MEMBERS’ UPDATE Planning Committee – 4 March 2010

Site Address: Unit 5, Area 9, Headley Road East, Woodley Application No: VAR/2009/2529, Pages 9 - 18.

The reason for condition 2 (limiting the hours of use) has been amended to clarify that it only relates to Unit 5:

‘The premises known as Unit 5 and shown outlined in red on the plan titled ‘Woodley Storage King Site Plan’ received by the Local Planning Authority on 3rd December 2009 shall not operate other than between the hours of 7am to 9pm Mondays to Saturdays (inclusive) and 9am to 6pm Sundays and Bank or National Holidays.’

One neighbour letter has been received (please note that this neighbour has already written in once to object the application). Additional comments are as follows: • The proposed working hours are being slowly adjusted which appears to indicate a lack of justification for the change. The original hours in the tenancy agreement should be adhered to. ______

Site Address: Baileys House, Central Walk Application No: F/2009/2435, Pages 19 - 49. Summary Information update (page 19 and 23): As per the plans on pages 36, 28 and 40 of the agenda, the 10 apartments are not all 2 bedroom, but seven 2-bed and three 1-bed. The proposed number of parking spaces is 7 (-11), not 3.

Paragraph 17 on page 27 – should read 7 spaces instead of 3 (as per plan on page 34 of the agenda). The number of spaces is not able to be increased due to the need for turning space for the delivery vehicles for the retail units. However, this is still well in excess of the Local Plan standards for town centre sites. Condition 17 addresses parking provision and control.

With regard to Members’ concerns about parking, you are reminded of the appeal decision at Lilly Court, near the train station, (reference F/2009/0392) where the Inspector stated:

“Parking provision The proposal would result in the building having 11 off-street parking spaces for 21 flats, a ratio of 0.52 spaces per flat. This constitutes a reduction in the number of parking spaces included in previously approved schemes and would result in approximately half of the flats having no parking space. If the occupiers of those

Planning Committee Member’s Update 3 March 2010 1 units have cars, these are likely to be parked on nearby streets. Many representations were submitted by local residents, including a petition with over 20 signatures, highlighting the existing shortage of on-street parking in the area, particularly in Havelock Road, which in the view of these residents would be exacerbated by the proposal.

The building is, however, close to town centre and a very short distance from bus stops on Station Road and even closer to Wokingham railway station with regular services to Reading and stations to London and elsewhere. The Council accept that the site has high public transport accessibility. The site is within a maximum 10 minutes walk of a range of shops, services, employment opportunities and schools. It is in my view in an area which would be attractive to prospective occupiers who do not own a car.

8. Although Wokingham is an area with high levels of car ownership, a local study shows that only 44% of residents drive to work. Also, the appeal site is in an area of Wokingham where there is a much higher percentage of households without a car than in the remainder of the Borough. A DCLG2 study over the whole country indicates that flats have lower car ownership levels than houses and that occupiers of rented accommodation (which the appellants say is most likely in the case of these dwellings) are less likely to have cars.

A condition would require a parking management plan to be applied to the flats and this would determine which units would have off-street parking. However, for the reasons explained above, I consider it is not a foregone conclusion that there will be a significant increase in on-street parking as a result of the proposal. Even if this does occur, to justify withholding planning permission it is in my view necessary to demonstrate that more than just inconvenience or some loss of amenity due to an increase in on-street parking would result. Paragraph 51 of Planning Policy Guidance Note 13: Transport (PPG13) advises that parking policies should not require developers to provide more spaces than they themselves wish other than in exceptional circumstances, for example where there are significant implications for road safety.

I note that the Council’s highway officer raised no objection to the proposal and no particular highway safety implications specific to this site were identified in the Council’s appeal statement.

