Two homes at Land and Buildings at Frog Street, Bampton

What was proposed

The application proposed demolishing existing buildings and erecting one two-storey four-bedroom home and one single-storey three-bedroom home with associated works.

“Erection of 2 dwellings and associated works…”

“This proposal is made to erect two dwelling houses following the demolition of the existing buildings on site. The proposed dwellings are to be detached, one a two storey 4 bedroom property (Plot 1), and the other a single storey 3 bedroom property (Plot 2). It is proposed to construct these with a mix of locally sourced natural stone and render, with natural slate roofs.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site was a former paddock with dilapidated stable and storage buildings, an existing access, neighbouring homes, conservation-area status and flood-risk constraints at the access.

“The site is located on land to the west of Frog Street and to the north and west of Newton Court, to the north of the centre of Bampton. The site comprises a largely grassed and vegetated former paddock with a group of dilapidated stable and storage buildings. There is a hard surfaced track linking a current access from Frog Street to a turning area within the south western corner of the site.”

“The site is within the defined settlement limits of Bampton, as well as being within the extended conservation area. The site itself is included within the Mid Devon Local Plan as part of a larger allocated site for residential development (BA1), for up to five houses. The site has neighbouring residential properties to the east and south, with undeveloped land to the north and west.”

Officer report

Planning history and allocation

There was no relevant site planning history, while the wider site was allocated for residential development and the proposal used only part of that allocation.

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

Officer report

Questions about the proposal

Public questions challenged biodiversity, design, ecological evidence, neighbouring amenity, oil tanks and whether part of the site lay outside the allocation.

“Question 4 - Does the Committee consider that the requirements of DM 1 have been satisfied which requires a clear understanding of the site and its constraints to be taken into account, with buildings integrated with the surrounding buildings, with Conservation Area Appraisals and Mid-Devon and Village Character Assessment evaluating the settlement being undertaken (as they do not seem to appear in the documents submitted to date).”

“The whole of the application site was within the defined settlement limits of Bampton. It was however important to give consideration to the impacts of the development, particularly in relation to the neighbouring amenity. This aspect was addressed in the ‘Residential Amenity’ section of the Committee report. Notwithstanding the issue raised regarding the extent of the allocation, the impact was considered to be acceptable.”

Minutes

Who spoke

An objector spoke, and two Ward Members addressed the committee, with one Ward Member’s statement read by the Chair.

What members debated

Members discussed housing supply, boundary distances, the bungalow’s relationship with lower neighbouring properties, fire access, drainage, ecology and affordable housing.

“The main issues raised included: principle of development; design and impact on the character and appearance of the surrounding area including heritage context; highways, parking and access; flooding and drainage; residential amenity; ecology and biodiversity net gain. • The allocation was for 5 houses, however the access that was ideally required for the site was no longer available due to being in a separate ownership.”

“The National Planning Policy Framework and the Government’s changing guidelines in terms of housing supply targets. • Whether the boundary distances complied to regulations in terms of the distance from the boundary to the overall height of the bungalow. It was explained that there were no specific regulations in terms of heights of the property to the boundary. However, the Committee would have to consider if the height had an adverse overbearing impact on amenity.”

Minutes

The decision

Planning permission was granted subject to conditions, including an amendment requiring an ecological verification report before development began.

“It was RESOLVED that planning permission be granted subject to conditions and to include an amendment to Condition 9 – that an ecological verification report should be submitted to the Local Planning Authority prior to the commencement of development.”

“(Proposed by Cllr G DuChesne and seconded by Cllr S Robinson)”

Minutes