Agenda item

Councillor Colin Cross chaired the following item, as agreed by the Committee, owing to the Chairman’s disclosure of a personal interest in this application.  Councillors Fiona White, Liz Hogger and Pauline Searle all left the room for the consideration and vote taken in relation to the application owing to the personal interest declared. 

The Committee considered the above-mentioned outline application for the erection of a 4 bedroom detached house on land adjacent to 12 Oak Hill to assess the access, appearance, layout and scale.

The Committee received a presentation from the Senior Planning Officer, Katie Williams.   The application site was a vacant plot of land to the eastern end of Oak Hill, the site was within the urban area of Guildford and was also within the 400 metre to five kilometres buffer zone of the Thames Basin Heath SPA.  The site was tree covered and was afforded a Tree Preservation Order Protection on the 26th of April 2022. The Order was confirmed without modification, on the 25th of October 2022.  The existing dwelling and garden at 12 Oak Hill was located to the west.  There was also an industrial yard to the east of the site. 

The proposal would result in the removal of a significant number of trees, the majority B-grade to facilitate the access, the footprint of the property and to provide usable amenity space.  The Council's Tree Officer had objected to the application. The tree survey plan submitted with the Arboricultural Report showed the extent of the tree removal proposed.  There was also concern regarding the proximity of the trees to be retained, the proposed development in terms of future pressure for tree works and subsequent adverse impact on the trees.

In conclusion, the application was subsequently recommended for refusal due to the impact on the TPO trees. The proposed development would result in the removal of a significant number of trees, with the majority of which a B grade afforded TPO protection.  In order to facilitate the new access, the dwelling and provide amenity space as such, the proposal was concluded to be contrary to British Standard 58 37 2012 and Policy D1 of the Local Plan.  A reason for refusal was also included relating to the Thames Basin, Heaths SPA, without the completion of a legal agreement to secure the required SANG and SAMM contributions, the proposal would fail to comply with the Council's Thames Basin Heaths, SPA strategy.

The Committee considered the application and noted that the track leading up to the house was a private road which could prove to be restrictive if building works were to take place for local residents.  The Committee agreed with the officer recommendation to refuse owing to the impact the application would have on a large number of TPO trees.

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

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

RESOLVED to refuse application 21/P/02036 for the reasons as detailed in the report.