MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON TUESDAY, 3 APRIL 2001 COMMENCING AT 6.00 PM

Present :

Mrs C T G Webb (Chairman), Mr B E Abraham, Mr M G Barton (deputising for Mrs L E Rogerson), Mr C B W Chapman, Mr A C Coburn, Mr E Fox, Mrs M A Jarman, Mr D J Knowles, Mrs B Lawson (deputising for Mr P A Fuller) Mrs A Leigh, Mrs M J Miller, Mr P A Nightingale, Mr A A Taylor, Mr D T Yates

Also Present (non voting) :

Mrs A E Hewitt, Mrs S A Smart, Mr P R Tuck

Apologies :

Mr P A Fuller, Mrs L E Rogerson

RESOLVED :

THAT the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 March 2001 be confirmed.

154. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

Mr Liszka asked :

'In order to make the Planning Authority more accountable in its considerations over phone mast installations and with the electorate, will the elected representatives of the Planning Committee consider initiating policy change to prohibit macrocell mast installations (which have a coverage diameter of 6km) within an agreed minimum distance (eg 300-500m) from sensitive sites like schools and residential houses?'

The Chairman replied that a written reply would be sent to Mr Liszka with a copy being sent to all members of the Planning Committee.

155. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Interests were declared in the following matters :

Mrs A E Hewitt declared an interest in Minute 157 (b) - Proposed Conservation Area, Whippingham.

Mr D T Yates declared an interest in Minute 156 (b) - TCP/2012P land adjacent 55 Clarence Road, corner of Mountfield Road, Wroxall.

Mr M G Barton declared an interest in Minute 157 (d) - Land at St Cross Business Park, Newport.

156. URGENT BUSINESS

The Chairman agreed to two items of urgent business, the Civic Trust Awards so that members could be informed at an early date and Clarence Road, Wroxall as a decision was needed before the next meeting.

(a) Civic Trust Awards 2001

Members were advised that four applications had been submitted to the Civic Trust award from the Island. Of these, The Foyer Scheme at George Street, Ryde received a commendation and the new Pavilion for the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes was mentioned in the Trust's report.

RESOLVED :

THAT the report be noted.

(b) TCP/2012P - Detached house with integral garage and formation of vehicular access from Mountfield Road (revised scheme) (readvertised application), land adjacent 55 Clarence Road, corner of Mountfield Road, Wroxall, Isle of Wight

(Mr D T Yates declared an interest in this item and left the room)

Members were reminded that planning permission for the above development had been granted on 9 October 2000. Work had begun on site, but it had subsequently been found that it was the intention to build the proposed property 5 metres away from the adjoining property rather than the 4.1 metres as stated on the drawing. Permission was being sought to increase the distance between the principal walls by 0.9 metres.

RESOLVED :

THAT the approved position of 4.1 metres between the principal walls be revised to an increase of 0.9 metres, taking it to 5 metres.

157. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT SERVICES

(a) Unitary Development Plan - Objections to Proposed Modifications

(Mr B E Abraham declared an interest in items PM/138, PM/139 and PM/140 and left the room. Mr M G Barton and Mr C B W Chapman declared an interest in items PM/300 and PM/301 and left the room).

Members were advised that the six week statutory consultation stage for the proposed modifications had finished. 24 objections had been received, together with 8 statements of support, GOSE had subsequently withdrawn their objections. Members discussed each proposed modification individually.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL :

(i) THAT the following matters be agreed :

(ii) THAT the objections to the proposed modifications raise no new issues that require a second enquiry be agreed.

(iii) THAT the objections do not necessitate the need for further modifications to the plan be agreed.

(iv) THAT the Council advertise its intention to adopt the UDP, followed 28 days later by advertisement of the Notice of Adoption be agreed.

(b) Proposed Conservation Area - Whippingham/Osborne/East Cowes

(Mrs A E Hewitt declared an interest in this item and left the room)

Consideration was given to the possible designation of a Conservation Area, or Areas within the Whippingham/Osborne Wards, East Cowes under Sections 69, 71 and 72 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and under Section 4.2 of Planning Policy Guidance Note 15 (September 1994).

The Conservation Officer advised members that he had identified six main areas of the town which could be designated, but considered that the area surrounding St Mildred's church was the only one area that complied with all the criteria. The local member had asked that there be more consultation as it was felt the area should be larger than that designated.

RESOLVED :

THAT further consultation be undertaken on the designation of the Conservation Area located in and around the Whippingham Church and any suggested amendments be brought back to the Committee.

(c) LBC/8854R - Replacement Windows, Royal Yacht Squadron, The Castle, Cowes

Members were updated on the replacement windows at the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes.

During November and December 2000 the UPVC windows were removed and replaced with the approved timber windows. A final inspection of the windows had been made on 18 December 2000 where it was concluded that all 33 windows required to be changed under the Enforcement Notice had been carried out, and to the standard required.

It was suggested that in the summer of 2002 the Royal Yacht Squadron be approached with a view to agreeing a run-up programme for completion of the 16 windows, by the due date of December 2002.

RESOLVED :

THAT the findings of the report be accepted and to agree that all windows, bar the 16 windows which have to be changed under Phase 3 of the programme and are due to be completed by December 2002, are accepted.

