Self-build dwelling at Garden Land At Honeybank, Second Drove, Chatteris

“Erect up to 1no self build dwelling (outline application with all matters reserved)”

“The site is located with the open countryside, off Second Drove and fronting Forty foot Bank . The site at the time of the officer site visit appeared to have been used as a garden and was overgrown and unkempt. Subsequently the site has been cleared, a boundary fence now surrounds the site, and a concrete pad has been constructed to the northern rear of the site with a package treatment plant adjacent.”

“There is a small group of historic residential properties located to the west, east and north of the site. Ramsey Forty Foot Drain is located beyond Forty Foot Bank to the south of the site. Beyond the vicinity of the site is open land in arable use. The land levels differ from the road at Forty Foot Bank significantly and are lower into the site. The site lies within Flood Zone 3 and is within a Flood Warning Area.”

“Reference Description Decision F/1108/88/O Erection of one bungalow on garden Adj Honeybank Swingbrow Forty Foot Bank Chatteris Refused – 10 th November 1988 F/1486/89/O Erection of a bungalow and improvement to access roadway Approved – 17 th October 1990 F/93/0503/O Erection of a bungalow and improvement to access roadway Approved – 9 th December 1993 F/96/0552/O Erection of a bungalow and improvement to access roadway Approved – 4 th December 1996 F/99/0641/O Erection of…”

“September 2002 F/YR04/4240/O Erection of a bungalow and improvement to access roadway Approved – 5 th January 2005 F/YR16/0157/O Erection of a dwelling (Outline application with all matters reserved) Approved – 27 th April 2016”

“Taking these matters into account, officers do not consider that the limited benefits associated with the delivery of a single self-build dwelling is sufficient to outweigh the flood risk and policy conflicts identified. As such, the first part of the Exception Test is not considered to have been satisfied.”

“RECOMMENDATION 5.1 It is recommended that Planning Committee REFUSE the application for the following reason: The Cambridgeshire Flood and Water SPD 2016 and Policy LP14 (Part B) of the Local Plan requires development in Flood Zone 3 to undergo a sequential test to demonstrate that the development cannot be delivered elsewhere in the area at lower risk areas of flooding.”

“During the decision ‐making process both the applicant and your Council must acknowledge the close proximity of important watercourses and/or associated maintenance access strips to the application site. These watercourses are protected by Byelaws made in accordance with the Land Drainage Act.”

“Further consideration will be given to this application following the receipt of swept path analysis which demonstrates that this site can be suitably accessed from either direction from Forty Foot Bank. Should the tracking demonstrate that the access arrangement is unsuitable, it will be the responsibility of the applicant to amend the width and alignment of the access arrangement accordingly.”

“There have been 13 letters (three from Forty Foot Road and one from Second Drove in the vicinity of the site, with two comments received from residents of March Road and Chapel Lane in Wimblington and further letters from Curf Fen Drove, Farriers Gate, Millfield Close and Pound Road in Chatteris, New Street in Doddington, Glebe Close in Manea and Millfield Close in March) supporting the application on the following grounds:”

“There has been no recent flooding in the area. • The dwelling will transform an area of neglect. • The land is going to waste. • The land has being laying dormant for over thirty years. • The proposed design will contribute positively to the area. • The proposal will not be out of character as there are houses either side. • It will complete a line of homes. • The proposal will benefit my business. • The dwelling is for a young family.”

“Members asked questions, made comments and received responses as follows: • Councillor Benney stated that this this is not in his ward, but when this came to the committee before he did support the application and his opinion has not changed. He made the point that this is a PE16 postcode, which is part of Chatteris, and he knows a number of people who live there, and they are Chatteris people in the main.”

“Council Marks stated that the committee discussed this application a few months ago for a fairly long period of time and there appears to be a question mark as to whether the application site is located in Chatteris, with officers stating that it is 1.6km which is actually under a mile and asked officers to clarify where they take their measurements from.”

“Proposed by Councillor Benney, seconded by Councillor Marks and agreed that the application be APPROVED against the officer’s recommendation.”

“Members did not support the officer’s recommendation of refusal as they feel that the road is safe, it is not considered to be an elsewhere location and members should be consistent as they approved this application at a previous meeting.”