Planning Committee (Wirral Council) 22nd August 2013 APP/13/00842: Corbiere, Thorsway, Caldy, CH48 2JJ – Demolition of existing house and erection of new dwelling within a similar footprint

A report on the Planning Committee meeting of Wirral Council on the 22nd August 2013 about planning application APP/13/00842: Corbiere, Thorsway, Caldy, CH48 2JJ – Demolition of existing house and erection of new dwelling within a similar footprint

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After the decision on the Tesco in Wallasey Village was made, the Planning Committee went on to consider an application for Corbiere in Thorsway, Caldy.

The officer said that Cllr Jeff Green had requested the decision be made by the Planning Committee (and not by officers) and that there was a qualifying petition of twenty-nine against it as well as five letters of objection. The application was in a conservation area and was for a two storey house. The officer said that the property had not been occupied for the last two years and that the application was recommended for approval.

The petitioner, David James said he lived next to Corbiere and that he was a member of the Caldy Society and spoke with their full support. He asked why they would agree to demolish part of Caldy’s heritage that fitted perfectly in the conservation area? The petitioner said that the current building could be economically restored. Mr. James said that the footprint of the new building would be greater than the footprint of the original house and that it looked like a “huge office block” and would be a “carbuncle”.

The applicant handed out handouts to the Planning Committee and introduced himself as Stuart Wilson, of 10 The Willow, Lea Park, Meols Drive, Hoylake, Wirral. He said that they had spent eight months discussing the application with planning officers and that Conservation Area officers past and present had said they had worked within the guidelines.

The property was an unoccupied family home, which they had bought in a dilapidated state, it was dangerous in certain parts due to a bodged extension. He felt that its character had been lost beyond economic redemption. Part of the building would be underground which increased the cost and he disputed claims about loss of privacy due to the balcony. The balcony he explained was a service balcony and the windows referred to would be made of opaque glass.

Cllr Watt was next to address the Planning Committee. He said that in the press that Thorsway was one of the highest priced roads in Merseyside and one of the highest points in the Caldy Conservation Area. Although much of the application would be hidden behind screening, he asked the Planning Committee to ask to see the artist’s impression of the new building. Cllr Watt referred to the concerns of the petitioners and asked the Planning Committee to find reasons to refuse the application.

Cllr Elderton asked if they needed permission in a conservation area to demolish and how much influence the Conservation Area officer had had on the application? Cllr Moutney asked for the plans to be displayed.

Matthew Davies replied that there was a conservation area consent application for demolition of the existing building, but it wouldn’t be granted unless there was an acceptable scheme for a replacement dwelling. Therefore it wouldn’t be decided until the application was decided. If the application was approved, then consent for demolition would be granted.

In terms of the input that Conservation Area officers had had, it had been subject to considerable pre-application advice and advice from the urban design officer.

Cllr Elderton said he’d like to see the elevations and artist’s impressions to compare with the previous design. Matthew Davies showed the footprints of the existing building as well as replacement. He also showed the elevations and artists impressions.

Cllr Elderton described it as a out of character for the conservation area and a “1930s office block”. He thought it was unsuitable and wanted to move refusal. Cllr Hayes asked why the conditions only required the trees to stay in place for one year and whether it could be extended?

Matthew Davies replied that they were trying to retain the existing vegetation, but that condition 18 required a full landscaping scheme to be submitted which would detail any replacement trees. Condition 17 sought to retain the existing vegetation while new vegetation was planted.

Cllr Elderton moved refusal of the application on the basis that it was contrary to policy CH11. This was seconded by Cllr Eddie Boult.

The following councillors voted for refusal, Cllr Stuart Kelly, Cllr Les Rowlands, Cllr Simon Moutney, Cllr Paul Hayes, Cllr Eddie Boult, Cllr David Elderton and Cllr Irene Williams (7)
Labour councillors (apart from Cllr Irene Williams) voted against (6)

The application was therefore refused.

Planning Committee (Wirral Council) (27th June 2013) APP/13/00574 5 Speedwell Drive, Barnston, CH60 2SY Change of use of garage to dog grooming parlour

Planning Committee (Wirral Council) (27th June 2013) APP/13/00574 5 Speedwell Drive, Barnston, CH60 2SY Change of use of garage to dog grooming parlour

Continues from Planning Committee (Wirral Council) (27th June 2013) APP/13/00574 5 Speedwell Drive, Barnston, CH60 2SY Change of use of garage to dog grooming parlour.