(d) TCP/13520 - Outline for office and residential development (readvertised application - revised scheme), land at St Cross Business Park, south of Lower St Cross Farm and east of Dodnor Lane, Newport

(Mr M G Barton declared an interest in this item and left the room).

Members were advised that the application was similar in principle to the application that had been refused in April 2000. The site would be mixed development of 12 detached dwellings and approximately 2,400 square metres of speculative office floor space. The applicant had suggested two phases of six dwellings each, but officers were suggesting three phases of four dwelling units.

Letters from the applicant's planning and financial agents and the Fire Safety Officer had been received together with two additional representations from residents, including a petition from Riverview Park Residents' Association.

Concerns were raised over comments received from the Environmental Health Officer and, that part of the housing element was close to approved B2 uses and would be likely to lead to disamenity or restrictions on the B2 occupiers. It was felt that not all the criteria of Policy E4 had been met, particularly that relating to the mix of uses.

RESOLVED :

THAT the application be refused contrary to officers recommendation, because Members considered that development outside the Development Envelope defined in the Deposit Draft Unitary Development Plan was not justified in this particular case and furthermore considered that the proposal did not meet all the necessary criteria of the Deposit Draft Unitary Development Plan policies C1, E3, E4, G1. G5(h), G10, H4 and H9.

(e) Schedule of Appeals

The Schedule of Appeals that had been lodged and decisions made was received.

RESOLVED :

THAT the report be noted.

(f) Planning Applications and Related Matters

(i) Part II and Part III

Consideration was given to items 1 - 19 of the report of the Director of Environment Services.

RESOLVED :

THAT the applications be determined as detailed below :

Categories of applications considered and determined as detailed below :

The reasons for the resolutions made in accordance with Officer recommendation are given in the Planning report. Where resolutions are made contrary to Officer recommendation the reasons for doing so are contained in the minutes.

A schedule of late representations was submitted at the beginning of the meeting and were drawn to the attention of Members when considering the application. A note is made to this effect in the minutes.

(ii) Part IV - Items Other Than Current Issues

(a) TCP/12010L - Retention of pergola and decking at rear of vineyard building, tractor/equipment shed, resiting of storage sheds lean-to storage for horse feed and equipment, use of land for the keeping of a horse, greenhouse, overspill car park/maintenance area; retention of alteration, relocating tea room, additional residential accommodation and external alterations, Adgestone Vineyard, Upper Road, Adgestone, Sandown

Members gave consideration to the continuing enforcement action against some of the above developments following the refusal of planning permission. A late representation was received.

RESOLVED :

(i) THAT the enforcement action continued with.

(ii) THAT further investigation of the allegations that the property is now being used for bed and breakfast accommodation and, if found to be operating, to issue a further Enforcement Notice or Breach of Condition Notice as appropriate.

(b) TCP/18533G - Clatterford House, Clatterford Shute, Carisbrooke

Consideration was given as to whether the scale of non-domestic use of the above property was such that a change of use had occurred and a planning application should have been submitted to regularise the current level of business activity.

RESOLVED :

THAT the applicants be advised that on the basis of the information submitted in the letter of 20 February 2001 that the level of business use was considered to be ancillary to the main use of the property as a dwelling and at present the Local Planning Authority proposes to take no further action. However, should further information come into the Local Planning Authority's possession or circumstances change, that would warrant a reconsideration of the circumstances, then the Local Planning Authority reserves the right to review its decision and possibly come to a different conclusion.

158. MEMBERS' QUESTION TIME

Mr E Fox asked if the Chairman was aware that despite his question on this matter to the 19 January meeting works are continuing as the Ashey Road site.

Can she confirm what progress has been made in obtaining and assessing the drainage schemes for the safe disposal of storm and foul water from this site.

Does she recall that a condition of the approval for this site required the approval of this Planning Committee before works commence?

The Development Control Manager answered on behalf of the Chairman :

I am advised that work in respect of the access road is continued on the site approved for 27 houses, but following correspondence between the Development Control Manager and the developers agent, that work in respect of individual dwellings had been discontinued since 23 January 2001.

You are aware that progress had been made in respect of preparation and submission of a drainage scheme in connection with this approved development. I understand that you have seen, or are aware of the correspondence with the Environment Agency dated the 29 January 2001. The Environment Agency has indicated that the drainage issues could be resolved through negotiation with the client's engineer using appropriate engineering techniques.

I do recall that there was a condition attached to the original outline permission requiring he submission and approval of a drainage scheme by this Council as Local Planning Authority before work commenced.

Mr B E Abraham asked the Chairman if she could update him on the current position of the former Lloyds Bank Building in Wootton High Street. Does she understand that the view forming in Wootton is that the Council can do nothing but watch the building fall down?

The Chairman replied that she shared the concern from the Wootton community that this was an important building that required protection, but she did not share the view that all the Council could do was watch the building fall down. She was aware that enforcement action (Section 215 - Untidy Land) had been authorised by this Committee and she would chase the matter up to see what the current state of play for the site was. She would ask the officers to write to you directly explaining the situation, so that the matter could be progressed to a satisfactory conclusion. Members resolved to inspect the site on 19 April 2001.

CHAIRMAN