Issue - meetings

UTT/20/0050/FUL - Yew Tree Cottage, School Lane, Takeley, CM22 6PJ

Meeting: 07/07/2021 - Planning Committee (Item 3)

3 UTT/20/0050/FUL - Yew Tree Cottage, School Lane, TAKELEY pdf icon PDF 494 KB

To consider application UTT/20/0050/FUL.

Minutes:

The Senior Planning Officer presented an application for the demolition of an existing garage and for the erection of one detached dwelling with associated parking and landscaping. The application had been called-in by Councillor Bagnall.

 

The application was recommended for approval with conditions.

 

Members had the following concerns about the site and the surrounding area: -

  • The risk of flooding, surface water drainage and contamination of the River Roding, including the foul smell from ditches on route to the site.
  • It was an unsustainable location within the Countryside Protection Zone (CPZ)
  • There were no local amenities and a limited bus service.
  • The recent new properties that had already been built detracted from the area.
  • There were access issues as the lane narrows and lorries could not pass.

 

The Development Manager responded and said that he had not been contacted by the Environment Agency about a flood risk assessment; he agreed that there was an unpleasant smell, but he said that did not necessarily mean the ditches were contaminated. He said there was a flood risk assessment for the application.  He said there were no biodiversity issues raised by the Council’s engaged Ecologist and Place Services had no objections. 

 

In response to a question from Councillor Emanuel the Senior Planning Officer said that if the application was approved an additional condition could be added that the development would follow the recommendations within the Flood Risk Assessment and the drainage strategy.

 

 

Councillor Reeve said that within the Flood Risk Assessment report submitted on Monday, at paragraph 3.9, it was stated that there was a high risk of surface water flooding.  He therefore said that the evidence was insufficient to accept the proposal and was minded to turn the application down.

 

Councillor Emanuel said that she did not think that there was sufficient reason to turn down this application.  The Heritage Consultant said in the report that there was no potential harm to the listed building, and Highways had stated that there was no problem with access.         

 

Councillor Sutton proposed that the application be refused.  This was seconded by Councillor Bagnall.

 

RESOLVED to refuse the application on the basis of policy S8 and the unsustainability of the area.

 

D Hyde (agent) spoke in support of the application.