Garage-to-dwelling conversion at Well Cottage, Charlbury, Chipping Norton

What was proposed

The application proposed converting an existing garage and workshop into a dwelling.

“Application Details: Conversion of existing garage/workshop to a dwelling…”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The site was an underused two-level garage and former workshop in a corner location within the conservation area and national landscape.

“The site sits within Charlbury Conservation Area and the Cotswolds National Landscape (CNL), there are a number of Grade II Listed Buildings adjacent to the site. The site also falls within Flood Zone 1.”

“The location of the site is shown edged in red in the accompanying Location Plan (drawing reference LP-01 Rev A). The site is currently an underutilised garage and former workshop attached to the host dwelling 'Well Cottage', the garage consists of 2 levels and is serviced with running water and electricity. There are no Public Rights of Way (PRoW) crossing the site.”

Officer report

Planning history

The officer report stated that there was no relevant planning history on the site.

“There is no relevant planning history on this site.”

Officer report

What consultees said

Drainage, conservation, highways and ecology consultees raised no objections, while environmental health requested a contamination condition and the parish council maintained its objection.

“Env Health Contamination No objection subject to inclusion of suggested condition.”

“Parish Council The Committee resolved to maintain its objection. While minor amendments have been made to the application, these do not address the fundamental concerns previously raised. In particular: The proposed parking provision remains inadequate and does not meet OCC standards. The Committee does not consider the space to be a genuinely usable parking space and does not accept that it will be used for that purpose in practice.”

Officer report

What people said

A neighbour requested controls on parking, lighting and shutters, while a conservation advisory committee raised design, lighting and parking concerns.

“One objection letter received summarised as follows: The proposed plans that we objected to last August were withdrawn and we are pleased to see the owner took note of our previous objections on resubmission. Would like to see following conditions if minded to approved: 1. No parking immediately outside the garage. 2. Internal blinds/shutters installed on the large windows on the street to avoid too much light spill and also for privacy and neighbourliness. 3.”

“One general comment was also received from the Charlbury Conservation Area Advisory Committee. The external alterations proposed were modest, involving replacement windows similar to those existing but double-glazed, new roofing and ground-floor doors. The Committee considered that plain casement windows with horizontal glazing bars at first floor level would be more appropriate on the south elevation.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The principal planner presented the application, and the applicant addressed the sub-committee.

The vote

Members unanimously agreed the proposal to approve the application with amendments to the conditions.

“Councillor David Jackson proposed that the application be approved in line with the officer’s recommendations with an amendment to condition 7 to include a Swift Box, and an additional condition number 9 for a Construction Traffic Management plan. This was seconded by Councillor Elizabeth Poskitt. This was put to the vote and agreed unanimously. The Development Management Sub-Committee resolved to: 1.”

Minutes