Decision details

Description:

This Application sought permission for the erection of a roof extension including front and side dormers and the raising of the ridge height, the erection of a part two storey, part single storey rear extension with habitable space in the roof, the provision of parking space, and the creation of 4 one bedroom flats.

Additional information:

The Planning Development Manager informed the Committee that the Relevant Planning History section (Paragraph 2, Page 96) should read ‘11/00733/OUT Application Refused 01.12.2011’ rather than ‘11/00733/OUT Grant Conditional 01.12.2011’.

Condition 2 should be altered to reflect an amended plan received to allow for an update to an annotation on the plan, which now states the ground floor flat is a ‘1 bedroom flat’:

“The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans; JSD-16-57/100 Rev A, JSD-16-57/102 Rev A (Received 03.04.3018), JSD-16-57/101 Rev C (Received 20.04.2018”.

Three additional letters of representation were received objecting to the proposal on the following grounds which were not already in the committee report:

Concerns over present car parking and access to the road for emergency vehicles.

-           The site would be overused/overdeveloped

-           Concerns over the reduced area of the surgery, which would lead to overcrowding of the site for residential purposes

-           Concerns over rubbish collections and who would maintain strips of ground within the site

-           Excessive density

-           The site is a dangerous part of Ashford’s road network, and cars park on yellow lines

-           Concerns over the description of the development

-           The car parking spaces are narrower than other car parks, and vehicles now tend to be wider

Public Speaking:

In accordance with the Council’s procedure for speaking at meetings, Peter Davies spoke against the proposed development raising the following key points:

•           Parking concerns – lack of parking, on street parking in Brownrigg road, cars block existing accesses

•           Overcrowded development

•           Plans do not show all development at 70 and 72 Church Road

In accordance with the Council’s procedure for speaking at committee meetings, Ward Councillor Gething spoke against the proposed development and raised the following key points:

•           Loss of dentist

•           Parking concerns

•           Impact on street scene – already agreed

•           Impact on war memorial – already agreed

Debate:

During the debate the following key issues were raised:

•           Query over size of flat

•           Impact on war memorial is ok

•           Difficult to refuse

•           Does it make a positive contribution to the street scene?

•           There is a car park in Ashford

•           Very little different to previous proposal

•           Dentist already operates on site with limited parking

Decision:

The Application was approved as per the recommendation in the Officer’s

report.