Site address:                   20 Blenheim Drive, Oxford, OX2 8DG

Proposal:                         Demolition of existing dwellinghouse. Erection of 2 x 5-bed dwellinghouses and 3 x 3-bed dwellinghouses (Use Class C3). Provision of car parking, shared access drive with infrared-controlled on-site traffic signals, bin and cycle stores. Associated landscaping. (Amended plans and description; additional information)

Recommendation:

The West Area Planning Committee is recommended to:

1.          approve the application for the reasons given in the report, subject to the findings of the archaeological field evaluation and subject to the required planning conditions set out in section 12 of the report and grant planning permission; and

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

·         consider and deal with the submitted archaeological report following the field evaluation including deciding whether it is necessary to refer the application back to the committee prior to issuing the permission and to add conditions required in connection with the archaeological field evaluation;

·         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; and

·         issue the planning permission.

The Chair took this item next.

The Committee considered an application (19/02723/FUL) for planning permission for the demolition of existing dwellinghouse. Erection of 2 x 5-bed dwellinghouses and 3 x 3-bed dwellinghouses (Use Class C3). Provision of car parking, shared access drive with infrared-controlled on-site traffic signals, bin and cycle stores. Associated landscaping. (Amended plans and description; additional information)

The Planning Officer presented the report and gave the following verbal updates:

• Condition 16 requiring homes to have sprinkler systems should be amended to ensure the systems are retained and maintained.
• Condition 15: site management plan to be amended to ensure residents are aware of bin storage and car parking arrangements and adhere to these arrangements.
• A new condition specifying the number of car parking spaces and preventing additional cars from parking on site to be added.
• a report on the archaeological field evaluation was submitted, after the publication of the agenda. The report concluded that no significant archaeological features or artefacts were uncovered. Based on the results of the evaluation, planning officers would not request any further archaeological work and so the reference to archaeology within the officer recommendation should be removed.
• A further public comment on the application had been received regarding car parking on site, and recourse, accountability and procedures should permission be granted. The issues raised were covered in the report or would be addressed by changes to the conditions detailed above.

·         Any future application to vary the condition on car parking would be considered on its merits but it should be noted that officers considered those conditions necessary to comply with local plan policies, in particular M3 in relation to car parking standards.

Elaine Whittington, local resident, spoke against the application. 

Huw Mellor, agent spoke in favour of the application.

In response to questions and points of clarification raised by the Committee the Planning Officer advised that:

• The precise detail of the landscaping proposals would be covered by Condition 15 but it was intended that the landscaping would include physical constraints (for example raised beds) to prevent breaches of the parking rules.

·         Permeable paving was proposed as part of SUDS and would be secured by condition

In reaching its decision, the Committee considered all the information put before it.

After debate and on being proposed, seconded and put to the vote, the Committee agreed with the officer’s recommendation to approve the application, subject to the amendments to Condition 15 and Condition16 and the inclusion of an additional condition specifying the number of car parking spaces and preventing additional cars from parking on site to be added.

The West Area Planning Committee resolved to:

1. approve the application for the reasons given in the report, subject to the required planning conditions set out in section 12 of the report, the amendments to Condition 15 and Condition 16 and the additional condition detailed above 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; and

·         issue the planning permission.

At the conclusion of this item the Committee noted that the Planning Officer would be leaving the Council and recorded its thanks for her work in support of the Committee.