In the previous appeal decision, the Inspector considered that the provision of more car parking in an area with such a high level of accessibility was not necessary. That scheme, however, provided 1.07 spaces per dwelling as opposed to the present appeal scheme which provides only 0.52 spaces per dwelling. Nevertheless, in terms of planning policy, there is no minimum requirement and even though Policy WT6 and the parking standards in Appendix 8 of the Wokingham District Local Plan indicate a provision of 27 spaces for the 21 units (1.29 spaces per dwelling plus provision for visitors), this is a maximum provision and the Appendix indicates that new housing developments in sustainable locations with access to average or better public transport services will be expected to provide less than the maximum.”

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Planning Committee Member’s Update 3 March 2010 2 Site Address: Land rear of 132 London Road, Application No: F/2009/2624, Pages 50-71.

Boundary vegetation The Tree Report submitted with the application and found acceptable by the Council’s landscape team provides an assessment of the hedges and concludes they are Category C and of poor quality. The applicant is, however, willing to retain the hedgerows, save where it is physically coincident with the building (i.e along its flanks) due to the construction requirements. As the detail of this can be agreed and controlled by the Planning Authority, the following additional condition is recommended:

15) Before the development hereby permitted is commenced details of all boundary treatments shall first be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The approved scheme shall be implemented prior to the first occupation of the development or phased as agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The scheme shall be maintained in the approved form for so long as the development remains on the site. Reason: To safeguard visual and neighbouring amenity. Relevant Policies: Core Strategy policies CP1 and CP3

With regard to neighbouring impact, Members’ attention is specifically drawn to paragraphs 15-17 of the appeal decision for the adjacent development on page 66 of the agenda where the same issues concerning character and amenity are outlined. ______

Site Address: Land at Plough Lane, Wokingham Application No: VAR/2010/0143, Pages 72 - 92. On the advice of the Council’s Highway Officers a further paragraph of consideration addressing “Highway Concerns” has been added as follows –

8. The introduction of the toucan crossing will create gaps in traffic flows in London Road which may result in vehicles diverting from Binfield Road into Plough Lane in order to turn right into London Road. This was the reason for introducing the right turn ban.

Four further neighbour letters have been received objecting to the proposal. The objections are similar to those already noted in the Officer’s report. Further points that are raised include a request for a further traffic analysis due to a perceived change in traffic conditions in the vicinity and the potential impact of the contractors’ vehicles on the road network.

An indicative phasing plan has been submitted by the applicant pursuant to condition 5 on page 74; the 25 dwellings that would be capable of occupation prior to the provision of the Toucan crossing on London Road will be in phase 1 and the condition should be amended to reflect this as follows:

Planning Committee Member’s Update 3 March 2010 3 5) The development of a total of 150 dwellings on this site shall be carried out in accordance with a phasing plan showing development in phase 1 to be not more than 65 dwellings and including those 25 dwellings to be offered for occupation as set out in condition 4 of this consent. The phasing plan shall be submitted to the Local Planning Authority before development takes place and shall be agreed in writing. In addition to identifying the phasing of dwellings it shall also show i) the phasing of sewage disposal/drainage across the site in accordance with condition 12 of the original consent ii) the phasing of parking provision across the site to accord with condition 8 of the original consent iii) the phased provision of secure and covered bicycle parking to accord with condition 9 of the original consent iv) the phasing of footway and cycleway provision The development shall commence only in accordance with the approved phasing plan. Reason: In the interests of highway safety and to ensure a satisfactory form of development to accord with the original consent. Relevant policies: Core Strategy policies CP1 and CP6.

Planning Committee Member’s Update 3 March 2010 4 ______Site Address: 33 Foxcote, RG40 3PG Application No: F/2009/2494, Pages 93-101 No further update ______

Site Address: Land North of Ivy Cottage, Road, Application No: F/2009/2392, Pages 102-112.

Application has been de-listed by the Ward Member and therefore withdrawn from the agenda to be dealt with under delegated powers.

______Pre-emptive site visits

Bridge House, High Street, Twyford:

Three applications for this site will be coming forward to the next Planning Committee; a Member briefing on the scheme for a retirement care village has been set up in advance of that meeting for 29th March. It is considered that it would be beneficial for Members of this committee to visit the site for the following reasons: 1) due to the levels changes across the site, an understanding of which will aid in interpreting the drawings; 2) to enable consideration of the development on a listed building and its setting; and 3) also the location of the site on the edge of a settlement within the Countryside to enable a full assessment of the visual impact of the development.

