Agenda item

Ward: Bramber, Upper Beeding & Woodmancote

Applicant: Steve Black

The Head of Development reported that this application sought permission for the conversion of a detached timber barn into a 4-bedroom dwelling with a new vehicular access north of Hobjoins, a Grade II Listed dwelling, and area of permeable hardstanding.  The proposal included an increased roof height, additional glazing, creation of a first floor space, and a pitched roof over a flat roofed part of the barn.

The application site was located within the built-up area and conservation area of Upper Beeding on the northeast side of Hyde Street. The barn was to the rear of Hobjoins and there was a three-bay garage in the northern part of the site.  Access to the garage and barn was along a drive between Hillview Cottage and Amber Cottage north of Hobjoins. 

The responses from statutory internal and external consultees, as contained within the report, were considered by the Committee.  Since publication of the report the Council’s Ecologist had requested further information regarding impact on bats and the recommendation was therefore amended for Members to be minded to grant permission, subject to satisfactory additional information on ecology in consultation with the Council’s Ecologist and the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Local Members.

The Parish Council objected to the application.  Twenty-four objections had been received. There had been three letters of support. The Beeding and Bramber Local History Society had commented on the proposed conversion.  Three members of the public spoke in objection to the application and the applicant’s agent addressed the Committee in support of the proposal.  

Members considered the officer’s planning assessment which indicated that the key issues for consideration in determining the proposal were:  the principle of development; character and appearance; impacts on neighbouring amenity; and transport and parking.

Members acknowledged that the proposal would enhance the barn, which was in danger of becoming derelict.  With regards to the character and appearance of the conversion, in particular the roof, it was noted that there were a number of conditions to secure suitable materials and design.

Members noted concerns regarding the amenity of neighbouring occupiers and that the height of the leylandii boundary hedge could cause loss of light.  It was therefore agreed that Condition 11 regarding landscaping works be amended to include details of a maintenance plan for landscaping on the site. It was suggested that an Informative be sent to the applicant suggesting that the maintenance plan should include measures to reduce and maintain the height of the leylandii hedge or replace it with native species.

RESOLVED

That the Committee is minded to grant planning application DC/18/0450 be granted subject to receipt of satisfactory additional information on ecology, in consultation with the Council’s Ecologist, the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Local Members, and subject to the following revised Condition 11:

Prior to the first occupation of any part of the development hereby permitted, full details of all hard and soft landscaping works shall have been submitted to and approved, in writing, by the Local Planning Authority.  The details shall include plans and measures addressing the following:

§  Details of all existing trees and planting to be retained

§  Details of all proposed trees and planting, including  schedules specifying species, planting size, densities and plant numbers and tree pit details

§  Details of all hard surfacing materials and finishes

§  Details of all boundary treatments

§  Details of all external lighting

§  Details of a maintenance plan for landscaping on the site.

The approved landscaping scheme shall be fully implemented in accordance with the approved details within the first planting season following the first occupation of any part of the development.  Unless otherwise agreed as part of the approved landscaping, no trees or hedges on the site shall be wilfully damaged or uprooted, felled/removed, topped or lopped without the previous written consent of the Local Planning Authority until 5 years after completion of the development. Any proposed planting, which within a period of 5 years, dies, is removed, or becomes seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species unless the Local Planning Authority gives written consent to any variation.