Agenda item

Demolishment of row of 4 no. garages, replaced with garage building including solar panels.

Permit

Mr Young presented the report to the Committee.

Mr Young informed the Committee that the application was for the storage of classic cars and outlined the site area to the Committee. He highlighted the position of the current buildings and the proposed layout; as a point of note he informed the Committee that the current parking provision on site did not meet current guidelines. Access to the site would be improved as part of the application, as cars would be able to exit the site in a forward gear.

Mr Young drew the Committee’s attention to the proposed solar panels that would be installed as part of the development.

He confirmed the site was located within both the Westbourne Settlement boundary and the Westbourne Conservation Area, as well as being covered by the Westbourne Neighbourhood Plan.

No objections had been received from WSCC Highways. An ecological statement had been submitted as part of the application in recognition of bats, birds and hedgehogs.

Mr Young drew attention to the Agenda Update sheet which included some supporting information from the agent/applicant, as well as a proposed amendment to Condition 3 and an additional condition (Condition 8) to maintain planning control in the interests of the amenity of the site.

The following representations were received;

Cllr Richard Hitchcock – Westbourne Parish Council

Mr Paul Wilkins – Objector

Mr Jon Whitehouse – On Applicant’s Behalf

Officers responded to Member’s comments and questions as follows;

On the issue of the original land use; Mr Young informed the Committee that the current garages had been on the site for the past 40/50 years. It had been used by the applicant for many years to store cars.

With regards to the positioning of the solar panels; Mr Young explained how the panels needed to be positioned in order to achieve maximum efficiency. Mr Broadway confirmed that in officer opinion the proposed position of the solar panels would not cause any harm to the neighbouring listed building.

In respect of biodiversity on site and the provision of bird boxes; Mr Young drew the Committee’s attention to the proposed conditions which were included to protect and enhance the biodiversity on site. Ms Stevens agreed the provision of bird boxes on the building could be included within Condition 4.

With regards to site construction; Mr Young drew the Committee’s attention to Condition 3 of the report which addressed construction management and had been proposed to safeguard the amenities of adjoining residents. He agreed that an informative could be added to advise should hazardous material be found on site prior to construction. 

In a vote the Committee agreed to support the report recommendation to permit, subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report, as well as; the amendment to condition 3 and the inclusion of condition 8 as set out in the Agenda Update; the amendment to condition 4 and the inclusion of the additional informative as discussed.

Recommendation; permit, subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report, permit, subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report, as well as; the amendment to condition 3 and the inclusion of condition 8 as set out in the Agenda Update; and the agreed amendment to condition 4.

*Members took a five minute break.