcomed the design of the dwelling and thought it was a good use of site and complied with Policy CS10 of the Woking Core Strategy.

After clarification had been sought on the difference between dwelling and amenity space, the Planning Officer confirmed that the whilst the proposal would reduce the size of the amenity space to No. 19, it had been considered that the subdivision and resulting curtilages would not be substantially below that prevailing in the area.

In accordance with Standing Order 2.22, votes for and against of the motion were reordered as follows:

In favour:                                 Cllrs  Ashall,  Chrystie and  Whitehand

                                                TOTAL:  3

Against:                                   Cllrs Aziz, Eastwood and Morales

                                                TOTAL: 3

Present but not voting:            Cllrs Cundy (Chairman) and Martin

                                                TOTAL:  2

The motion was therefore not refused.

Peter Bryant, Head of Legal and Democratic Service, deemed the vote to be split. The  Chairman was informed that under the Constitution he would not be allowed to use his casting vote has he did not partake in the first vote.

The Chairman moved the motion for approval and the votes were recorded as follows:

In favour:                                 Cllrs Aziz, Eastwood and Morales

                                                TOTAL: 3

Against:                                   Cllrs Ashall, Chrystie, Martin and Whitehand

                                                TOTAL: 4

Present but not voting:            Cllr G Cundy (Chairman)

                                                TOTAL:  1

The application was therefore not approved.

Peter Bryant, Head of Legal and Democratic Services, acknowledged that Members had different views on applications, however he reminded Members that in order to function as a Committee, decisions would need to be determined at Planning Committee meetings.

The Chairman decided to proceed with the original motion of refusal.

Councillor Ashall again proposed and Councillor Chrystie seconded a motion to refuse the application.

In accordance with Standing Order 2.22, votes for and against of the motion of refusal  were reordered as follows:

In favour:                                 Cllrs Ashall, Chrystie, Martin and Whitehand

                                                TOTAL: 4

Against:                                   Cllrs Aziz, Eastwood and Morales

                                                TOTAL: 3

Present but not voting:            Cllr Cundy (Chairman)

                                                TOTAL:  1

The application was therefore refused.

            RESOLVED

            That planning permission be refused.