22 August 2023 – Minutes

THAME TOWN COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the Planning & Environment Committee held on 22 August 2023 at 6:30pm in the Upper Chamber, Thame Town Hall.

Present:

Cllrs M Baines, P Cowell, A Dite (Town Mayor), D Dodds, H Fickling (Chairman), A Gilbert (Deputy Mayor), C Jones, H Richards, P Swan, and T Wyse (Deputy Chairman)

Officers

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

1 Apologies for Absence

Apologies were received from Cllr Emery (personal).

2 Declarations of Interest and Dispensations

Cllr Gilbert declared an interest in planning application P23/S2283/HH as the neighbour. This is not a pecuniary interest and did not preclude Cllr Gilbert from debating or voting on this item.

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 Committee Meeting held on 1 August 2023 were received.

RESOLVED that:

The minutes of the meeting held on 1 August 2023 are confirmed as a correct record, and signed by the Chairman.

5 Planning Applications

Cllr Richards entered the meeting during this item.

1693 – OFFICE LAND AT PHOENIX PARK (BELLWAY DEVELOPMENT), HOWLAND ROAD (AMENDMENT NO.1)

The erection of 9 x 2-bedroom apartments with associated parking and landscaping. (Additional Information and Amended Plans – Revised Submission received 7 August 2023.)
P23/S0690/FUL

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ11, ESDQ12, ESDQ15, ESDQ27, H8, GA2, GA6
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES5, DES6, EP4, H9, H11, TH1, TRANS4

RESOLVED that:

Thame Town Council objects to this planning application on the grounds of:
1. The 5 car parking spaces for the apartments should be allocated.
2. South-facing balconies will exceed noise limits.
3. Housing mix is not compliant with LP 2035 Policy H11.
4. Insufficient light available to existing habitable rooms due to proximity of new and existing apartments, contrary to the Design Guide and LP 2035 Policy DES6.
5. The ground floor apartment will have limited natural light.
6. Insufficient information on amenity space for the apartments. If the amenity space is inadequate or not provided, this would be contrary to TNP Policies ESDQ28 and H8, and LP 2035 Policies DES5 and H9.
7. External features such as drainage routes for the balconies and all the rooves have not been identified, contrary to TNP Policy ESDQ27.

1750 – 83 CORBETTS WAY

Proposed single-storey rear extension and garage conversion.
P23/S2446/HH

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: GA6, ESDQ16, ESDQ28, ESDQ29
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES5, DES6, DES7, DES8, H20, TRANS5

RESOLVED that:

Thame Town Council supports the application and has a response:
1. The loss of the garage for its original purpose is regrettable. The Town Council also regret the loss of the parking space within the garage, but recognise that it can be converted under Permitted Development.
2. Subject to no objection from the County Highways Officer

1752 – 4 SYCAMORE DRIVE

Part garage conversion. Single story front extension. Single story rear extension. Formation of new roof to include habitable rooms. Accommodation divided to form an annexe.
P23/S2534/HH

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: H6, GA6, ESDQ16, ESDQ28, ESDQ29
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES2, DES5, DES6, DES7, DES8, H20, TRANS5

RESOLVED that:

Thame Town Council objects to the application on the grounds of:
1. Unneighbourly due to raised roof heights.
2. Out of character due to the enlarged gable and materials.

1753 – THE OLD AUCTION ROOM, AYLESBURY ROAD

Re-roofing of existing Grade II listed warehouse and toilet block.
P23/S2526/LB

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ15, ESDQ16, ESDQ17, ESDQ18, ESDQ19, ESDQ20
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES2, DES3, DES7, DES8, ENV6, ENV7, ENV8

RESOLVED that:

Thame Town Council supports the application and has a response:
1. Subject to no objection from the District Conservation Officer.

1755 – 10 HAZEL AVENUE

Extension on the first floor to the rear of the property.
P23/S2283/HH

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: H6, ESDQ16, ESDQ19, ESDQ20, ESDQ21, ESDQ22, ESDQ28
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES3, DES5, DES6, DES7, DES8, H20

RESOLVED that:

Thame Town Council supports the application.

1756 – 5 SOUTHERN ROAD

Proposed Repairs to roof, Replacement of existing skylight windows/glass tiles with conservation roof lights, repointing of chimney breast, repairs to external rendering and repairs to windows.
P23/S2567/LB

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: H6, ESDQ15, ESDQ16, ESDQ17, ESDQ18, ESDQ19, ESDQ20
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES2, DES3, DES5, DES6, DES7, DES8, ENV6, ENV7, ENV8

RESOLVED that:

Thame Town Council supports the application and has a response:
1. Subject to no objection from the District Conservation Officer.
2. Subject to compliance with the results of the bat survey.

1757 – 49 QUEENS ROAD

Proposed single storey side/rear extension.
P23/S2586/HH

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: H6, ESDQ16, ESDQ28
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES5, DES6, DES7, DES8, H20

RESOLVED that:

Thame Town Council supports the application.

