British Legion Hall, Freshwater

Title : TCP/24267/P01208/01 - DEMOLITION OF ASSEMBLY HALL/CLUB; CONSTRUCTION OF PAIR OF SEMI-DETACHED HOUSES (REVISED PLANS) (RE-ADVERTISED APPLICATION) SITE OF BRITISH LEGION HALL, RICHMOND MEADE, FRESHWATER

To determine the above mentioned application in light of the applicant’s agent response to suggested amendments to the submitted scheme.

This detailed application was initially considered by the Committee at the meeting held on 8^th January 2002. It was decided to defer consideration in order to enable Members to visit the site before making the decision.

The subsequent site visit was inquorate but based on the observations of those Members who attended, the Development Control Manager wrote to the agent offering the following advice:-

“......no objection to the demolition of the existing building and, we are not opposed to the re-development of the site for residential purposes. However, there was a concern about the overall scale and mass, and particularly the height, of the proposed pair of semi-detached houses. Those Members attending the site visit are recommending to the Development Control Committee that the application should be deferred for further negotiations on this particular issue with a view to you submitting further revised plans”.

When the matter was considered again by the Committee, Members concurred with the decision to defer consideration for negotiations.

The agent has now submitted a further set of revised drawings, still seeking approval for a pair of semi-detached houses on the site. The overall size of the proposed buildings has been reduced by almost 10% in terms of overall ground coverage, now reduced to 98.75 sq metres.

• The reduction in width has the effect of moving the building a further 0.5m away from the neighbouring property

The agent has also submitted an accurate street scene, with a correct representation of the height of the neighbouring detached property.

1. To grant conditional planning permission in accordance to the recommendations set out in the report submitted to the meeting of the Development Control Committee (site visits) on 18^th January 2002.

2. To refuse permission on grounds relating to overall scale, mass and height in relation to adjoining and nearby existing properties.

Members will note that the agent and his clients have responded to the concerns expressed about the scale, mass and height of the proposed pair of semi-detached houses by reducing the overall ground coverage of the proposed building by almost 10%, and in achieving this, reducing the overall width, the overall depth, the overall height and the distance between the proposed flank wall of the semi-detached houses and the side wall of the flat roofed extension which is on the boundary between the two properties.

Members will now have to determine whether these amendments incorporated into the latest revised plans overcome the concerns of those Members who visited the site.

Notwithstanding the officers recommendation for approval, the Development Control Manager advised the agent that a reduction in the overall scale and mass of the proposed building could be achieved by reducing the height, reducing the width and/or reducing the overall ground coverage. The agent was advised that the objective of the Committee was to achieve a development more in keeping in terms of the overall scale and mass of existing housing in the immediate vicinity, particularly the neighbouring properties in Richmond Meade, which should reduce the impact of re-development and overcome objections to the scheme which included over-dominance and over-shadowing of adjacent properties.

In the latest revised scheme, the agent has retained the earlier design concept and although the dimensional alterations may not be readily discernible, but certainly go towards the objectives set by Members who visited the site. Although the amendments to the scheme are relatively modest, I am prepared to continue to support this particular application and recommend accordingly.

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