Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Members.

Apologies for this meeting were received from Cllr J Challinor and Cllr D Flagg.

To receive information on any changes in the membership of the Committee.

Note – When a member of a Committee is unable to attend a meeting of a Committee or Sub-Committee, the relevant Political Group Leader (or their nominated representative) may, by notice to the Monitoring Officer (or their nominated representative) prior to the meeting, appoint a substitute member from within the same Political Group. The contact details on the front of this agenda should be used for notifications. 

Cllr B Dove substituted for Cllr J Challinor

Councillors are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

Cllr M Tarling declared that in relation to agenda item 6b, 32 Addington Place, Christchurch BH23 3PB, that they were pre-determined. They withdrew from the meeting for the consideration of this item after making a statement as a ward Councillor on behalf of local residents objecting to the application.

Cllr G Martin – declared an other registerable interest in agenda item 6a, The Captains Club Hotel, Wick Lane, Christchurch BH23 1HU, and withdrew from the meeting for the duration of this item

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 1 June 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on 1 June 2023 were confirmed as a correct record for signing by the Chairman.

To receive any requests to speak on planning applications which the Planning Committee is considering at this meeting.

The deadline for the submission of requests to speak is 10.00am of the working day before the meeting. Requests should be submitted to Democratic Services using the contact details on the front of this agenda.

Further information about how public speaking is managed at meetings is contained in the Planning Committee Protocol for Public Speaking and Statements, a copy of which is included with this agenda sheet and is also published on the website on the following page:

https://democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=290

Summary of speaking arrangements as follows:

Speaking at Planning Committee (in person or virtually):

·       There will be a maximum combined time of five minutes to speak in objection and up to two persons may speak within the five minutes.

·       There will be a further maximum combined time of five minutes to speak in support and up to two persons may speak within the five minutes.

·       No speaker may speak for more than half this time (two and a half minutes) UNLESS there are no other requests to speak received by the deadline OR it is with the agreement of the other speaker.

Submitting a statement to Planning Committee as an alternative to speaking:

·       Anyone who has registered to speak by the deadline may, as an alternative to attending/speaking in person or virtually, submit a written statement to be read out on their behalf.

·       Statements must be provided to Democratic Services by 10.00am of the working day before the meeting.

·       A statement must not exceed 450 words (and will be treated as amounting to two and a half minutes of speaking time).

Please refer to the full Protocol document for further guidance.

Note: The public speaking procedure is separate from and is not intended to replicate or replace the procedure for submitting a written representation on a planning application to the Planning Offices during the consultation period.

There were a number of requests to speak on planning applications as detailed under individual items below.

To consider the planning applications as listed below.

See planning application reports circulated with the agenda, as updated by the agenda addendum sheet to be published one working day before the meeting.

Councillors are requested where possible to submit any technical questions on planning applications to the Case Officer at least 48 hours before the meeting to ensure this information can be provided at the meeting.

The running order in which planning applications will be considered will be as listed on this agenda sheet.

The Chairman retains discretion to propose an amendment to the running order at the meeting if it is considered expedient to do so.

Members will appreciate that the copy drawings attached to planning application reports are reduced from the applicants’ original and detail, in some cases, may be difficult to read. To search for planning applications, the following link will take you to the main webpage where you can click on a tile (area) to search for an application.  The link is:

https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/Planning-and-building-control/Search-and-comment-on-applications/Search-and-comment-on-applications.aspx

Councillors are advised that if they wish to refer to specific drawings or plans which are not included in these papers, they should contact the Case Officer at least 48 hours before the meeting to ensure that these can be made available.

To view Local Plans, again, the following link will take you to the main webpage where you can click on a tile to view the local plan for that area. The link is:

https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/Planning-and-building-control/Planning-policy/Current-Local-Plans/Current-Local-Plan.aspx

The Committee considered planning application reports, copies of which had been circulated and which appear as Appendices A to D to these minutes in the Minute Book. There was an addendum sheet published on 14 June 2023 which appears as Appendix E to these minutes. The Committee considered the planning applications in the order set out below:

Christchurch Town Ward

8/22/1069/FUL

An extension to the existing hotel to create additional hotel bedrooms and suites and ancillary plant rooms.

Christchurch Town Ward

8/22/1069/FUL

An extension to the existing hotel to create additional hotel bedrooms and suites and ancillary plant rooms.

Public Representations

Objectors 

vMark Stickland

vDavid Buist, read out by the Democratic Services Officer on behalf of the objector

Applicant/Supporters:

vPeter Lamb

vAndrew Emery, BCP Council

Ward Councillors:

Cllr M Cox

Resolved that planning permission be REFUSED, contrary to the recommendation to grant set out in the Officer’s report, for the following reasons:

1.          The proposed extension to the hotel, by reason of its design, which introduces significant fenestration to the north elevation, scale which increases the building's height and projects closer to the nearest residential properties and the subsequent proximity to neighbours in Creedy Drive will adversely impact on living conditions at these neighbouring dwellings by reason of a loss of privacy, overlooking and light pollution and disturbance from north facing windows in the proposed extension.

