Agenda item

This planning application related to proposed change of land use of former road to residential garden land (C3) and the erection of a close-boarded fence.

This application would normally be determined under the Council’s Scheme of Delegation but was being reported to the Planning Applications Committee because the applicant had been employed by the Council as a Planning Officer, within the previous four years.

There were several updates in the Planning Updates report suggested by the Council’s Scientific Officer. These included:

·         Prior to commencement, the applicant shall submit an intrusive site investigation report by a competent person(s) to confirm whether the area is suitable for residential use. If contamination is found, a remediation plan based upon the findings of the site investigation shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the LPA. The land shall be remediated in accordance with the approved plan.

·         If necessary, prior to the use of the land, a validation report with substantiating evidence demonstrating that the agreed remediation has been carried out, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the LPA.

·         The applicant may wish to install suitable acoustic fences at extended boundary, to reduce the noise level in garden areas to below the upper value of 55 dB or more desirable 50 LAeq, as recommended in BS8233 for external residential amenity areas.

The Committee commended the application on the benefit it would be to the site’s appearance and the case officer confirmed that other neighbours on the street had carried out similar work.

The case officer had been at the council six months so had no prior working relationship with the applicant.

The officer recommendation to grant the application, subject to conditions was proposed by Councillor David Whitcroft, seconded by Councillor Helen Whitcroft, put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED that application 23/1178/FFU be granted, subject to

conditions.

NOTE 1

All Members of the Committee present voted in favour of the officer recommendation to grant the application, subject to conditions.