If Members agree, it is further suggested that the site visit take place on Friday 26 March.

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APPEAL MONITORING INFORMATION PLANNING COMMITTEE 3rd MARCH 2010.

Public Inquiries with confirmed start dates on or after 3rd March 2010

There are no confirmed Public Inquiry dates on or after 3rd March 2010

Informal Hearings with confirmed start dates on or after 3rd March 2010

PARISH: WARGRAVE Application Number : F/2009/1924 Appeal Officer : NICK CLARK Appeal Hearing Date : 20/05/2010 Appellant : Mr Robert Killoran Site Location: Oldfield Poultry Farm , Henley Road, Wargrave. Proposal : Retention of home as an agricultural workers dwelling.

Planning Committee Member’s Update 3 March 2010 5

Appeal Results for the period 10.12.2009 – 3.3.2010

Appeal Type Allowed Part Dismissed Total allowed and Part Dismissed

Public Inquiry 0 0 0 0

Informal Hearings 1 0 3 4

Written 11 1 13 25 Representations

All 12 (41%) 1 (4%) 16 (55%) 29

Public Inquiry’s – Appeal Results for the period 10.12.2009 – 3.3.2010

There were no Public Inquiries determined during this period

Informal Hearings – Appeal Results for the period 10.12.2009 – 3.3.2010

PARISH: Application Number : F/2009/0966 Officer : MICHAEL LEE Appeal Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED Appeal Decision Date : 28/01/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Miss Alyson Jones Site Location; 84 Land adjacent to Hawkedon Way Reading Proposal : Proposed erection of one new dwelling. ______

PARISH: FINCHAMPSTEAD Application Number : VAR/2008/2376 Officer : EMILY TEMPLE Appeal Decision: APPEAL ALLOWED Appeal Decision Date : 10/12/2009 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr & Mrs J & D Smith Site Location; Meadowside Park Lane Finchampstead Wokingham Proposal : Proposed variation to condition 4 of consent VAR/2005/6482 to allow an additional mobile home to be stationed on Plot 2 (Retrospective). ______

Planning Committee Member’s Update 3 March 2010 6

PARISH: WOKINGHAM Application Number : CA/2009/0179 Officer : EMILY TEMPLE Appeal Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED Appeal Decision Date : 21/01/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Chesil Properties Ltd Site Location; 6 Langborough Road Wokingham Proposal : Applicaton for conservation area consent for demolition of existing building with retention of front facade. ______

PARISH: WOKINGHAM Application Number : F/2009/0137 Officer : EMILY TEMPLE Appeal Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED Appeal Decision Date : 21/01/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Chesil Properties Ltd Site Location; 6 Langborough Road Wokingham Proposal : Proposed demolition of existing building with retention of front facade. Proposed erection of one block comprising 8 apartments. ______

Written Representations – Appeal Results for the period 10.12.2009 – 3.3.2010

PARISH: Application Number : F/2009/1864 Officer : EMILY TEMPLE Appeal Decision: APPEAL ALLOWED Appeal Decision Date : 15/12/2009 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr Paul Mundy Site Location; 129 East Park Farm Drive Charvil Proposal : Proposed erection of first floor side extension to dwelling. ______PARISH: CHARVIL Application Number : F/2009/0670 Officer : JONATHON BISHOP Appeal Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED Appeal Decision Date : 15/12/2009 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr Duncan Gilmore Site Location; 2 Old Acres Old Acres Lane Charvil Proposal : Proposed raising of roof of dwelling and insertion of rear and side dormer windows to create additional first floor accommodation, with new enclosed front porch, changes to fenestration, recladding of external walls and new roof finish. ______

