Agenda item

The following person addressed the Committee in accordance with Public Speaking Procedure Rules 3(b):

·         Mr David Small (to object)

The Committee considered the above-mentioned full application for variation of condition 2 of planning application 19/P/01353 approved 25/09/19 to allow the insertion of 2 roof lights and a clock on the roof top.

The Committee received a presentation from the Specialist Development Management Operations Officer, Maria Vasileiou.  The site was located in the Green Belt, outside of any identified settlement area and also fell within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and an Area of Great Landscape Value (AGLV).  The area was characterised by detached and semi-detached properties that varied both in scale and design.  The proposal was considered by planning officers to represent an appropriate development in the Green Belt, the AONB and AGLV.  It would respect the scale and character of the existing building and the character of the surrounding area.  It would not harm the neighbour’s enjoyment of their amenities and was therefore recommended for approval.

In response to the public speaker’s comments, the Development Management Applications Lead, Dan Ledger confirmed that this was a Section 73 application and was not for a change of use.  The main concern for the Committee was whether the proposed changes from the original development which were applied for caused planning harm. 

The Committee discussed the application and noted concerns raised regarding excessive light pollution caused by the roof lights proposed.  The Committee also noted that it was a retrospective application and in terms of planning harm it was agreed that the potential for light pollution caused to the AONB by the velux windows was not acceptable and was in contravention of the Dark Skies policy.  It was confirmed that no lighting was proposed for the clock tower.

A motion was moved and seconded to approve the application which was lost.

A subsequent motion was moved and seconded to refuse the application which was carried.

In conclusion, having taken account of the representations received in relation to the application, the Committee

RESOLVED to refuse application 20/P/02042 for the following reasons:

The introduction of rooflights into the building would, as a result of its location in a sparsely developed area, cause a harmful level of light spillage which would be detrimental to the natural beauty of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty resulting in an incongruous development form.  The development is therefore contrary to policy P1 of the Guildford Borough Local Plan: Strategy and Sites 2015-2034, policy P2 of the Surrey Hills Management Plan 2020-2025 and the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 2021.