Agenda item

To determine the application.

David Grant presented the report to members.

Members received a presentation, in accordance with the public participation procedure from Matthew Hall, the agent. Mr Hall stated that the application is for an infill plot for a single dwelling to match in with a continuous linear development along London Road and the dwellings along that part of London Road are all individually designed dwellings which have been there for several years. He referred to the officer’s report with regards to the bowling green which was a private bowling green and its use ceased in 2014 when the owner passed away, with it never being a public facility and was only for the owner’s private use and was never a commercial bowling green as Chatteris already has one located in Wood Street.

Mr Hall explained that in the officer’s report it refers to various refusals and appeals on the site in 2006 and 2008 which he agrees with and added that they were considered under a different Local Plan. He stated that all along the front of the site on the opposite side of the road there is a footpath which stretches for almost the whole length of London Road and the site is in Flood Zone 1.

Mr Hall referred to the presentation screen and highlighted the red star which indicates the application site, and he explained that to the northeast of the site the construction for Hallam Land has commenced and to the south of the application site down London Road and Stocking Drove there have been various planning permissions given since 2019 and some of those are built out, and some are partway through construction. He expressed the opinion that the committee have already accepted that this area is part of the built-up form of Chatteris under LP3 of the Local Plan and there are no objections to the application from any consultee or members of the public and Chatteris Town Council support the application.

Mr Hall expressed the view that it is an ideal site for an individual dwelling to match in with the adjacent development in Flood Zone 1 and it has not been used for agricultural land for at least 20 to 30 years. He added that it has a footpath link and matches in with the adjacent built-up form of linear development.

Members asked Mr Hall the following questions:

·       Councillor Imafidon stated that he has noted that the bowling green is not a public asset and was last used in 2014 but as it appears to be well maintained he would like to know what it has been used for since that time? Mr Hall explained that it is his understanding that the family just maintain the site as a green piece of land as the family still reside there.

Members asked questions, made comments and received responses as follows:

·       Councillor Murphy stated that, within the presentation, officers have stated that the site floods, but he has lived in Chatteris for 80 years and he has never known the site to flood. He added that the application is for the family and the land is a private piece of land and he added that officers are of the opinion that the site cannot be built on adjacent to the bungalow which the family already own. Councillor Murphy stated that further down the road, there are more properties being built and they are located much further outside of the area and should never have been allowed to be built there. He added that the application is for one dwelling located next to another bungalow which will allow a family to live near each other and, in his view, it should be approved.

·       Councillor Benney stated that he agrees with the points made by Councillor Murphy and added that the bungalow which is already there is a replacement bungalow as the previous property on the site suffered from subsidence and had to be demolished and rebuilt. He added that it was a private bowling green and the proposed dwelling will be for a family member to be able to reside next door to their mother which he applauds. Councillor Benney stated that the officer report states that the site is located outside of Chatteris and he disagrees with that as, in his opinion, there is at least a mile in distance from the bottom of Ferry Hill where the sign says Chatteris as you come from Somersham. He explained that this has been very well debated by the committee and there must be at least 10 further houses which are built further along going out towards the road sign which have already approved. Councillor Benney expressed the view that the principle of development has already been well established in the area and he is confident that the bungalow will be built to a high standard and he will support the application.

Proposed by Councillor Murphy, seconded by Councillor Benney and agreed that the application be GRANTED against the officer’s recommendation.

Members do not support the officer’s recommendation of refusal of planning permission as they feel that the proposal is located inside the Chatteris area, and they feel that the precedent of development has already been set and members need to be consistent

(Councillor Benney declared, in accordance with Paragraph 14 of the Code of Conduct on Planning Matters, that he is member of Chatteris Town Council but takes no part in planning. He further declared that the agent has undertaken work for Chatteris Town Council and himself personally, but he is not pre-determined and will consider the application with an open mind)

(Councillor Imafidon declared that the agent has undertaken work for him personally, but he is not pre-determined, and will consider the application with an open mind)

(Councillor Murphy declared, in accordance with Paragraph 14 of the Code of Conduct on Planning Matters, that he is a Member of Chatteris Town Council but takes no part in planning. He added that he also knows Matthew Hall but has no business dealings with him)