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PARISH: CHARVIL Application Number : F/2009/2026 Officer : HAYLEY BICKERSTAFFE Appeal Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED Appeal Decision Date : 23/02/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr L Smith Site Location; 28 Strathmore Drive Charvil Proposal : Proposed erection of two storey side/rear extensions, plus raising of roof to create additional habitable accomodation in loft space and part conversion of existing garage. ______PARISH: CHARVIL Application Number : F/2009/0338 Officer : CHRISTINE PHILLIPS Appeal Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED Appeal Decision Date : 25/02/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr A Jarvis Site Location; 13 Charvil House Road Charvil Proposal : Proposed erection of replacement pitched roof to existing Summer House. (Retrospective) ______PARISH: EARLEY Application Number : F/2009/0934 Officer : MICHAEL LEE Appeal Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED Appeal Decision Date : 21/12/2009 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr Y He Site Location; 15 High Tree Drive Earley Proposal : Proposed erection of first floor extension over existing garage, plus single storey rear extension. ______PARISH: EARLEY Application Number : O/2009/1179 Officer : HAYLEY BICKERSTAFFE Appeal Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED Appeal Decision Date : 01/02/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr S Riaz Site Location; 9 Land adjacent to Heacham Close Lower Earley Proposal : Application for outline consent for the proposed erection of an end of terrace dwelling with parking. Demolition of existing side extension. ______PARISH: EARLEY Application Number : F/2009/0713 Officer : JENNY SEAMAN Appeal Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED Appeal Decision Date : 22/02/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr Joe Atkinson Site Location; 132 Church Road Earley Proposal : Proposed erection of 7 x 2 bedroom apartments and 3 x 1 bedroom apartments with associated parking and access (Amendment to planning approval F/2008/0983)

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PARISH: FINCHAMPSTEAD Application Number : F/2009/1132 Officer : DAVID WETHERILL Appeal Decision: APPEAL ALLOWED Appeal Decision Date : 06/01/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr C Stevens Site Location; Middle Earth Lower Wokingham Road Proposal : Proposed erection of two storey rear extension plus removal of existing conservatory. ______PARISH: FINCHAMPSTEAD Application Number : F/2009/0163 Officer : DAVID WETHERILL Appeal Decision: APPEAL ALLOWED Appeal Decision Date : 22/01/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr D Linsell Site Location; 2 Springdale Finchampstead Wokingham Proposal : Proposed erection of single storey rear extension to dwelling.

______PARISH: HURST Application Number : F/2009/2044 Officer : HANNAH WILSON Appeal Decision: APPEAL PART ALLOWED AND PART DISMISSED Appeal Decision Date : 28/01/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr Craig Skinner Site Location; Meadows Forest Road Wokingham Proposal : Proposed erection of a single storey side extension and first floor rear extension to dwelling, and room in roof space. ______PARISH: HURST Application Number : F/2009/1068 Officer : NICK CLARK Appeal Decision: APPEAL ALLOWED Appeal Decision Date : 24/02/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr & Mrs R Beasley Site Location; Whispers Davis Street Hurst Proposal : Erection of ground floor rear extension to dwelling plus erection of new detached garage. Demolition of existing garage. ______PARISH: Application Number : F/2008/2601 Officer : HAYLEY BICKERSTAFFE Appeal Decision: APPEAL ALLOWED Appeal Decision Date : 22/02/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Hicks Developmenet Ltd Site Location; Stanbury Park Basingstoke Road Proposal : Proposed erection of one detached dwelling and a new 3 car garage. Amendment to consent F/2008/1533. ______

