The Northern Area Planning Committee met to discuss planning appeals and a reserved matters application for a housing development in Calne. The committee noted several appeal decisions, including the dismissal of appeals against the refusal of planning permission for holiday lets, extensions, and loft conversions, and the approval of appeals for dwellings in Calne and Sutton Benger. The committee approved a reserved matters application for a housing development in Calne, subject to conditions.

Planning Appeals

The committee reviewed recent planning appeals, including both appeals received and decisions made.

Appeals Received

The committee noted that appeals had been received for the following applications:

• Land to West of Care Home (Former Police Station), Wood Lane, Chippenham - An appeal against the refusal of planning permission for 17 dwelling houses, including affordable units. The planning officer originally recommended approval, but the committee overturned this recommendation.
• Chelworth Industrial Estate, Chelworth - An appeal against the refusal of planning permission for a retrospective application for an extension to a yard. The planning officer originally recommended refusal.
• Fordlands, Main Road, Christian Malford, Chippenham - An appeal for the retention of external and internal alterations, and an extension to a rear orangery and roof terrace. The planning officer originally recommended approval, but the committee overturned this recommendation.

Appeal Decisions

The committee noted that decisions had been made on appeals for the following applications:

• Three Bridges, Ashton Keynes - An appeal against the refusal of planning permission for the conversion of a barn to create three holiday lets was dismissed. The inspector, E Worley, determined that the site was not a suitable location for holiday let accommodation, as it was in an area of open countryside and not demonstrably in conjunction with a particular countryside attraction.
• 11 Quemerford, Calne - An appeal against the refusal of planning permission for the erection of a single dwelling for independent active older persons was allowed with conditions. The inspector, D R Kay, determined that the proposal would not harm the character and appearance of the area, and would accord with the Calne Community Neighbourhood Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
• Land at Gate Farm, Sutton Benger, Chippenham - An appeal against the refusal of planning permission for the erection of two new dwellings was allowed with conditions. The inspector, P Brennan, determined that the adverse impacts of the proposal associated with its location outside the settlement boundary would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits when assessed against the policies in the Framework taken as a whole.
• Land at Willowfield House, Foxley Road, Malmesbury - An appeal against the refusal of permission in principle for the erection of a self-build dwelling was dismissed. The inspector, P Brennan, determined that the site was not suitable for the proposed development, having regard to relevant policies for the location of housing and its accessibility to services and facilities, and its location within the Cotswolds National Landscape.
• 1 Greenway Avenue, Chippenham - An appeal against the refusal of planning permission for a two-storey extension was dismissed. The inspector, D R Kay, determined that the proposal would be an incongruous and dominant form of development which would harm the character and appearance of the host dwelling and the surrounding area.
• 25 Hither Spring, Corsham - An appeal against a condition attached to the grant of planning permission for the installation of an air source heat pump was dismissed. The inspector, E Worley, determined that the condition was reasonable and necessary in the interests of the living conditions of occupiers of nearby properties.
• 34 Brook Drive, Corsham - An appeal against the refusal of planning permission for a loft conversion with a rear flat roof dormer was dismissed. The inspector, D R Kay, determined that the proposal would harm the character and appearance of the host dwelling and the area, and the living conditions of the occupiers of neighbouring properties.

PL/2024/08991 - Land off James Avenue, Regents Park, Calne

The committee approved a reserved matters application for the development of 17 dwellings on land off James Avenue in Calne, pursuant to outline permission ref 20/07659/OUT, subject to conditions. Councillor Ian Thorn called the application in due to concerns about visual impact, the relationship to adjoining properties, and drainage.

The application sought approval for the access, appearance, landscaping, layout, and scale of the development. The proposal included 12 market houses and 5 affordable houses, public open space, landscape planting, and associated infrastructure.

Key considerations included:

• Principle of Development: The principle of residential development was established by the extant outline permission.
• Highways & Access: The highways officer initially objected to the layout design but raised no objection following revisions, subject to conditions regarding parking, roads, footpaths, and turning spaces.
• Design: The committee considered the appearance, landscaping, scale, and layout of the proposed development, with revisions made to address concerns about public open space, drainage, and planting.
• Amenity: The committee considered the impact on the amenity of existing and future residents, including privacy, overshadowing, and overbearing.
• Drainage: The committee considered the drainage strategy for the site, including sustainable drainage systems and flood risk mitigation measures.

The committee concluded that the proposed development complied with relevant policies in the Wiltshire Core Strategy, the Calne Community Neighbourhood Plan, and the National Planning Policy Framework, subject to conditions.