12 January 2021 – Minutes

THAME TOWN COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the Planning & Environment Committee held on 12 January 2021 at 6:30pm by Zoom Conference Call.

Present:

Cllrs B Austin, A Dite (Deputy Chairman), D Dodds, L Emery, H Fickling (Chairman), S Francis, C Jones, A Midwinter and T Wyse

Officers

G Markland, Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Officer
L Fuller, Committee Services Officer

1 Apologies for Absence

Apologies were received from Cllr Deacock (personal). Cllr Cowell had given his apologies (personal); however, he joined the meeting at 7:09pm. As this was towards the end of Item 5, he did not vote on any of the remaining applications.

All Members who were present were able to be seen and be heard.

2 Declarations of Interest and Dispensations

Cllr Emery declared an interest in P20/S4482/HH as she had given informal advice to the applicant on South Oxfordshire’s recently adopted Local Plan.

3 Public Participation and Public Questions

There was no public participation.
There were no public questions put to the Committee.

4 Minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2020 were approved and signed by the Chairman.

5 Planning Applications

1343 – 20 UPPER HIGH STREET

Change of use and conversion of ground and first floor to number 20, to form a single dwelling and reinstate its historic residential use.
P20/S4632/FUL

OBJECTS

- - The proposal is contrary to TNP Policy WS2 in proposing residential use within an A1 unit with a long history of continuous use
  - The overall internal space within the proposed dwelling is inadequate, at only 70% of the minimum size for a 2-bed, 4-person dwelling.
  - Harm to existing residential use on the upper floor of 18 – 20 Upper High Street, contrary to TNP Policy WS9

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: H5, WS2, WS7, WS8, WS9, ESDQ15, ESDQ16, ESDQ17, ESDQ18, ESDQ19, ESDQ20, ESDQ28, ESDQ29
SODC Local Plan Policies: G5, G6, CON1, CON3, CON4, CON5, CON6, CON7, D1, D2, D3, D4, D10, D11, H13, TC8
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3, CST1, CSEN3

1344 – 20 UPPER HIGH STREET

Change of use and conversion of ground and first floor to number 20, to form a single dwelling and reinstate its historic residential use.
P20/S4633/LB

OBJECTS

- - The proposal is contrary to TNP Policy WS2 in proposing residential use within an A1 unit with a long history of continuous use
  - The overall internal space within the proposed dwelling is inadequate, at only 70% of the minimum size for a 2-bed, 4-person dwelling.
  - Harm to existing residential use on the upper floor of 18 – 20 Upper High Street, contrary to TNP Policy WS9

1345 – 22 QUEENS ROAD

Side and rear extension.
P20/S4482/HH

OBJECTS

- - Impact on neighbouring amenity
  - Insufficient information on parking arrangements
  - Overdevelopment

Comment: If planning permission is granted, a condition should be placed to ensure the well-established hedge is not removed to accommodate additional parking.

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ16, ESDQ19, ESDQ29
SODC Local Plan Policies: G6, D1, D2, D3, D4, H13, T2
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3

1346 – 7 PARK TERRACE

Single storey extension to rear.
P20/S4651/HH

SUPPORTS this application and has a RESPONSE:

- - Subject to compliance with the 45 degree rule.

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ16
SODC Local Plan Policies: G6, D1, D3, D4
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3

1347 – 15 CEDAR CRESCENT

Proposed front porch, replacement of garage with single storey side extension and rear single storey extension.
P20/S4494/HH

SUPPORTS and has a RESPONSE:

- - The loss of the garage for its original purpose is regrettable.

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ16, ESDQ29
SODC Local Plan Policies: G6, D1, D2, D4, H13, T2
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3

1348 – 16 BLACKTHORN GRANGE

Alterations to existing garage including installation of canopy to side wall & insertion of side access door.
P20/S4592/HH

SUPPORTS

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ16, ESDQ29
SODC Local Plan Policies: G6, D1, D2, D4
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3

1349 – KALPANA, BROOK LANE

Garage conversion & extension.
P20/S4663/HH

OBJECTS

- - Impact on the character and appearance of the Conservation Area
  - Overdevelopment
  - Unneighbourly
  - Loss of light to neighbouring properties
  - Result in traffic congestion on Brook Lane

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ15, ESDQ16, ESDQ19, ESDQ20, ESDQ29
SODC Local Plan Policies: G6, CON7, D1, D2, D4, H13, T2
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3, CSEN3

1350 – OUTBUILDING REAR OF 20 UPPER HIGH STREET

Change of use of rear outbuilding, with extension to rear and first floor to form a 1 bed dwelling.
P20/S4673/FUL

OBJECTS

- - The proposed dwelling is of poor design and will cause harm to a listed building and its setting
  - The proposal would result in the loss of floorspace used across units 18 – 20 Upper High Street
  - The proposed dwelling would not deliver the floorspace required within the 2016 South Oxfordshire Design Guide
  - Cycle and bin storage would be delivered through a pre-existing outbuilding currently shared across Units 18 – 20 and the flat above
  - Harm to the Conservation Area
  - Harm to the amenity of the existing occupiers of the residential flat above through shared use of the garden

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: H5, H6, WS12, ESDQ15, ESDQ16, ESDQ17, ESDQ18, ESDQ19, ESDQ20, ESDQ26, ESDQ28, ESDQ29
SODC Local Plan Policies: G5, G6, CON2, CON3, CON4, CON5, CON7, D1, D2, D3, D4, H13, TC8, T2
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3, CST1, CSEN3

1351 – OUTBUILDING REAR OF 20 UPPER HIGH STREET

Change of use of rear outbuilding, with extension to rear and first floor to form a 1 bed dwelling.
P20/S4675/LB

OBJECTS

- - The proposed dwelling is of poor design and will cause harm to a listed building and its setting
  - The proposal would result in the loss of floorspace used across units 18 – 20 Upper High Street
  - The proposed dwelling would not deliver the floorspace required within the 2016 South Oxfordshire Design Guide
  - Cycle and bin storage would be delivered through a pre-existing outbuilding currently shared across Units 18 – 20 and the flat above
  - Harm to the Conservation Area
  - Harm to the amenity of the existing occupiers of the residential flat above through shared use of the garden

1352 – 8 THE HOMESTEAD

Proposed single storey rear extension.
P20/S4816/HH

SUPPORTS

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ16
SODC Local Plan Policies: G6, D1, D4, H13
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3

6 Reports from Town Council Representatives

a) Transport Representative – Cllr Francis reported that the Town Council’s response to the Future of Transport: Rural Strategy consultation was being progressed via email and that she would be collating comments and putting together a draft response. Cllr Francis reported that there had not been a meeting of the Parish Council Transport Representatives and that she would report back after the next meeting on 23 February.

Cllr Francis reported that the Thame Green Living Group had been discussing an electric car club with input from the Zero Carbon Haddenham group who had already been progressing this idea. The Zero Carbon Haddenham group had undertaken a feasibility study, consulted with their residents, been in discussions with their Parish Council and were planning an experience day after lockdown. It was hoped that the consultation survey could be adapted for Thame and that they might be able to assist with researching electric vehicle charging points.

7 For Information

The items for information were noted.

It was clarified that the enforcement case at 99b High Street related to the design and materials used which were not in conformance with the recently granted planning permission.

The meeting concluded at 7:15pm.

Signed …………………….

Chairman, 2 February 2021