Site address:                   2A Squitchey Lane, Oxford, OX2 7LB

Proposal:                         Demolition of existing garage, erection of two storey front extension, erection of part single, part two storey side and rear extension, replacement of 2no. windows with 2no. doors to front elevation and alterations to rear boundary fence.         

Reason at Committee      This application was called in by Councillors Gotch, Gant, Garden, Goddard, Smith and Wade. This was due to concerns over the impact of the development proposal on neighbouring residential occupiers.

Recommendation:

The West Area Planning Committee is recommended to:

1.               approvethe application for the reasons given in the report and subject to the required planning conditions set out in section 12 of the report and grant planning permission.

2.               agree to delegate authority to the Head of Planning Services to:

·       finalise the recommended conditions as set out in the report including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary.

The Committee considered an application (20/01784/FUL) for the demolition of existing garage, erection of two storey front extension, erection of part single, part two storey side and rear extension, replacement of 2no. windows with 2no. doors to front elevation and alterations to rear boundary fence.         

The Planning Officer presented the report.

The Committee considered a number of points of detail on the application including but not limited to the following.  In relation to the protection of tree root systems on the site, it was confirmed that technical information would be required to be submitted to the Council’s arboricultural experts in advance of any work starting to ensure that the relevant conditions were satisfied. The Committee expressed some concern about the proximity of the wrap around extension to neighbouring properties. It was noted however that as an existing building with permitted development rights, the applicant was able to extend up to 4 metres to the rear of the house without planning permission. The report also dealt with the matter of neighbouring amenity and concluded that it was not compromised to an unacceptable degree.

In reaching its decision the West Area Planning Committee considered all the information put before it. On being proposed, seconded and put to the vote, the Committee agreed with the officers’ recommendation to approve the application. 

The West Area Planning Committee resolved to:

1.    Approve the application for the reasons given in the report and subject to the required planning conditions set out in section 12 of the report and grant planning permission; and

2.    Delegate authority to the Head of Planning Services to:

·       finalise the recommended conditions as set out in the report including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary.