Agenda item

Outline Application with all matters reserved for demolition of existing cottage and construction of up to 4no, residential dwellings (Use Class C3)
Braemar, Beach View, Boulmer, Northumberland, NE66 3BW 

R. Campbell – Senior planning officer, introduced the application with the aid of site videos and a PowerPoint presentation, there had been no further updates since the submission of the report to the committee.

A. Hinchcliffe spoke in objection to the application and gave members the following information:

·       The site should be for one of two low-rise homes similar to the existing bungalow. Four houses on the site was unacceptable.

·       The design of the application was based on the design on the three semi-detached houses to the immediate south, which were built around 1940 with no space to take vehicles between the houses.

·       The submitted design code contains inaccuracies which gave false impression of the proposal and comparative proportions to the existing semi-detached houses were incorrect.

·       Beach View mainly consisted of low-height and low-density bungalows that were sat within a generous garden, an important characteristic of the village.

·       Boulmer had suffered from high levels of visitor parking, further resident parking on Beach Road would add to an already problematic situation.

·       Of the last eleven properties that were added to the housing market in Boulmer, nine had gone for second homes or holiday lets.

C. Bradshaw, spoke as a parish councillor in the Longhougton & Boulmer area and gave the following information:

·       The site was not a suitable size to hold four dwellings.

·       The application was out of character and scale for the street.

·       The rest of the properties on the street were bungalows.

·       Parking was inadequate.

·       Developments would need to attract young families.

·       Developments would need to be sympathetic and enhance the character of the village.

D. Puttick, spoke in support of the application and gave the following information:

·       The application was an all matters reserved application.

·       The application plans were detailed and supported by the Planning Officers.

·       The applicant planned to use old building styles to keep the development in characteristic of the village.

·       Highways had commented that the application site would have sufficient parking.

Following questions from members to the planning officers, further information was provided:

·       The committee could not impose conditions relating to second homes as the Parish did not have large amount of second homes, based on census data and in accordance with the Local Plan.

·       If approved, the committee could ask to have the reserved matters application brought before members, which would include parking, this would be considered through the chair referral process.

·       Planning officers were satisfied that the site could provide up to four dwellings.

·       Planning Officers had worked with the AONB, and the developer was aware of the concerns raised.

·       The street scene did not contain only bungalows.

Councillor Pattison proposed to refuse the application for the following reasons: Harmful visual impact on neighbouring amenity and general visual amenity, failure to conserve and enhance the special qualities of the AONB, failure to demonstrate sufficient car parking and over development of the site.

This was seconded by Councillor Hill.

After a small debate from members, a vote was taken as follows: FOR; 6, AGAINST; 4, ABSTAIN; 0.

RESOLVED that the application was REFUSED for harmful visual impact on neighbouring amenity, impact on the AONB (harm on area of outstanding beauty), concerns around parking and over development of the site.