The West Buckinghamshire Area Planning Committee were scheduled to meet to discuss several planning applications, including a large housing development in Stokenchurch. Councillor Sarfaraz Khan Raja was scheduled to chair the meeting.

Planning Application for Mill Road, Stokenchurch

The committee were scheduled to consider an outline planning application for up to 65 dwellings at OS Parcel 5500, Mill Road, Stokenchurch. The application, submitted by Land & Partners Limited, had all matters reserved for later approval.

The planning officer's report noted that Councillors Shade Adoh, Carington and Etholen had requested that the application be brought before the committee due to the high level of public interest. The report also noted that the Stokenchurch Parish Council supported the call-in, raising concerns about compliance with policy RUR8 and traffic and highway safety.

The planning officer's report recommended that the application be delegated to the Director of Planning and Environment for approval, subject to the satisfactory completion of a legal agreement and the imposition of planning conditions. If these could not be achieved, the report recommended that the application be refused.

The report noted that the council could not currently demonstrate a 5 year supply of deliverable housing sites, triggering paragraph 11 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the presumption in favour of sustainable development.

The report stated that the proposed development was acceptable because:

• It would deliver residential development on a site allocated for housing in the Local Plan.
• It would provide an appropriate amount of development.
• It would provide suitable access and, subject to highways improvements, would not adversely impact highway safety.

The report also stated that any adverse impacts of the development would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, having particular regard to the sustainable location, effective use of land, creation of a well-designed place and delivery of affordable housing.

The report noted that the site is allocated for residential development in the Local Plan under policy RUR8, which requires comprehensive development of the site. The planning officer's report stated that the development of part of the site would not compromise the remainder of the allocation coming forward in a comprehensive manner.

The report stated that the development would provide 48% affordable housing, in accordance with policy DM24, and that the delivery of self and custom build plots would be secured via legal agreement.

The report stated that off-site highways works were proposed to improve visibility at the junction of Mill Road and Ibstone Road, as required by policy RUR8.

The report noted that the site lies within the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), where policy DM30 requires that development conserve and, where possible, enhance the AONB. The report concluded that the development could be built without having a harmful effect on the AONB.

The report stated that a legal agreement would be required to secure:

• Affordable Housing
• Self and Custom Build Housing
• Open Space (including play area) and its management/maintenance arrangements

Planning Application for Holmer Green Lane, Hazlemere

The committee were scheduled to consider a planning application for 64 Holmer Green Lane, Hazlemere, submitted by Southern Plant And Tool Hire. The application requested a change of use of an existing builders merchant and adjacent land to a plant and tool hire use, including ancillary retail and office space, a wash bay, fuel tank and plinth, open storage and workshop.

The planning officer's report noted that the application had been brought to committee due to a three-member call-in.

The planning officer's report recommended conditional permission be granted.

The report stated that the proposed use was acceptable in principle as it fell within the definition of a scattered business site under policy DM5 of the Delivery and Site Allocation Plan 2013, and that the proposed use was similar to the current lawful use of the site and would not be detrimental to surrounding land uses.

The report noted that highways officers did not expect a detrimental highway impact from the proposal, and that the scheme for parking and manoeuvring would be secured with a planning condition.

The report stated that the proposal would have no detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the area, and that it would clean up the site and improve its appearance.

The report also stated that the proposed use would not result in adverse impacts on the residential amenity of surrounding properties, and that the Council's Environmental Health Officer had raised no objection.

The report noted that the site was adjacent to priority habitat Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland, and that ecology officers had raised no objection subject to a condition to secure biodiversity enhancements.

Planning Application for Marlow Road, High Wycombe

The committee were scheduled to consider a planning application for 69 Marlow Road, High Wycombe, submitted by Ms Yasmin Akhtar. The application requested permission for the construction of a 6-bed detached dwelling, creation of 3 parking spaces and associated works following demolition of an existing dwelling. The application was part retrospective and was an alternative scheme to a previously approved application.

The planning officer's report noted that Councillors Lesley Clarke and Mahboob Hussain had called the application in for consideration by committee if officers were minded to recommend refusal.

The planning officer's report recommended that the application be refused.

The report stated that the proposal would result in an overbearing and unneighbourly form of development to adjacent occupiers, failing to comply with policies CP9 and DM35 of the Wycombe District Local Plan 2019.

The report noted that the council could not provide a 5-year supply of housing, requiring a tilted balance to be applied in favour of new housing provision. However, the report stated that the benefits of the proposal were significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the adverse impacts on the amenities of adjacent residents.

The report stated that the proposal would not result in any significant loss of light or privacy to adjacent residents, would have no adverse effect upon the character of the surrounding area, and would provide a good standard of accommodation for future occupiers.

Planning Application for Mead Close, Marlow

The committee were scheduled to consider a planning application for 11 Mead Close, Marlow, submitted by Mr Peter Senior. The application requested retrospective planning permission for a change of use from residential to mixed use comprising private residential use and short-term holiday let.

The planning officer's report noted that Councillors Alex Collingwood and Carol Heap had requested that the application be brought before the committee.

The planning officer's report recommended that the application be permitted.

The report stated that the proposed use was appropriate within a residential area and would not give rise to a loss of amenity to adjacent residents.

The report noted that the Highway Authority had commented that the site benefits from hardstanding that can accommodate 2 parking spaces, and that they did not have any objections or conditions to recommend for the application.

The report stated that the proposal would not include any external alterations to the building and would not have any impact on the visual amenities of the area.

The report also stated that Environmental Health Services did not wish to raise any formal objection to the application.