Agenda item

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

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) detailing the erection of 2x5 bedroom dwellings with private rear gardens and front driveways, following demolition of the existing dwelling at 20 Upland Drive, which was a detached bungalow with front driveway/garden and rear garden set within a large plot. 

Upland Drive was a private access road featuring a linear row of residential properties running parallel to the Great North Road (A1000), which was separated by a landscaped screen.  The site was on the eastern edge of Brookmans Park, which was excluded from the Green Belt, as designated in the Local Plan.

Properties along Upland Drive were varied in style and included predominately detached two storey dwellings and a small number of detached bungalows typically set well back from the road in landscaped gardens.  Many properties had been extended and altered from their original form and there were some limited examples of replacement dwellings.  Recently, both 30 and 33 Upland Drive had been re-developed to accommodate two dwellings following demolition of the original dwellings and the subdivision of each plot (ref: 6/2017/1422/FULL and 6/2015/2127/FULL respectively).  The development at 30 was currently under construction whilst the two new dwellings at 33 had been completed. The application was a resubmission following refused application: 6/2017/1617/FULL.

The application had been presented to the Development Management Committee because Councillor Stephen Boulton had objected and called-in the application.

“As you know there have been several applications in this road and I am concerned that the character of the road is being changed by these proposals.  The road had been originally developed with fairly large houses or bungalows on wide plots of land with good space between the dwellings.  The ongoing applications to build two houses on plots which contained one house will, if allowed to continue, affect the character of the road and amenity of existing residents.”

North Mymms Parish Council had made the following representations against the application:

“…In accordance with decision for 20 Upland Drive, we concur that this is a very similar proposal in scale, massing, width, siting and that the design would appear cramped within the site and street scene.  These properties would be highly visible from the A1000.”

Officers recommended that, should planning permission be granted, the following Upland Drive Road informative would be included.

“The applicant is advised that Upland Drive is a private road, the upkeep of which is the responsibility of the adjoining property owners and members, who currently do this by convening and making appropriate payments to a road committee to cover costs of maintenance and drainage.  The applicant is strongly advised to contact the Upland Drive Road Committee at the earliest opportunity to discuss how the use and maintenance of the road may be managed/contributed to during and post construction of the development. Contact details for the road committee may be obtained from the Council”.

Mr Eric Ewer, as Chairman and on behalf of the Upland Road Committee, spoke in objection to the proposed application. Mr Ewer stated that the development would overload the already inadequate drainage system, potentially damage the road of Upland Drive.  Mr Ewer also raised road safety concerns and was of the view that a construction and traffic management plan should be a condition of any planning approval.

Mr Andrew Pantelli, objector, spoke against the application and expressed the view that a precedent would be set for similar applications in future, which would give rise to parking concerns, infrastructure problems and a change to the existing character of the area.  There would also be a detrimental effect on the outlook of the adjoining property, Number 19, and a significant impact on the neighbouring properties during the construction process.

North Mymms Parish Councillor, Linda Saffer spoke against the application, reiterating the comments made in the representation from the Parish Council.

It was then proposed by Councillor A.Chesterman, seconded by Councillor P.Shah and

RESOLVED:

(8 for and 4 against)

That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report of Officers and the additional informative.

“The applicant is advised that Upland Drive is a private road, the upkeep of which is the responsibility of the adjoining property owners and members, who currently do this by convening and making appropriate payments to a road committee to cover costs of maintenance and drainage.  The applicant is strongly advised to contact the Upland Drive Road Committee at the earliest opportunity to discuss how the use and maintenance of the road may be managed/contributed to during and post construction of the development. Contact details for the road committee may be obtained from the Council”.

The development/works shall not be started and completed other than in accordance with the approved plans and details:

REASON: To ensure that the development is carried out in accordance with the approved plans and details.

POSITIVE AND PROACTIVE STATEMENT

The decision has been made taking into account, where practicable and appropriate the requirements of paragraphs 186-187 of the National Planning Policy Framework and material planning considerations do not justify a decision contrary to the development plan (see Officer’s report which can be viewed on the Council's website or inspected at these offices).

(Note: Councillor S.Boulton, having called-in the application and declared an interest, withdrew from the meeting for this item).