Agenda item

Report of the Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy (enclosed).

Minded to refuse full planning permission.

(The Committee received representations from an objector to the proposals)

Application No:          10/00703/FUL  

Proposal:                    Demolition of existing dwelling (No 7 Chorley Old Road) and various outbuildings and the erection of 8 No detached dwellings (some with detached garages)

Location:                     5-7 Chorley Old Road Whittle-le-Woods, Lancashire PR6 7LB

Decision:

Members of the Committee were reminded that the applicant had appealed to the Planning Inspectorate against non-determination of the application as the Council had not made a decision on the application within the 8 week statutory period.

It was proposed by Councillor Mick Muncaster, seconded by Councillor Roy Lees andsubsequently unanimously RESOLVED – That Members of the Committee were minded to refuse full planning permission for the following reasons:

1.   The proposed development is within the settlement boundary of whittle-le-Woods on an unallocated and un-developed ‘Greenfield’ site. It has not been demonstrated that there are no suitable allocated or previously developed sites available within the settlement and as such the proposal is contrary to criteria (f) of Policy HS6 of the Chorley Borough Local Plan Review and PPS3: Housing.

2.   The proposed junction with Chorley Old Road does not provide the necessary visibility splays required for a 30mph road as set out in Manual for Streets and it has not been suitably demonstrated to the Council why a reduction in the visibility splay requirements in Manual for Streets should be accepted for this site. Also, the internal layout of the site does not provide suitable design features to cater for pedestrians. The development proposed would therefore result in detrimental harm to highway and pedestrian safety contrary to Manual for Streets and Policy TR4 and HS4 (d) of the Chorley Borough Local Plan Review.

3.   The development would have a detrimental impact on the amenities of the occupiers of the adjacent property on Langdale Grove. In particular, due to the difference between the proposed slab level of the dwelling proposed on plot no. 5 and the level of the garden of 30 Langdale Grove and the proximity of this dwelling to the garden boundary of this property, the views attainable from the first floor windows of the properties on this plot would unacceptably overlook the garden of this property. The proposed development is therefore contrary to Policy Nos. HS4 (c) and HS6 (C) & (d).

4.   The intervening land between the application site and Chorley Old Road to the south slopes steeply, thus elevating the site from Chorley Old Road at its junction with Town Lane. The development, by virtue of its proximity to the southern boundary of the site, would appear substantially elevated above Chorley Old Road, particularly plots 3 and 4, during periods of the year when the mature trees on the intervening land no longer have leaf cover. The elevated nature of the development adjacent to the southern boundary, particularly in the autumn and winter months, means it would tower over Chorley Old Road and would appear incongruous in the streetscene thus resulting in detrimental harm to its character and appearance. The proposed development is therefore contrary to Policy Nos. GN5, HS4 and HS6 of the Chorley Borough Local Plan Review.