YAPTON PARISH COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE

14 June 2010 – At a meeting of the Planning Committee held at Yapton & Ford Village Hall.

Present: Mr Andrews, Mrs Barnes, Mr Faulkner, Mr Haymes and Mr D Mills.

Also present: Parish Councillors Mr Bryan, Mr J Mills, Mr Tansley (Clerk of the Council) and 21 members of the public. Mr J Mills was not present for the discussion/voting on Planning Application Y/41/10/TC in which he had a personal interest.

Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Parish Councillor Mr Jones.

CHAIRMAN

19. Resolved - That Mr Faulkner be re-elected as Chairman of the Planning Committee for the ensuing year.

VICE-CHAIRMAN

20. The Committee decided not to appoint a Vice-Chairman. Instead it was agreed that in the absence of the Chairman, a member would be appointed to chair that particular meeting.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

21. Members were reminded to make any declarations of personal and/or prejudicial interest that they may have in relation to items on the agenda.

22. Mr Haymes, as a member of the District Council's Development Control Committee, declared a prejudicial interest and took no part in the consideration of the planning applications and subsequent voting on the resolutions.

MINUTES

23. Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2010 be approved as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman.

MATTERS ARISING

Development at 1 - 2 Canal Cottages (minute 15/2010)

24. The Clerk reported that the District Council had since received two planning applications for 1 - 2 Canal Cottages, one for the' erection of a wooden summer house for personal use' and the second for a 'parking area to allow off road parking for two cars'. The applications were however incomplete and further detail was awaited. When this was received the applications would be advertised for comment in the usual way.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

25. A number of residents spoke of their concerns about the proposed development at Stakers Farm in North End Road (Planning Applications Y/29/10 and Y/30/10/L) and sought the Council's support for their views.

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

26. The Planning Committee had before them and considered the following planning applications and resolved as indicated:-

Y/29/10/	Erection of 6 dwellings comprising 3 x 3 bed terraced houses, 2 x 3 bed semi-detached dwellings & 1 x 4 bed detached dwelling. Erection of bin/cycle stores, construction of private drive & provision of parking for up to 12 cars. Erection of small section of replacement front boundary wall.	Stakers Farm North End Road Yapton OBJECTION
Y/30/10/L	Application for Listed Building Consent for demolition of 3 small sections of walling to the front & side boundaries (6 metre sections) and erection of replacement flint wall & wrought iron railings at the front of the site.	Stakers Farm North End Road Yapton OBJECTION
Y/38/10/	First floor side extension and rear single storey extension.	Privett Yapton Road Yapton NO OBJECTION
Y/41/10/TC	Fell hedge comprising of 15 No Leylandii Cypress Trees in the Church Lane and Main Road/Church Road Conservation Area.	Walnut Tree Cottage Church Road Yapton NO OBJECTION

27. With reference to Planning Applications Y/29/10 and Y/30/10/L, the grounds for the objections were as follows:

i) The development is on greenfield land, until recently used for agricultural purposes, and it is not identified in the Local Plan for housing;

ii) The development would seriously and adversely impact on the character and appearance of this part of the Yapton Conservation Area which includes Stakers Farm, a listed building and its environs;

iii) The development would fail to either preserve nor enhance the character of the locality. The density of the development and the introduction of terraced and semi-detached dwellings with no garages would be out of keeping with the locality and would be detrimental and harmful to the appearance of the neighbourhood;

iv)The development proposes significant alterations to the historic and substantial flint wall. The boundary wall is an important feature which contributes to the rural character of the Conservation Area. As such it should be preserved in its entirety providing as it does an exceptional rural atmosphere and appearance to the street scene;

v)The development creates a risk that some important existing trees within the locality could be affected by the impact of the proposed foundation works;

vi) The development poses serious concerns for local residents about road safety and access. There was concern also about the limited number of parking spaces for vehicles on the site. In its pre-application assessment/comments on access, WSCC refers to just 3 dwellings but 6 are proposed for the site. North End Road is already busy often with fast moving traffic. There are already a number of 'pinch-points' nearby - a doctor's surgery, The Croft (a sheltered residential development for elderly residents),Yapton CE Primary School and The Lychgates (cul de sac comprising 5 houses) - all of which generate significant overflow parking on to North End Road and which extends to the development area.

CHAIRMAN