Planning Committee Minutes – 11th June 2024

Installation of air source heat pump to rear of property

·         No objection unanimously agreed.  Clerk to process.

Clerk

T1 Box Elder tree: reduce crown by 4m to leave a finished height of 9m and a spread of 4m. Thin crown by no more than 10%.

·         Defer to tree officer unanimously agreed.  Clerk to process.

Clerk

Outline planning application for the construction of 50 dwellings with all matters reserved except for access

·         There is no identified need for further homes in Bramley.  The emergent Local Plan Update states explicitly that Bramley has met and exceeded it’s 55 home target already with recently granted planning permissions.

·         It should be noted that Bow Brook Farm will not be a strategic site within the emerging Local Plan Update.

·         The application states that BDBC does not currently have a 4 year land supply.  However, BDBC currently has a 4.2 year land supply, so this is not accurate.

·         The proposed development is outside the settlement policy boundary, which is against Local Plan policy SS6.  It will also be an isolated development, with difficult access to public transport and local amenities.  This is also against Local Plan policy SS6.

·         Access onto the already busy Vyne Road will be an issue – the access will pull out onto a 60mph road.  Vegetation will need to be cut back to enable clear visibility, which will detract from the rural aspect of the area.

·         The proposed footway from the site to Silchester Road will also detract from the rural nature of the area, and will be in apart along a 60mph road – not very safe for pedestrians.  The proposed footpath will also affect private properties along Vyne Road (particularly Lime Tree Cottage), which will compromise the proposed path.

·         Impact on countryside – the southern rural gateway into Bramley will be adversely affected.

·         The proposed development will adversely affect views and listed buildings within the Conservation Area.  This is against Bramley Neighbourhood Plan policies D1 and RE2.

·         Park Copse borders the proposed site, so the proposals will remove the possibility of overlooking the Copse from the Conversation Area and Tudor Farm.

·         Bramley has taken 461 new houses since the start of the current Local Plan period, well in excess of the 200 stated in the plan.  This does not include the strategic sites at Razers Farm and Upper Cufaude Farm, which will be 665 total at strategic sites in the south of the parish.

·         There are at least 70 additional houses at planning application stage, including this application.

·         The Thames Water statement is incorrect – there are major issues with sewerage in Bramley.  There has been much correspondence on this for planning applications 21/03758/OUT and 23/02868/RES  for Stocks Farm re the lack of sewerage capacity.

·         There is not the infrastructure to support another 50 homes – the Drs surgery is full, the school is full, and there not much public transport outside of the railway station.  Planners should be aware of the Bramley Infrastructure Report of 2019.  Matters have not improved since this report was compiled.

·         Objections as above unanimously agreed.  Clerk to draft a response ready for presentation and agreement at full Council on 18^th June.

Clerk

A new 3 bedroom detached bungalow to the rear of Meadow View

·         The plot is not a big enough size to take an extra dwelling as proposed.  Members note the planning permission given earlier in the year for a dwelling towards the front of the Meadow View plot.

·         Measurements for access to the plot do not appear to be accurate, so members questioned whether the access would be adequate.  The drive access does not appear to have been altered from the previous application for this site.  Comparing it to the access at Margeurite Close is misleading, as that site is twice the size of the Meadow View plot.

·         Bedroom 3 is compromised by being right up against the property boundary, which will have a 1.8m fence on it.  Light into the room will be minimal due to this fence.

·         Members noted that the footprint of the proposed property is the same as a previous application for two semi-detached bungalows, which was refused due to over development of the site.  The planning officer for application number 23/02946/FUL stated that ‘the proposed development by virtue of its design would cause harm to the character and appearance of the surrounding area and would represent a cramped form of development of the site.

·         Objection unanimously agreed.  Clerk to process.

Clerk

Horse chestnut: reduce height and cut back overhang

o   Defer to tree officer unanimously agreed.  Clerk to process.

Clerk

These were noted.

·         BDBC is reviewing the regulation 18 consultation feedback.

Meeting closed at 8.39pm.

Erection of a single storey 3-bedroom dwelling together with hard and loft landscaping and on-curtilage parking

Objection

T1 – Oak: prune

Defer to tree officer

Fell 1 Lime.

Defer to tree officer

Variation of condition 4 (arboricultural report) of 23/00780/FUL for the erection of 1 no dwelling and garage to replace arboricultural report with an updated version

No objection, comments

Permission in Principle for 2 no. dwellings with separate car port, bin/cycle store and landscaped garden.

Objection

Request for variation of Section 106 agreement attached to 20/00319/FUL and 22/03224/ROC to allow the sale of five out of seven open market dwellings prior to a registered affordable housing provider being under contract to purchase the five designated affordable dwellings

Objection

Installation of Prescription Dispenser and lighting.

No objection

Erection of a garden shed

No objection

Oaks x4 – Crown reduce trees along allotments boundary to Glebelands Silchester Road. Carry out a tip reduction of approximately 3m in height and 2m in lateral spread on the northern side only, pruning back to suitable growth points to maintain more of a natural shape and balance. Due to historic work on the southern side of the trees, no works will be carried out here.

Boundary mixed hedging – Reduce approximately 35m in length of boundary hedging to an approximate finished height of 2.4m to allow clearer light filtration into allotments.

No comment as application PCs own

Variation of Section 106 agreement attached to 14/01075/OUT to enable the transfer of the Equipped play area, northern kick about and southern kick about areas to the existing management company instead of the Parish Council

Variation of section 106 agreement attached to 15/02682/OUT to insert mortgagee in possession clause

Erection of 1 no. 4 bed dwelling and detached garage following demolition of existing outbuildings/stables

Proposed loft conversion with front dormer and creation of front porch

Variation of Section 106 agreement attached to 14/01075/OUT to allow an amended Mortgagee Exclusion Clause

Variation of section 106 agreement and deed of variation attached to 15/02708/OUT to update the mortgagee exclusion clause (MEC)

Reserved matters application submitted pursuant to outline planning APP/H1705/W/22/3302752 for 140 dwellings, Class E Community building, public open space, landscaping, drainage, parking, and associated infrastructure works.

Erection of one detached dwelling and garage access utilising an existing access to the south of Boards Bridge Road on land adjacent to Boars Bridge House, to include access and layout

Certificate of lawfulness for the existing use of part of an existing stable block as a single dwellinghouse.

Proposed development of 20 residential dwellings, vehicular access from Sherfield Road, public open space, landscaping, ancillary works and associated infrastructure on land North of Sherfield Road, Bramley.

Construction of a battery Storage Facility with ancillary development

Change of use of land from Residential to Agricultural with erection of tractor shed on site. Change of use of land from Agricultural to Residential.

T2 Sycamore in the front garden: pollard.

Change of use from Class F2(A) to Class E (for bistro & farm shop use), installation of extractor vent and air conditioner outdoor units. Display of various advertisement signs and lighting.

Display of 2 no fascia signs with washer lights, 1 no. logo sign and 1 no. non-illuminated wall sign.

Erection of two storey extension to care home, plus garden pavilion and five additional car parking spaces.

Single storey dental surgery with associated car and cycle parking

Temporary change of use of land and buildings for film making with associated temporary sets and facilities vehicles, access, parking and storage.

Replacement of 3 timber framed casement windows, with slimline double glazed casement windows to match existing finish

T1 Beech: fell, grind out stump/roots.

1 Silver birch: fell.

Tree in front garden: pollard.