Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 15 February 2023;

DM.63/23             

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 15 February 2023 were confirmed as a correct record by the Committee.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct, Members are invited to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Other Registerable Interests and Non-Registerable Interests including the nature and extent of such interests they may have in any items to be considered at this meeting;

DM.64/23             

Members and officers were invited to declare any interests in the items of business to be considered and the following were made:

Cllr B Taylor declared an Other Registerable Interest in application 6(a) and (e) (minutes DM.66/23 (a) and (e) below refer because he is a member of South Devon AONB Partnership Committee. The Member remained in the meeting and took part in the debate and vote thereon.

The Chairman to advise the Committee on any requests received from members of the public to address the meeting;

DM.65/23             

The Chairman noted the list of members of the public, Town and Parish Council representatives, and Ward Members who had registered their wish to speak at the meeting.

To see Letters of Representation and further supplementary information relating to any of the Applications on the agenda, please select the following link and enter the relevant Planning Reference number: http://apps.southhams.gov.uk/PlanningSearchMVC/

DM.66/23             

The Committee considered the details of the planning applications prepared by the Planning Case Officers as presented in the agenda papers, and considered also the comments of Town and Parish Councils, together with other representations received, which were listed within the presented agenda reports, and RESOLVED that:

6a)   4118/22/FUL            "Edgecombe House", West Buckland

                                                Parish:  Thurlestone

Development:  New dwelling & site landscaping (Re-submission of 3247/22/FUL)

         Case Officer Update:   The Case Officer provided an amendment on the ridge height of Rose Cottage, with the height given referring to an outbuilding of Rose Cottage.  Ridge height of Rose Cottage should read 107.43 (+4.53m). This application was within the Buckland Settlement Boundary and supported open market housing within the settlement boundaries.  On the site visit a question was asked on the cut in and it was reported that, if granted approval, there would be a 1.5 m cut into the lower level.  Objections were received from the 3 neighbouring properties.  There was a flood zone at the bottom of the site, however, no flood risk issues for this dwelling. 

In response to questions raised, it was reported that:

·         an ecology report was submitted and the ecology officer was happy subject to appropriate conditions being included;

·         the previous application which was withdrawn had 4 bedrooms and the outbuilding proposed to be a study.  In these revised proposals, the study had been moved into the house and reduced to 3 bedrooms;

·         foul drainage would drain into the existing sewer.

         Speakers were:  Objector – None, Supporter – James Wells, Parish Council – Cllr R Lewis, Ward Members – Cllrs Pearce and Long.

         In response to questions, the Supporter responded that:

·         slate hung was used in parts of the village and the use of this material would ground the building and reduce the mass;

·         they were looking at different options to facilitate bats;

·         they have designed a home which provided a good level of amenity and adapted for later living;

·         the scale of the home was considered appropriate to that setting.

         In response to questions raised, the Parish Councillor reported that:

·         from the plans 75% of the property would be glazed;

·         the neighbourhood plans stated that housing was to be provided for young people and families which contributed to the local area.

         One Ward Member reported that the development was allowable, however the scale of the property, element of the design, the setting and impact on the natural environment was a concern.  Members needed to consider the principle of the development alongside what the Parish Council had raised in their Neighbourhood Plan.  The Member questioned whether this property met that housing need and addressed the requirement in the area.  The Member asked that the Committee give serious consideration to the design and the slate hanging and whether the scale and design was appropriate, the glazing and the impact on bats and the neighbours had been considered.  Finally, the Member emphasised that this was an important habitat. 

         The second Ward Member reported that when the Neighbourhood Plan was  ...  view the full minutes text for item DM.66/22

DM.67/23             

Members noted the list of appeals as outlined in the presented agenda report. 

DM.68/23             

Members noted the update on undetermined major applications as outlined in the presented agenda report.