Five bungalows at Land At Melbury Road, Parkham

What was proposed

The application sought reserved matters approval for access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for five open-market dwellings.

“Proposed Development This application seeks reserved matters consent for access, appearance and landscaping, layout and scale for 5 no. dwellings pursuant to outline planning permission 1/0686/2021/OUT.”

“The site will comprise of 5 open market dwellings with plot 1 a two-bedroom bungalow, plots 2-4 three-bedroom bungalows and plot 5 a four-bedroom chalet bungalow each with an integral garage. There are to be 3 access points from Melbury Road to the north and a parking and turning area to the north of the dwellings. Private amenity space is to be to the south of each dwelling.”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The site is a greenfield beside an existing home, with Melbury Road to the north, a hedgebank and nearby village facilities.

“Site Description The application site is located to the south of the village of Parkham and immediately adjacent to an existing residential dwelling, Hawkcan View to the east. The application site currently forms part of a wider greenfield which is in agricultural use. There is a mature hedgebank to the northern boundary of the site and the boundary with Hawkcan View to the eastern boundary is a post and rail fence.”

Officer report

Earlier planning decisions

Outline permission for five dwellings was granted in 2023, establishing the principle of residential development on the site.

“1/0686/2021/OUT Outline application for 5 no. dwellings with all matters reserved PER 07.02.2023”

“1/0111/2026/OUT Outline application for 5 no. dwellings with all matters reserved (Variation of condition 10 of planning approval 1/0686/2021/OUT (Lighting and Signage) PCO”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the proposal acceptable in planning terms, with sufficient drainage and highway provision and no significant harm to neighbours or protected species.

“It is considered that the above assessment demonstrates that the proposed development is acceptable in planning terms, and that subject to the conditions recommended below, the proposed development accords with all provisions of the relevant NDTLP policies and guidance set out in the NPPF.”

Officer report

What consultees said

Highways ultimately raised no objection, South West Water accepted the surface-water approach, and designing-out-crime officers had no objection in principle.

“Water Conservation The applicant is strongly advised to consider maximising the use of water efficiency opportunities within the design of their proposals. The current average water use in the UK is approx. 142 litres/person/day [l/p/d] (Water UK, 2020), with the South West experiencing a higher-than-average consumption rate than the rest of England.”

“If the applicant is looking to have their sewers adopted (surface and foul), they should design and construct the sewers to the current version of the Design and Construction Guidance. The process for doing this can be found on South West Water's website at Adoption of new sewers | Building & Development | South West Water…”

Officer report

Objections from residents

Nineteen objections raised concerns about ecology, drainage, highways, privacy, overbearing development, construction impacts and countryside housing need.

“Objections: ECOLOGY -Toads, owls and other species seen on application site will be impacted -No detailed survey of dormice, bats or reptiles -Original ecology report out of date and incorrect as plans have changed -Additional ecology report not detailed - only walkover -Loss of ancient hedgerow to be removed for 3 driveways and rest to be grubbed back - will not recover -3 driveways result in more hedgerow removed: could be 1 as per development to north -New hedgerow will…”

“-Plot 5 with Juliet balcony creates overbearing structure will affect privacy of properties to north: not in line with outline submission. -Outline stated should be modest single storey buildings to form a rounding off of the village. There is a chalet bungalow to the west of the development.”

Officer report

Who spoke

Two members of the public spoke against the application, the agent spoke in support, and the Ward Member addressed the committee.

What members discussed

Members considered the outline permission, ecology, renewable measures, drainage, hedgerow translocation, access arrangements and the proposed height.

“Councillor Hames praised the quality of the objections and raised Parkham’s Parish Councils comments regarding ecology. Officers confirmed that ecology was addressed in the outline permission, which included mitigation factors. The added that a recent walkover study was conducted and the recommendations remain valid.”

“Members questioned whether a single access point could be used rather than multiple entrances. The Devon County Highways Officer advised that the proposal complies with highways standards and that there would be insufficient grounds to support a refusal on this basis. Officers explained that the outline permission indicatively showed separate access points for each dwelling.”

Minutes

The final decision

The application was approved subject to the report’s conditions, amendments to Conditions 2 and 4, and obscure glazing on Plot 1.

“The application was approved subject to the conditions set out in the report, amendments to Conditions 2 and 4, and an additional condition requiring obscure glazing on the eastern edge of Plot 1, with the final wording to be agreed by officers in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair.”

Minutes