Cllr Denise Realey: Can I then move approval of the officer’s recommendation?

Cllr Joe Walsh: I’ll second that.

Cllr Denise Realey: For approval.

Cllr Joe Walsh: I’ll second that. I’ll second that.

Cllr Bernie Mooney (Chair): Hang on hold on a minute they had indicated what it is … to hold on as we had a debate so it’s his movement first. Ermm, …

Cllr Anita Leech: Errm, it’s just literally a point of clarification really, errm the actual terms about the number of dogs a day doesn’t seem to include a bank holiday Monday.

Matthew Davies: Errm through you Chair, I think we would add then that there are no dogs on a bank holiday Monday.

Cllr Anita Leech: Thank you.

Cllr Bernie Mooney (Chair): Right back to David, David?

Cllr David Elderton: Thank you Chair, I mean I’d just like to comment before I start by saying that the fact you’re trying to start a business is absolutely commendable and I fully support what you’re trying to do. It’s my concern that it would be an inappropriate development in a residential area, it’s simply relating to that associated issue but what I would like to move is that on the basis of granting refusal the Local Planning Authority considers that, by reason of noise and general disturbance likely to be generated, the proposed development would be detrimental to the amenities that the occupiers of adjoining properties could reasonably expect to enjoy. The development would thereby conflict with the provisions of Unitary Development Planning policy HS15. I move that.

Cllr Bernie Mooney (Chair): So we’ve got a mover for refusal and we’ve got a seconder. So, first of all we’ll take a vote on refusal, those for refusal, ok and against. I’ll abstain. I really can’t make my mind up.

Cllr David Elderton: That’s six appear to be [for (Cllrs Elderton, Clenents, Mountney, Hayes and Foulkes] and five [against (Cllrs Realey, Brightmore, Leech, Walsh and Kenny], in favour of refusal when you’ve abstained.

Cllr Bernie Mooney (Chair): I’m awful sorry for the confusion.

Cllr Denise Realey: I propose a small adjournment while people leave.

Cllr Bernie Mooney (Chair): Err, please refrain from saying anything like that while the members of the public leave, thank you very much.

Continues at Planning Committee (Wirral Council) (27th June 2013) APP/13/00398: 11 Templemore Road, Oxton, CH43 2HB – Single Storey Garage.

Planning Committee (Wirral Council) (27th June 2013) APP/13/00574 5 Speedwell Drive, Barnston, CH60 2SY Change of use of garage to dog grooming parlour

Planning Committee (Wirral Council) (27th June 2013) APP/13/00574 5 Speedwell Drive, Barnston, CH60 2SY Change of use of garage to dog grooming parlour

Continued from Planning Committee (Wirral Council) (27th June 2013) APP/13/00574 5 Speedwell Drive, Barnston, CH60 2SY Change of use of garage to dog grooming parlour.

Cllr Bernie Mooney (Chair): Thank you, Simon.

Matthew Davies: Through you errm Chair, obviously ermm the only reason that would be something we would encourage, Members should take account err properly of whether or not there are amenity issues, noise and disturbance issues that could possibly arise errm on the.., we talk about five dogs a day errm five days a week, err so that’s twenty-five dogs with some on Saturday.

Errm so it’s whether or not the volume that’s proposed or restricted by conditions would be errm likely to result in detriment to amenities in the surrounding environment particularly those in conjunction to the site. The petitioner’s photos been circulated and the two garages are close together and that’s why errm condition number errm five is suggested, and I think errm just listening to some of the debate I would errm I would suggest a slight amendment to that condition to remove the wording “to the Northwest side elevation” errm because I think the whole, if we’re going for this discussion, the whole, the whole garage has to be insulated because there is the potential obviously that noise could carry through the open door if that’s so.

I was just thinking if Members were actually minded to approve, it would, I was just thinking about the language that would encourage errm insulation for the whole of the garage rather than just the Northwest elevation. So, if it is not endorsed, well I think it is errm it’s improper errm to consider amenity issues surrounding this structure.

Cllr Bernie Mooney (Chair): Denise?

Continues at Planning Committee (Wirral Council) (27th June 2013) APP/13/00574 5 Speedwell Drive, Barnston, CH60 2SY Change of use of garage to dog grooming parlour.

