Planning Minutes 14 June 2016

Minutes of the Planning Committee Meeting of 14^th June 2016 held at 7.00 pm. in The Village Hall, Five Ash Down.

Present: Cllrs. Mulvagh (Chairman), Sheard, Rose, Blandford, Warner, McQuarrie and Cllr Hall and Clerks Claudine Feltham and Beccy Macklen

Public: No members of the public were present.

Apologies: Cllr Cox

Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of 10^th May 2016 were approved and signed as a correct record by the Chairman.

Declaration of Members Interests in respect of items on this agenda

All members of the parish council declared a personal interest in respect of agenda item 4.1 by knowing the applicant.

4.

Planning Applications

5

5.1

5.2

5.3

5.4

6

7.

To discuss any planning applications received from Wealden District Council after the publication of the agenda that are available on the District Planning website.

Application No: WD/2016/1342/F

Location: 6 Broad Oak, Buxted, TN22 4JX.

Description: Erection of a detached garage.

Applicant: Mr D Hookey, 6 Broad Oak, Buxted, TN22 4JX.

Agent: Mrs S Marshall, Marshall IBID LLP, 38 Beeches Road, Crowborough, TN6 2BD.

Sent: 8th June 2016

Response from Buxted Parish Council to Wealden District Council: No objection, recommend approval.

Application No: WD/2016/1315/F

Location: Horseshoe Cottage, Gordon Road, Buxted, TN22 4LG

Description: Alterations and ground and first floor additions.

Applicant: Mr & Mrs Phippard, Horseshoe Cottage, Gordon Road, Buxted, TN22 4LG

Agent: Mike Hill Architectural Services, Croom Cottage, London Road, East Hoathly.

Sent: 8th June 2016

Response from Buxted Parish Council to Wealden District Council: The property cannot be seen from the road and will not have any adverse effect on neighbouring properties. No objection, recommend approval.

Application No: WD/2016/0919/F

Location: The White Hart, Station Road, Buxted, TN22 4DP.

Description: Extend existing car park.

Applicant: DWL Restaurants, North View, Maidstone Road, Horsmonden, Kent, TN21 8DA.

Agent: Orion Projects Services, 87 High Street, Uckfield, TN22 1RJ.

Sent: 8th June 2016.

Response from Buxted Parish Council to Wealden District Council: No objection, recommend approval.

Application No: WD/2016/0956/F

Location: Oast View, Five Ash Down, Uckfield, TN22 3AP.

Description: Conversion of garage at rear of residential annexe including raising of roof and alterations and installation of dormer – amended description and amended block plan.

Applicant: Mr and Mrs Dadswell, c/o: address below.

Agent: Direct Planning, 95-97 Riverbank House, High Street, St Mary Cray, Orpington, BR5 3NH.

Sent: 9th June 2016

Response from Buxted Parish Council to Wealden District Council: The parish council have considered the letter of support and letter of objection from neighbouring properties. It has raised concern with the parish council that the current design/position of the garage and its dormer windows would infringe on the privacy of the neighbouring property. If this application was approved by Wealden District Council the parish council would request a condition that the garage cannot be sold as a separate dwelling from the house. The parish council would also like to suggest that the orientation of the dormer windows be changed so that they look towards Oast View, and not the neighbour.

With the current layout/design the parish council object to this application and do not recommend approval.

Applications considered by email consultation, which were publicised on the parish council website, noted at this meeting for information only.

8.

Announcements:

Cllr Blandford attended the Wealden District Council Planning Committee North to object to the retrospective planning application for Heatherdene House. The application was discussed and a vote went in favour (5 to 3) to grant permission.

Cllr Blandford is going to send the following details within a letter to Wealden District Council:

Response to application WD/2016/0956/F

The following is taken from the NPPF

98. When determining planning applications, local planning authorities should:

● not require applicants for energy development to demonstrate the overall need for renewable or low carbon energy and also recognise that even small-scale projects provide a valuable contribution to cutting greenhouse gas emissions; and

● approve the application18 if its impacts are (or can be made) acceptable

This retrospective planning application was approved by WDC but whilst we have to accept that the applicant can, it appears, from NPPF guidelines, apply to erect a solar array with no limit on the size of the array anyone individual might chose to erect. It would seem there is not a limit, in WDC terms, as small scale in our local ‘small scale landscapes’.

However, we remain concerned that from the way in which this solar array was given approval at the hearing, but not written into the response, was partly because approval had been given to other solar arrays of larger size within Wealden, and had this application been turned down, it was likely to be overturned at an appeal on these grounds. We wished to point out in para 98 it is stated that:

Once suitable areas for renewable and low carbon energy have been identified in plans, local planning authorities should also expect subsequent applications for commercial scale projects outside these areas to demonstrate that the proposed location meets the criteria used in identifying suitable areas.

So have WDC identified, in plans, suitable areas for such solar areas? Judging from the evidence given for this application it would seem that WDC has no policy which would cover the Low Weald Area, or perhaps in any of our Character areas, and can we therefore expect far more of these arrays in the Landscape with WDC totally incapable, or unwilling, to refuse permission for their erection?

The meeting closed at 1930 hours