1758 – 3 CORNMARKET

New side window insertion and rooflight to first floor and replacement doors and windows to upper floor openings.
P23/S2600/FUL

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: H6, ESDQ15, ESDQ16, ESDQ17, ESDQ18, ESDQ19
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES2, DES3, DES5, DES6, DES7, DES8, ENV5, ENV6, ENV7, ENV8, TH1

RESOLVED that:

Thame Town Council supports the application and has a response:
1. Subject to no objection from the District Conservation Officer.

1759 – 3 BURGAGE PLACE, HAZELTON CLOSE

Proposed single storey front extension to provide larger accessible kitchen and new office/sitting area.
P23/S2401/HH

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: H6, ESDQ16, ESDQ17, ESDQ18, ESDQ19, ESDQ20, ESDQ28
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES2, DES3, DES5, DES6, DES7, DES8, ENV6, ENV8

RESOLVED that:

Thame Town Council supports the application.

1760 – 11 FORDS CROFT

Single storey rear extension and partial garage conversion.
P23/S2554/HH

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: H6, GA6, ESDQ16, ESDQ28, ESDQ29
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES5, DES6, DES7, DES8, H20, TRANS5

RESOLVED that:

Thame Town Council supports the application and has a response:
1. Subject to no objection from the County Highways Officer.

1761 – 5A OXFORD ROAD

Demolition of existing garden store and construction of new larger garden store and home office.
P23/S2607/HH

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: H6, ESDQ16, ESDQ28
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES5, DES6, DES7, DES8, H20

RESOLVED that:

Thame Town Council supports the application and has a response:
1. Subject to the outbuilding remaining ancillary to the main dwelling in perpetuity and not used for residential accommodation.

1762 – 34 UPPER HIGH STREET

The erection of a two storey extension to accommodate office space connected to the existing building, and the change of use from commercial to residential of part of the existing listed building.
P23/S2463/LB

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: H6, WS7, WS10, WS12, WS13, GA6, ESDQ15, ESDQ16, ESDQ17, ESDQ18, ESDQ19, ESDQ20, ESDQ26, ESDQ27, ESDQ28, ESDQ29
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES2, DES3, DES5, DES6, DES7, DES8, EMP2, EMP3, ENV5, ENV6, ENV7, ENV8, EP3, H3, H16, H20, STRAT1, TH1, TRANS2, TRANS4, TRANS5

RESOLVED that:

Thame Town Council objects to the planning application on the grounds of:
1. Loss of employment without proof of lack of viability, market interest, or nuisance to nearby residents / the environment contrary to Local Plan 2035 (LP 2035) Policy EMP3.
2. Bicycle parking is not secure for residential use, and not provided for the office use, contrary to LP 2035 Policies DES1 and TRANS5.
3. All vehicles would not be able to leave the site in forward gear.
4. Quality of amenity space is contrary to TNP Policy ESDQ28 and SODC Design Guidance.

1763 – 34 UPPER HIGH STREET

RESOLVED that:

Thame Town Council objects to the planning application on the grounds of:
1. Loss of employment without proof of lack of viability, market interest, or nuisance to nearby residents / the environment contrary to Local Plan 2035 (LP 2035) Policy EMP3.
2. Bicycle parking is not secure for residential use, and not provided for the office use, contrary to LP 2035 Policies DES1 and TRANS5.
3. All vehicles would not be able to leave the site in forward gear.
4. Quality of amenity space is contrary to TNP Policy ESDQ28 and SODC Design Guidance

With the time approaching 7:30pm, it was moved to continue with the meeting in order to conclude the remaining items of business on the agenda.

1764 – 17 WILLOW ROAD

Construction of a raised timber outbuilding for the purpose of storage and a home workshop (retrospective) and a 3.6m extension to the outbuilding.
P23/S2492/HH

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: H6, ESDQ16, ESDQ28
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES5, DES6, DES7, DES8, H16, H18, H20

RESOLVED that:

Thame Town Council objects to the application on the following grounds:
1. Insufficient information on the proposed use and its potential impact on neighbouring amenity and how vehicles access the site.
2. Subject to no objection from the District’s Forestry Officer.

1765 – 18 MAPLE ROAD

Demolition of existing conservatory. Erection of new two storey rear extension. Associated internal reconfigurations.
P23/S2658/HH

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: H6, ESDQ13, ESDQ16, ESDQ28
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES5, DES6, DES7, DES8, H20

RESOLVED that:

Thame Town Council supports the application.

6 For Information

The items for information were noted.

With regards to Item 6a, Members noted that the new cycle route as part of the Rycote Lane development appeared confusing and narrow.

7 Urgent Agenda Item

Under Standing Order 21.8, the Chairman agreed to discuss the amended plans at 39 Churchill Crescent (P23/S1796/HH). This was considered an urgent matter as the consultation period could not be extended to the next meeting. The Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Officer would circulate the plans to Members. The Town Council objected to the original plans. Members agreed to delegate the response to the amended plans to the Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Officer.

Cllr Cowell advised that unauthorised works had been taking place at Moorend Lane. The County Council had been notified, have visited the site, and will be issuing notice to stop the works.

The meeting concluded at 7:44pm.

Signed ……………………..

Chairman, 19 September 2023