Agenda item

Description:

This application sought Variation of Condition 2 (Approved Drawings) of planning permission 17/01065/FUL for 24 dwellings, to allow the brick wall along the northern and eastern boundaries to be replaced with 1.8 metre high close boarded fence topped with 300mm trellis, and a 2.1 metre high wall.

Councillor Sider had requested this application to be reported to the Planning Committee for consideration on the grounds that the replacement fence does not achieve a satisfactory relationship to adjoining properties and will be detrimental to the street scene in Gordon Road.

Additional Information:

Two late letters of objection have been received. Issued raised include:

·         The fence has already started to fall into disrepair.

·         Some trellis has fallen off.

·         One post is now leaning over.

An e mail was sent to the Members of the Planning Committee from a local resident.  The email shows comparison photographs of the former wall and the new fence.

Public Speaking:

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

·         Character and visual impact – fence not in keeping with area

·         Loss of brick wall

·         Design and durability – height and durability wooden panels rot and get vandalised

·         Loss of privacy - Gordon Rd side higher

·         Noise and security – housing development would be noisy. Brick wall more secure

In accordance with the Council’s procedure for speaking at committee meetings, Mark Hendy spoke for the proposed development and raised the following key points:

·         Intended to retain boundary wall but walls structurally and visually unsound

·         Danger of collapse due to condition of buildings

·         Fencing more appropriate to housing development

·         Fence is not out of character, acceptable design

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

·         Don’t accept justification to demolish wall

·         Doing bare minimum

·         Not considerate contractors

·         Wooden fence and gravel board not appropriate

·         No need to remove the wall

·         Fence should be replaced with a wall

Debate:

During the debate the following key issues were raised:

·         Should put back what has been taken down

·         Walls do move

·         Substantial wall characteristic of 1950s and does not compare to a trellis fence

·         Residents were concerned at the initial state and were given assurances, residents were ignored

·         Wall was a feature of Gordon Road cul-de- sac

·         Wall should have been inspected by developers

·         Enforcement action should be taken to remove unsightly fence which adversely affects the street scene and surrounding area

Decision:

The recommendation to approve was OVERTURNED and planning permission was REFUSED for the following reason:

The proposed fence would, by reason of its design and location, represent a poor quality development which fails to respect and make a positive contribution to the street scene and would be out of character with the surrounding area, contrary to policy EN1 (a) of the Spelthorne Borough Core Strategy and Policies DPD, 2009.

During consideration of Application - 18/01426/RVC it was moved by Councillor Beardsmore, and seconded by Councillor Thomson, that having sat continuously for nearly three hours, Standing Order 5.1 be suspended to allow the meeting to continue to the conclusion of the current item of business.