Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance).

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) on the conversion of 2 x outbuildings to 1 x dwelling and erection of a single storey rear extension (retention of number 5 outbuilding).

Numbers 5 and 7 Moor Cottages were two storey terrace houses set in an L shape row of similar matching properties which included Number 3 Moor Cottages. All the houses were finished in similar materials.

The properties which faced onto Mimram Walk represented the principle front elevation of the properties. The front doors were accessed by foot along a pedestrian path in front of the neighbouring houses in the row and accessed from the main roads, Mill Lane to the east and Mimram Road from the west. The properties had no vehicle access or parking.

The application site comprised of two attached single storey outbuildings sited within the rear garden area of Numbers 5 and 7 Moor Cottages. The application site for both these properties was within the ownership of the applicant. The application site was accessed via a side gate from Mimram Walk and provided pedestrian access only. The application site measured approx. 145 sqm in area and was subdivided into two plots of land based on its former ownership. Both outbuildings comprised of a living/dining room, bedroom and bathroom and associated garden area.

This application was presented to the Development Management Committee because Councillor Kingsbury had called-in the application on the grounds that;

“1) There is no parking provision in the application that already has parking issues. This does not meet the expected parking standards;

2) I would suggest this is inappropriate development in a Conservation Area;

3) Inadequate access for emergency vehicles.”

Welwyn Parish Council raised an objection for the following points:

“The development of these outbuildings will lead to over densification of the number of households in the Conservation Area. There is no parking provision for the increased number of cars that will result from this development. The area is already suffering from limited parking for residents and businesses.”

C.Watts, Agent, spoke for the application saying that there was no planning reason to refuse the application. There were many properties in the property that did not have a parking space and that there was long-term parking in the village. The parking survey had been carried out at weekends and evening when it was expected to be fully used.

J.Tudor John spoke as an objector saying that when purchasing the property, she accepted that it was a slightly unusual situation and took comfort in the fact that it was in a conservation zone. The property had a right of way across the garden to the outbuilding and the proposed development would have an adverse effect on her properties privacy if anyone would be able to cross the garden, for example, delivery men. The proposed development had gone beyond the small scale development that was approved in 2007.

Councillor T.Kingsbury, Ward Councillor, spoke against the application saying that it was a difficult and contentious area for parking, currently being looked at by the Parish Council. There was soon to be yellow lines put in which would make parking more difficult. The train station was some way from the village.

Following discussion, it was proposed and seconded by Councillors J.Broach and S.Elam and

RESOLVED:

(12 voting for and 1 against)

That planning permission be APPROVED subject to the conditions as set out in report.