The proposal is therefore contrary to Policy HE2 of the Christchurch and East Dorset Local Plan Part 1 - Core Strategy (2014).

2.          The proposal is within 5Km of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This SSSI is also part of the designated Dorset Heathlands SPA (Special Protection Area) and Ramsar site and is also part of the Dorset Heaths SAC (Special Area of Conservation). The proximity of these European Sites (SPA and SAC) means that determination of the application should be undertaken with regard to the requirements of the Habitat Regulations 1994, in particular Regulations 48 and 49. If the Council had been minded to grant permission in all other respects it would have to carry out an appropriate assessment in accordance with the advice and procedures set out broadly in Circular 06/2005.

        The applicant has failed to demonstrate in accordance with the Habitat Regulations that the proposals will cause no harm to the SPA and SAC heathland. It is clear, on the basis of advice from Natural England that, the proposed development would in combination with other plans and projects within close proximity to heathland and in the absence of any form of acceptable mitigation be likely to have an adverse effect on the heathland special features including those which are SPA and SAC features. Having regard to the Waddenzee judgement (ECJ case C-127/02) the Council is not in a position to be convinced that there is no reasonable scientific doubt to the contrary. For these reasons, and without needing to conclude the appropriate assessment, the proposal is considered contrary to the recommendations of the Berne Convention Standing Committee on urban development close to the Dorset Heathlands and also the provisions of the Dorset Heathlands Planning Framework 2020-2025 Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which took effect in November 2020. The proposal is also contrary to policy ME2 of the Christchurch and East Dorset Local Plan.

Voting: For – 6, Against – 5, Abstain – 1

Notes:

The motion was moved and seconded with an additional reason to refuse regarding the scale, bulk and mass impact  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

Christchurch Town Ward

8/23/0027/HOU

Two storey side extension and single storey rear extension (amended)

Christchurch Town Ward

8/23/0027/HOU

Two storey side extension and single storey rear extension (amended).

Public Representations

Objectors 

vResidents of Addington Place represented by Cllr M Tarling

Applicant/Supporters:

vMatt Bell (also read a statement on behalf of the applicant)

Ward Councillors:

vCllr M Cox

vCllr M Tarling

Resolved that planning permission be GRANTED in accordance with the recommendation set out in the Officer’s report.

Voting: For – 9, Against – 3

Notes:

Prior to this, a move to refuse the application was seconded but not carried: Voting: For – 5, Against – 8, Abstain – 1 

Alderney and Bourne Valley Ward

APP/23/00185/F

Single storey side extension and alterations. Front porch and front dormer.?

Alderney and Bourne Valley Ward

APP/23/00185/F

Single storey side extension and alterations. Front porch and front dormer.

There were no public representations

Resolved that planning permission be GRANTED in accordance with the recommendation set out in the Officer’s report.

Voting: Unanimous

Commons Ward

To provide an update on the planning applications at the Aviation Business Park and to seek delegation from Committee for the issue of decision notices following conclusion of the S106 agreements. 

1) Application 8/19/0864/FUL

Outline planning application for the erection of up to 85,100 sqm GIA of Class B1, B2, B8 employment floorspace, of which no more than 34,000 sqm GIA shall be B1/B2 (Business and General Industrial), and of that, no more than 4,000 sqm GIA shall be B1a (Offices), with access and associated works. All matters reserved save for Access.  

2) Application 8/19/0870/FUL 

Development of estate road and drainage infrastructure with associated works (full).  

3) Application 8/19/0882/FUL

Development of employment unit (use classes B1c, B2, B8) with access, landscaping, car parking and associated works (full) 

Commons Ward

1)    8/19/0864/OUT

Outline planning application for the erection of up to 85,100 sqm GIA of Class B1, B2, B8 employment floorspace, of which no more than 34,000 sqm GIA shall be B1/B2 (Business and General Industrial), and of that, no more than 4,000 sqm GIA shall be B1a (Offices), with access and associated works. All matters reserved save for Access.

2)    Application 8/19/0870/FUL

Development of estate road and drainage infrastructure with associated works (full).

3)    Application 8/19/0882/FUL

Development of employment unit (use classes B1c, B2, B8) with access, landscaping, car parking and associated works (full)

There were no public representations.

Resolved that the Director of Planning and Destination be delegated the power to determine all of the applications: with power to negotiate and determine the wording, terms and associated documentation of any condition(s) and /or planning obligation(s) that the Director of Planning and Destination considers necessary in relation to any such determinations and issue all relevant documentation/ decision notices.

Voting: For - 12, Against – 1