Three terraced houses at Unit 4 Bansons Yard, Ongar, Chipping Ongar

What was proposed

The application proposed demolishing a garage and building three terraced houses with parking, gardens, cycle storage and bin storage.

“The application seeks consent for the demolition of the existing garage and for the construction of the terrace of houses. The proposal will include front parking spaces, rear private amenity space with cycle storage and bin store.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site contains a garage beside business units, partly lies in the Green Belt and conservation area, and has protected trees to the rear.

“The application site is on the western edge of Bansons Yard which currently contains a detached single garage in line with 4 business units. The site is partially within the Green Belt and partially within the Ongar Conservation Area. There are protected trees to the rear of the site. To the west of the site is open Green Belt land falling towards Cripsey Brook.”

Officer report

Earlier applications

Earlier approved applications covered a three-house scheme, conversion of a double garage into a starter home and a detached house.

“EPF/0307/21 Approved Proposed change of an existing double garage into a two-bedroom starter home.”

“EPF/2829/18 Approved New four bedroomed detached house to the side of the garage on the remaining car park/spare land.”

Officer report

Officers’ recommendation

Officers recommended approval because the revised layout and parking remained policy compliant and the development was considered acceptable in planning terms.

“This application is a re-submission of a previously approved application (ref:EPF/0537/24). This application differs from the previously approved scheme in that the layout of the site and the number of parking spaces provided has been amended. It is considered that the changes proposed would remain policy compliant. As such approval of the application is recommended.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Nine objections raised parking, congestion, overlooking, construction and access concerns; the town council objected, while highways and conservation officers supported the scheme.

“- Insufficient parking for proposed development. - Displacement/loss of parking for existing employment uses. - Existing parking congestion in this locality. - Overlooking from rear windows and private amenity space of the flats to the rear - Disruption during construction. - Potential damage along the access road.”

“Ongar Town Council - Objection: doesn’t meet minimum parking standards.”

Officer report

Who spoke

Members heard from the planning officer, Ongar Town Council and ward councillors.

Committee debate

The committee discussed the planning merits and considered the proposal cramped, with inadequate parking harmful to the local highway network.

“Members of the Committee received a presentation from the Planning Officer and representations from Ongar Town Council and Ward Councillors M Dadd and P Keska. The Committee discussed the planning merits of the application but the vote to approve the application was not carried.”

“Councillor K Williamson proposed, and seconded by Councillor B Church, that the application be refused on the grounds it was considered a cramped overdevelopment of the site, and would have inadequate parking that would be harmful to the local highway network contrary to the adopted Ongar Town Council Neighbourhood Plan, policy ONG CG3. The vote to refuse the application was carried.”

Minutes

The decision

The committee refused the application because it considered the development cramped overdevelopment with inadequate parking, contrary to neighbourhood plan policy ONG CG3.

“The Committee voted to REFUSE the application on the grounds it was considered a cramped overdevelopment of the site, and would have inadequate parking that would be harmful to the local highway network contrary to the adopted Ongar Town Council Neighbourhood Plan, policy ONG CG3.”

Minutes