Erection of two storey dwelling with parking.

The Principal Planner introduced the application and with reference to the drawings displayed, he drew Members’ attention to the location, layout and elevations.

Members had undertaken a site visit and had viewed the site and assessed the impact of the proposal on the surrounding area.

Members noted the additional information as set out in the Schedule of Additional Letters circulated prior to the meeting.

With the permission of the Chairman, the following speakers were permitted to speak:

Mrs C Baines, a local resident, spoke against the proposal in accordance with the Council’s Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committees.

Mr David Coe, a local resident, spoke against the proposal in accordance with the Council’s Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committees.

In accordance with his declaration at Minute No. 126 and in accordance with the Local Protocol for Councillors and Officers dealing with Regulatory Matters (Part 5, Paragraph 15) Councillor John Hurst-Knight, as local Ward Councillor, made a statement against the application.  If granted, he expressed concern regarding the potential for damage to the Oak tree and reiterated the need for the Oak tree to be protected.  He then left the table, took no part in the debate and did not vote on this item. 

In response to comments suggesting designation of the area as a Conservation area, the Principal Planner confirmed that this was not a matter for Planning Committee nor Development Management and reiterated that even if the area was granted Conservation Area status and an Article 4 Direction made it would not prevent any further planning applications being submitted in the future, but given the adopted Shropshire Sites Allocations and Management of Development (SAMDev) Plan and the TPO he suggested that sufficient controls existed to prevent development of this site.

In the ensuing debate, Members considered the submitted plans and noted the comments of all speakers.

RESOLVED:

That, as per the Officers recommendation, planning permission be refused for the following reason:

·         By reason of its location and siting the proposed development would prejudice the retention of the prominent oak tree at the site which is protected by The Salop County Council (Ludlow Road Bridgnorth) TPO 1974 due to the likely pressure from the occupants of the proposed dwelling for work to be carried out to safeguard their amenity and safety. The amenity and safety of the proposed dwelling to this oak tree would be impacted upon by the overbearing presence of the tree within their garden area along with a substantial degree of overhanging branches and the amount of detritus discarded by a tree of this size and maturity.  The high probability of loss or erosion by way of lopping/pruning/felling of this high value amenity and natural asset provided by this tree would not protect or enhance local distinctiveness.  In addition the siting of the proposed dwelling so close to the proposed southern boundary of the site on a raised platform would result in likely pressure to have the existing third party owned Leylandii hedge lopped or removed to provide solar gain to the proposal which in turn would result in a material loss of amenity to the occupiers of both 17 Stretton Close and 44 Conduit Lane.  The proposal would therefore be contrary to the NPPF, CS6 and CS17 of the Core Strategy and MD2, MD3 and MD12 of the Shropshire Sites Allocations and Management of Development (SAMDev) Plan.