Agenda item

The application was for the erection of detached single storey three bedroom dwelling (Class C3) following demolition of two agricultural barns.

The application would have normally been determined under the Council’s Scheme of Delegation, however, it had been called in for determination by the Planning Applications Committee at the request of Councillor Graham Alleway due to concerns regarding the impact on the Green Belt.

Members were advised of the following updates on the application:

²AMENDED CONDITION

A Phase 3 contamination report has been submitted. The Council’s Environmental Health Officer has commented that the proposed protection and monitoring measures are sufficient to part discharge the proposed Condition 4. This is now proposed to be re-worded as follows, to ensure that the agreed works are verified before occupation:

4. (i)  The development hereby approved shall not be first occupied unless and until a verification report appended with substantiating evidence demonstrating the agreed remediation (as recommended in Section 8 of the Phase 3 Remediation Strategy and Verification Plan – Castledine Environmental – Ref 3070D P3 West – Woking – dated 27/11/2020) has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority;

(ii) Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority, the development shall be carried out and completed wholly in accordance with all other parts of the above agreed Remediation Strategy.

Reason: To ensure that a satisfactory strategy is put in place for addressing contaminated land, making the land suitable for the development hereby approved without resulting in risk to construction workers, future users of the land, occupiers of nearby land and the environment generally in accordance with Policies CP2 and DM9 of the Surrey Heath Core Strategy and Development Management Policies Document 2012 and the National Planning Policy Framework.”

Members of the Committee held reservations whether the effect of the proposed dwelling on the 0.15 deficit in housing land supply was enough to outweigh the Green Belt protection policy. In addition it was suggested that the proposal was in conflict with the exceptions in paragraph 145 in the NPPF which implied that like-for-like buildings of the same use could replace one another and it was appreciated the existing barn was inherently an agricultural building as opposed to the proposed residential dwelling.

The officer recommendation to grant the application was proposed by Councillor Morgan Rise, seconded by Councillor Colin Dougan and put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED that application 20/0819 be granted subject to the conditions to the officer report and update.

Note 1

A roll-call vote was conducted on the application and the voting was as follows:

Voting in favour of the recommendation to grant the application:

Councillors Cliff Betton, Colin Dougan, Shaun Garrett, Edward Hawkins, David Lewis, Charlotte Morley, Robin Perry, Darryl Ratiram, Morgan Rise, Graham Tapper, Helen Whitcroft, Valerie White.

Voting against the recommendation to grant the application:

Councillors Graham Alleway and Victoria Wheeler

Voting in abstention on the recommendation to grant the application:

Councillor Sharon Galliford.