Planning Committee (Wirral Council) (27th June 2013) APP/13/00574 5 Speedwell Drive, Barnston, CH60 2SY Change of use of garage to dog grooming parlour

Planning Committee (Wirral Council) (27th June 2013) APP/13/00574 5 Speedwell Drive, Barnston, CH60 2SY Change of use of garage to dog grooming parlour

The report on this agenda item (APP/13/00574 5 Speedwell Drive, Barnston, CH60 2SY Change of use of garage to dog grooming parlour) can be found on Wirral Council’s website.

This continues from Planning Committee (Wirral Council) (27th June 2013) OUT/13/0040 41 Noctorum Avenue, Noctorum, CH43 9RZ.

Matthew Davies: Thank you Chair, through you Chair, errm just remember there’s a qualifying petition as outlined in the details for this application as well.

The proposal is for the change of use for the garage to the property for a dog grooming parlour. The applicant outlines their intention to set up a business at the residential property, initially establishing a customer base for the dog grooming business facility. The garage is detached from the house with running water to the garage which appears to be well run.

The key issues to be considered to be essential are noise and disturbance and highway issues. Errm, considering the first, errm in this instance, the scale of the development as outlined is modest, the garage itself is five and a quarter metres by two and half metres which actually limits the activity which will be absorbed.

Conditions I’ve proposed have been agreed by the applicant to restrict the number of dogs to no more than two at any one time and no more than five in a given day. Hours have also been agreed by the applicant which restrict operations to 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 9am till 1pm on Saturday. There are no hours proposed on a Sunday.

Lastly, noise insulation will be required to the garage door which has been approved and no access is proposed through this garage door. Given these perhaps restrictive conditions it’s not considered unacceptable levels of noise in ordinary terms would arise nor be high through access.

Considering highway safety, the development may lead to a small increase in movements on the highway and a slight increase in demand for off street parking. However the scale of the development is modest and the structural impact upon it is minimal and no cause for highway safety issues. Given that conclusion reached the application is recommended for approval subject to the conditions as outlined.

Continues at Planning Committee (Wirral Council) (27th June 2013) APP/13/00574 5 Speedwell Drive, Barnston, CH60 2SY Change of use of garage to dog grooming parlour.

Planning Committee (Wirral Council) (27th June 2013) OUT/13/0040 41 Noctorum Avenue, Noctorum, CH43 9RZ

A report on Wirral Council’s Planning Committee meeting held on the 27th June 2013 | OUT/13/0040 41 Noctorum Avenue, Noctorum, CH43 9RZ

This transcript continues from an earlier blog post covering the end of the third agenda item and the first planning application.

Matthew Davies: It’s been referred to the character, the garden faces the properties fronting Noctorum Avenue are hardly ever after this point, and as such adding an RSA? can be obtained within an … one and can be provided for ordinary dwellings as are the parking provision.

The property’s key density of thirty dwellings per a hectare is relatively low commensurate with the density on Hadley Avenue and Winston Drive in certain key instances and the bungalow in my view improves the area given its responsibility and impact on character.

In terms of amenity there’s a good separation distance between the rear of the property currently and Winston Drive. It’s indicated that they would separate the part in my view to prevent overbearing produced on this land, whilst good separation distance will also be achievable and unavoidable of itself avoiding the ability indeed for that property on the … to be alleviated. Plans would be required to support a third party’s application.

Considering highway safety, access to both the two dwellings and the road has already has a number of access points. It is therefore to be noted that there are no highway concerns.

The Head of ??? takes ??? for ?????tation, so there’s no objections to the development so the planning conditions have been imposed and have adequately taken place according to my view.

Overall the building is considered to comply with UDP policy HS10 and HS4 and is recommended for approval subject to the conditions as …. and objections in the report. It fits the requirements for planning reasons such as open space, landscaping and amenity of the neighbours.

Cllr Bernie Mooney (Chair): Thank you. Errm, would the representative of the people you address with no time limit be here?

Cllr Denise Roberts: I’m here, Chair.

Cllr Bernie Mooney (Chair): Would you like to come forward?

Continues at Planning Committee (Wirral Council) (27th June 2013) OUT/13/0040 41 Noctorum Avenue, Noctorum, CH43 9RZ.