Issue - meetings

Replacement dwelling following approval (under planning permission 21/01957/FUL) for conversion of office/garage building into a dwelling.

The Committee was made aware that this application was referred to it as the proposed development would conflict with the requirements of the Development Plan, principally Policy SPL2 (Settlement Development Boundaries) of the Tendring District Local Plan 2013-2033 and Beyond (Section 2, adopted January 2022) being located outside of any defined settlement development boundary.

It was reported that the proposed dwelling was not considered by Officers to be so materially different in regards to siting and footprint compared to the existing building on site which benefitted from planning approval for a conversion (from office/garage) into a dwelling (under TDC planning ref 21/01957/FUL). Moreover, in respect of proposed design and external appearance, the proposal was considered by Officers to be acceptable and would meet the design expectations of relevant local and national policies. The maximum ridge height of the proposal marginally exceeded the ridge height of the existing building by 50cm (currently the ridge height  was 4.7m and the proposal would increase the height to 5.2m). The proposed dwelling would continue to utilise an existing private access off Crow Lane with good visibility splays in both directions.

In the absence of any material harm resulting from the development in regards to its individual appearance, impact on the wider streetscene and the character and appearance of the rural landscape, the application was recommended by Officers for approval. Furthermore, the proposal would not have resulted in any detrimental impact on neighbour amenity and there were no concerns raised in regard to parking and highway safety matters.

The Committee had before it the published Officer report containing the key planning issues, relevant planning policies, planning history, any response from consultees, written representations received and a recommendation of approval.

At the meeting, an oral presentation was made by the Council’s Planning Team Leader (JJ) in respect of the application.

Peter Le Grys, the agent acting on behalf of the applicant, spoke in support of the application. Mr Le Grys queried the need for Condition 5 proposed in paragraph 7.2 of the Officer Report requiring a scheme for sustainable energy measures to be approved by the Council as this was not required on the previous grant of planning permission for the site. The Planning Officer responded and agreed with the removal of Condition 5.

Parish Chairman Ted Edwards, representing Tendring Parish Council, spoke against the application.