Three-storey detached house at Land between 6 and 10 Greenbank Crescent, Southampton

What was proposed

The application proposed a three-storey, four-bedroom detached house with associated amenities, accessed from Greenbank Crescent, amending an earlier permission.

“Proposed development: Erection of a three-storey 4-bedroom detached house with associated amenities (Amendment to planning permission ref 22/01452/FUL).”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site was an undeveloped, steeply sloping embankment between residential properties, with access from Greenbank Crescent and a protected beech tree.

“The application site comprises an undeveloped embankment on the eastern side of Greenbank Crescent; and is currently accessed from both Greenbank Crescent and a private rear vehicular track serving several detached dwellings. The surrounding area is residential, characterised by detached houses on relatively generous plots with mature vegetation including large, protected trees.”

“The site slopes steeply from east to west, with a level change of approximately 8 metres. It is enclosed by close-boarded fencing along the northern and southern boundaries; the frontage onto Greenbank Crescent remains open. Although partially cleared, several trees remain on site, including a beech and a fir located towards the rear. The beech tree is protected under The Southampton (Greenbank Crescent) Tree Preservation Order 1983.”

Officer report

Earlier permissions

Permissions for a detached house on the site date from 1983, with further four-bedroom house permissions granted in 1988, 2016, 2019 and 2023.

“Outline planning permission for a detached dwelling was first approved in 1983 (1623/W22). The file does not include detailed drawings.”

“In 2016, 2019 & 2023 permission was again granted for development consisting of 4-bedroom houses (16/01025/FUL, 19/01287/FUL & 22/01452/FUL).”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the house would provide family housing, fit the surrounding character and provide acceptable accommodation without significant harm to neighbours, highways, trees or ecology.

“The scheme will make a positive contribution to the Council’s five-year housing land supply by delivering a family home, securing on-site ecological enhancements and off-site biodiversity net gain, and protecting retained trees. The design is in keeping with surrounding development and provides an acceptable standard of accommodation.”

“Taking into account the benefits of the proposed development, and the limited harm arising from the conflict with the policies in the development plan as set out above, as raised by neighbours which include (but are not limited to) impact on local character, neighbours’ amenity, land stability, on street parking pressure, highway safety, loss of ecology and impact on trees, it is considered that the adverse impacts of granting planning permission would not significantly…”

Officer report

Who spoke

A local resident, the applicant and Councillor Blackman addressed the Panel with the Chair’s consent.

The biodiversity issue

Members were told that the biodiversity baseline was understated and that a revised metric was needed, although the extra off-site credits were not expected to be significant.

“The presenting officer reported that following correspondence from Cllr Wood, Officers consider the June 2025 BNG metric understates the baseline, so a revised BNG metric, using pre degradation evidence or the statutory 30 January 2020 baseline is required.”

“Ecology advice confirms the additional off site BNG credits needed are not expected to be significant based on the highest biodiversity value remaining in the retained mature trees and no priority habitats or protected species are present. Therefore, delegation to grant remains recommended subject to securing a corrected BNG baseline.”

Minutes

The vote

The Panel confirmed the Habitats Regulation Assessment and carried the amended recommendation, with five votes for, none against and one abstention.

“Upon being put to the vote the Panel confirmed the Habitats Regulation Assessment.”

“The Panel then considered recommendation that authority be delegated to the Director of Transport and Planning to grant planning permission subject to criteria listed in the report as amended. Upon being put to the vote the recommendation as amended was carried.”

Minutes

The decision

Authority was delegated to grant permission subject to the report conditions, habitat mitigation, an updated satisfactory biodiversity baseline and the required legal agreement.

“To confirm the Habitats Regulation Assessment set out in Appendix 1 of the report. 4. That authority be delegated to the Director of Transport and Planning to grant planning permission subject to the conditions in the report and any additional or amended conditions or planning obligations set out below and the completion of a S.106 Legal Agreement to subject to: a. the planning conditions recommended at the end of this report; and b.”

“In the event that a financial contribution towards the Solent Disturbance Mitigation Project is not secured within 3 months following the Panel meeting, the Director of Transport and Planning be authorised to refuse permission on the grounds of failure to mitigate the development's impact upon the ecological importance of the Special Protection Areas (SPA) within and around the Solent.”

Minutes