One bungalow at 65 Highworth Road, South Marston, Swindon

What was proposed

The application proposed a two-bedroom bungalow and associated works in the rear garden of Kennington, with access using the existing rear entrance and garage.

“This application seeks full planning permission for the erection of 1no. bungalow and associated works. The dwelling will comprise a two-bed bungalow located within the rear garden of Kennington, 65 Highworth Road.”

“The proposal will involve splitting the plot of Kennington approximately in half with the proposed dwelling positioned centrally within the new plot. Access will be via the existing access road serving the rear garages of No’s 61, 63 and 65 Highworth Road and will utilise the existing rear entrance and double garage to the rear of the application site. The proposed bungalow is small in scale and incorporates cedar cladding to the walls and cedar shingles for the roof.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site was part of a long rear garden on the northern edge of South Marston’s rural settlement boundary, beside allotments and an industrial site.

“The application site consists of a parcel of land located to the rear of the dwelling Kennington in South Marston. The site is currently part of the rear garden of the property Kennington, which is the end dwelling of a linear development.”

“The site is located on the northern edge of the rural settlement boundary. Directly to the north of the site is the large Highworth Road Allotments Open Space, and to the west is a large industrial site bounded by a thick ribbon of woodland. To the south of the site is No. Highworth Road, dissected from the application site by the access road leading to the rear garages of No’s 61, 63 and 65 Highworth Road.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

Earlier permissions covered a single-storey rear extension, a detached garage and another detached garage.

“Planning Permission T/84/0268 granted March 1984. - Single storey rear extension and detached garage.”

“Planning Permission T/89/1472 granted December 1989. - Erection of a detached garage.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the proposal was considered sustainable, well designed, acceptable for neighbours and unlikely to harm highway safety.

“Based on the above assessment, it is considered that the proposal would not result in any adverse effects that would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits when assessed against the policies in the Framework taken as a whole. The proposal would result in an additional residential unit to the housing supply within the Borough, jobs during construction and spending by future occupiers that would feed into the local economy as well as council tax receipts.”

“It has been established that the proposed development would be a sustainable form of development within the village of South Marston. The proposal is acceptable in terms of design and would not harm the existing character of the surroundings. There would be no detrimental harm to the amenity of neighbouring residents, nor would there be any impact upon highway safety.”

Officer report

Objections raised

Neighbours objected to the narrow access, vehicle movements, emergency access, highway safety, construction disturbance, character, precedent and plan accuracy.

“- Concerns regarding the use of the access road as it is too narrow and cannot be widened. The access road is too narrow for any vehicle wider than a small van or family car and it is impossible for two vehicles to pass. This would cause safety issues.”

“- Increase in vehicular movements on the access road.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An objector’s submission was made at the meeting, while a ward councillor’s statement was read aloud in the councillor’s absence; nobody spoke in support.

Committee discussion

Members were told that the fire and rescue authority had not been formally consulted and that fire safety could be addressed through conditions.

“The responses provided by officers to questions raised as part of the Members only discussion can be broadly summarised as follows:”

“The Dorset & Wilts Fire and Rescue Authority were not formally consulted in relation to the application as they are not statutory consultees. Fire safety is largely provided for via Building Regulations but conditions could require the installation of a fire safety system.”

Minutes

The vote and decision

A motion to grant permission with the report’s conditions and an additional fire safety condition was seconded and carried unanimously.

“Councillor Matthew Courtliff proposed that planning permission be granted, subject to the conditions set out in the Case Officer’s report and subject to an additional condition, to be implemented as officer’s see fit, that would require the installation of an appropriate fire safety system. Councillor Jake Chandler seconded the proposal. The motion was carried unanimously.”

“Resolved – That planning permission be granted, subject to the conditions set out in the Case Officer’s report and subject to an additional condition, to be implemented as officers see fit, that would require the installation of an appropriate fire safety system.”

Minutes