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PARISH: Application Number : VAR/2009/0875 Officer : HAYLEY BICKERSTAFFE Appeal Decision: APPEAL ALLOWED Appeal Decision Date : 02/02/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Royal County Of Sports & Social Club Site Location; Berks County Sports Club Sonning Lane Sonning Proposal : Application for variation to condition 4 of planning consent F/2006/7491 to extend hours of permitted floodlighting by 30 minutes to 09.30pm, Monday - Friday. ______PARISH: SONNING Application Number : F/2009/1552 Officer : MICHAEL LEE Appeal Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED Appeal Decision Date : 23/02/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr P Sharma Site Location; 33, Waldor House West Drive Sonning Proposal : Proposed erection of part two storey and part first floor side/front extension to dwelling with rear dormer windows. ______PARISH: TWYFORD Application Number : F/2009/0133 Officer : HANNAH WILSON Appeal Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED Appeal Decision Date : 19/02/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr D Nijjar Site Location; 30 Winchcombe Road Twyford Proposal : Proposed raising of roof of dwelling to create first floor accommodation. ______PARISH: WARGRAVE Application Number : F/2009/0497 Officer : HANNAH WILSON Appeal Decision: APPEAL ALLOWED Appeal Decision Date : 13/01/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr Assad Sheikh Site Location; Bowsey Manor Bowsey Hill Wargrave Proposal : Application for the proposed change of use of a gymnasium to a residential annex (retrospective). ______PARISH: WARGRAVE Application Number : F/2009/1613 Officer : HANNAH WILSON Appeal Decision: APPEAL ALLOWED Appeal Decision Date : 02/02/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr & Mrs Sharkey Site Location; 27 Purfield Drive Wargrave Proposal : Proposed erection of two storey front, plus single storey front extensions, and single storey rear extension to dwelling.

Planning Committee Member’s Update 3 March 2010 10 ______

PARISH: WARGRAVE Application Number : F/2009/1389 Officer : ASHLEY SMITH Appeal Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED Appeal Decision Date : 24/02/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr Graham Pattie Site Location; 4 Ferry House High Street Wargrave Proposal : Proposed conversion of house to 2 dwellings with associated outbuildings and parking for 4 vehicles. Demolition of minor extensions to rear of dwelling. ______PARISH: Application Number : F/2008/2631 Officer : MARK TURNER Appeal Decision: APPEAL ALLOWED Appeal Decision Date : 17/02/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Crown Executive Pension Scheme Site Location; Old Oak Mole Road Wokingham Proposal : Proposed demolition of existing buildings and erection of 7 x 1 bedroom flats in 2 buildings with access and associated parking and landscaping. ______PARISH: WOKINGHAM Application Number : F/2009/1457 Officer : DAVID WETHERILL Appeal Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED Appeal Decision Date : 18/01/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr Colin Lawes Site Location; 16 Land to the rear of Swift Close Wokingham Proposal : Proposed change of use of public open space to residential garden plus erection of new 1.8m high boundary fence ______PARISH: WOKINGHAM Application Number : F/2009/1932 Officer : EMILY TEMPLE Appeal Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED Appeal Decision Date : 20/01/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr Francis Site Location; 43 Lowther Road Wokingham Proposal : Proposed erection of detached two bay garage and car port area. ______PARISH: WOKINGHAM Application Number : F/2009/0523 Officer : CHRISTOPHER HOWARD Appeal Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED Appeal Decision Date : 24/02/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mrs E Bonwick Site Location; 17 Chestnut Avenue Wokingham Proposal : Proposed erection of two detached dwellings with integral garages.

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PARISH: Application Number : F/2009/0001 Officer : DAVID WETHERILL Appeal Decision: APPEAL ALLOWED Appeal Decision Date : 22/01/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr and Mrs P Fitness Site Location; 8 Holme Green Easthampstead Road Wokingham Proposal : Proposed erection of single storey side extension to dwelling, plus demolition of existing conservatory. ______PARISH: WOODLEY Application Number : F/2009/1363 Officer : NICK CLARK Appeal Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED Appeal Decision Date : 27/01/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mrs Sara Drew Site Location; 9 Oak Way Woodley Proposal : Erection of a single storey side and rear extension to dwelling.

______PARISH: WOODLEY Application Number : F/2009/1672 Officer : HANNAH WILSON Appeal Decision: APPEAL ALLOWED Appeal Decision Date : 23/02/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr Ian Bilsby Site Location; 14 Tippings Lane Woodley Proposal : Proposed erection of first floor side extension to provide additional bedroom over existing garage. Provision of replacement front porch with pitched roof extending over garage ______

Planning Committee Member’s Update 3 March 2010 12