Agenda item

  Plans, photographs and drawings were displayed at the meeting.  A Members site visit had taken place earlier in the day

  Officers presented the report which related to an application for a detached bungalow to a garden plot at 7 Brookside, Alwoodley LS17

  The planning history of the site was outlined for Members who were informed that previous proposals for a residential dwelling on the site had been refused, with the most recent refusal being in October 2010

  Members were informed that the development site was constrained due to an easement which ran across it which had to kept clear, however the

application before Panel sought to address previous concerns raised in relation to the proximity of the hedge and the width of the driveway which would now be 3.3m in width as requested by the highways officer

  In terms of recent policy changes, it was stated that the changes to national planning policy, initially set out in PPS3, was relevant in this case as it removed gardens from the definition of previously developed land and in this case it was felt gave greater weight to the reason for refusal which was proposed in report before Members

  The receipt of further representations was reported, with additional representations being received from Harewood Parish Council stating that its objection was to be withdrawn; the applicant who requested determination of the application to be deferred to enable Councillor Buckley, a local Ward Member, further consideration in view of a recent site visit he had undertaken with the applicant and from Councillor Buckley who had stated that some of his previous concerns about the proposal had been overcome but that some remained

  As the recommendation within the report was to refuse the application, in line with the Council’s Protocol for Public Speaking at Plans Panels, Members heard representations firstly from the applicant and then from an objector who attended the meeting

  The Panel considered how to proceed and the Panel’s Lead Officer suggested if minded to refuse the application, that the proposed reason be amended to include reference to a cramped and over-intensive form of development causing harm to the character of the area

  RESOLVED -  That the application be refused for the following reason:

  The proposals, by reason of the size, scale and design of the proposed dwelling, including hardstanding and the loss of mature landscaping within the site, would fail to reflect the character and pattern of surrounding development and would result in the loss of a mature garden area which is considered to be a positive feature within the context of this established residential area and would lead to a cramped and over-intensive form of development causing harm to the character of the area.  The proposed development is therefore considered to be of significant detriment to the character and appearance of the area, contrary to policies GP5, N12, N13 and BD5 of the Leeds Unitary Development Review 2006 and the guidance in Supplementary Planning Guidance 13 and the National Planning Policy Framework