Council and democracy
Home > Council and Democracy > Issue
47 17/1748/FUL - 45 Cavendish Avenue PDF 174 KB
Minutes:
The Committee received an application for
full planning permission.
The application sought approval for the
erection of a single storey 2 bedroom dwelling house to the rear of 45
Cavendish Avenue.
The Committee received a representation in objection
to the application from a Cavendish Avenue resident.
The representation covered the following
issues:
i.
The Objector was speaking on
behalf of various residents. There were many objections from residents in the
area.
ii.
The application would have an adverse
effect on the character of the area.
a.
Concern about design, scale and
massing.
b.
Other properties in the area had
extensions, but no subdivision of land. This would be the first in the area.
iii.
Concern over loss of green
corridor.
a.
High risk of flooding in the area.
b.
Mitigation measures were not
sustainable. Referred to comments by the Drainage Officer. There was
insufficient space available to provide compensatory flood storage. A pumped
drainage system was not a sustainable form of drainage and would increase
residual flood risk.
Mr McKeown
(Applicant’s Agent) addressed the Committee in support of the application.
Councillor McGerty (Queen Edith's Ward Councillor) addressed the
Committee about the application:
i.
Expressed concern about the application.
ii.
The new Local Plan was recently adopted. The
Planning Committee should be confident in applying its policies.
iii.
The application was an overdevelopment of the site
when compared to existing properties in the area.
iv.
It was a nice design in an inappropriate location
as it was out of character with the area.
v.
Two bedrooms were listed in the application but the
design could accommodate three. The house was designed for the needs of the
current proposed occupant, but occupants and their needs may change in future.
The design should clearly label the number of occupants, not just the number of
bedrooms. The ‘snug’ had the potential to be another bedroom.
vi.
Queried if appropriate amenity space was provided.
The garden could be overlooked by neighbours so there was no private amenity
space.
vii.
Policy 6.40 (subdivision of land) was a material
consideration for this application.
viii.
There were no other back garden developments in
Cavendish Avenue. The application would have a negative impact on the green
corridor and ‘green lung’ function of the area.
The Committee:
Unanimously resolved to reject the officer recommendation to
approve the application.
Councillors McQueen and Page-Croft left due to
personal commitments after the vote to reject the Officer’s recommendation.
Unanimously
resolved (by 7 votes to 0)
to refuse the application contrary to the officer recommendation for the
following reasons:
i.
The north side of Cavendish Avenue is characterised
by a mix of semi-detached and detached houses with established large rear
gardens. The proposed dwelling would occupy a sizeable footprint within the
rear garden of 45 Cavendish Avenue, and both the existing and proposed
properties would have relatively small and constrained garden areas compared to
surrounding houses in Cavendish Avenue. The proposed development, by virtue of
the design, scale and footprint of the dwelling, therefore fails to respond
positively to its context and detracts from the character and appearance of the
area, contrary to Policies 52, 55 and 57 of the Cambridge Local Plan 2018.
ii.
By virtue of the location of the dwelling relative
to surrounding properties, the amenity spaces to the front and rear of the
dwelling would be poorly lit and overlooked by houses in Cavendish Avenue and
Magnolia Close respectively. The development therefore fails to provide an
acceptable quality living environment and standard of amenity and privacy for
future occupiers, contrary to Policies 50, 52, 56 and 57 of the Cambridge Local
Plan 2018.
Resolved (3
votes to 3 with 1 abstention – and on the Chair’s casting vote) to discount the
following reason for refusal: Drainage (reference Policies 31 and 32 of the
Cambridge Local Plan 2018 and NPPF paragraph 163).