20 homes with access at Land Rear Of 76 To 78 Church Lane, Sarratt

What was proposed

The application proposed 20 homes with parking, landscaping, a new access from Church Lane and a pedestrian link to the public footpath.

“Description of Application Site 2.1 The application site consists of a rectangular parcel of grassland located between and to the rear of nos.76-78 Church Lane, Sarratt and is located within the Metropolitan Green Belt. Church Lane consists of mainly residential dwellings of varied scale and design, although it is noted that they are generally located on a linear building line fronting Church Lane.”

“Description of Proposed Development 3.1 The applicant is seeking full planning permission for the erection of 20 dwellings (Use Class C3) with associated parking and landscaping, provision of a new vehicular access to Church Lane and pedestrian link to the public footpath. The proposed development would be accessed via Church Lane. Alterations are proposed to the existing vehicular access to include a rearranged bellmouth access leading to a 5.5m wide access road.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A parish councillor and a district councillor spoke about the application, followed by a local resident against and the applicant in favour.

What members debated

Members questioned the reduced affordable housing, larger homes, footpath condition, sustainability, cumulative development, traffic, landscape harm and whether the earlier appeal benefits still applied.

“A Committee Member commented that the district’s current Local Plan set out that 1% of total housing delivery should be provided within small villages over the plan period. The amount of housing which had been proposed for Sarratt had exceeded this, and the cumulative impact of development in a location which was not sustainable needed to be considered.”

“Other Committee Members commented that the reduction in affordable housing had affected the ‘tilted balance’ test and that the public benefit of the proposal did not outweigh the harm to the Green Belt and the National Landscape and the other harms identified.”

Minutes

The decision

The committee refused the application because it was inappropriate Green Belt development, harmed the national landscape and village character, and conflicted with planning policies.

“RESOLVED: that the application be refused due to it being inappropriate development in the Green Belt, impacting the setting of the national landscape, impact on the character of the village and it being contrary to the emerging Sarratt Neighbourhood Plan, the Local Plan and the NPPF. Final wording to be circulated to Committee Members before the decision is issued.”

Minutes