Agenda item

Councillor Sylvester re-joined the meeting.

The planning application was for a single story flat roof extension to the rear of the doctor’s surgery at 32 Main Street, Ailsworth, Peterborough, PE5 7AF.

The main considerations set out in the reports were:

·         Background of Development

·         Character Appearance

·         Area Amenity

·         Highways

·         Trees

It was officer’s recommendation that planning permissions be refused for the reason set out in the report.

The Head of Development and Construction provided an overview of the applications and raised the following key points:

·         The extension proposed was a single storey rear extension into the garden area.

·         The Highways Authority had objected to the application as there was no parking to be provided on the site. It was believed that the extension would attract extra traffic to the surgery from beyond the village.

·         Ailsworth Parish Council had asked that their representation be considered as in support of the application.

Councillor Holdich, Ward Councillor, addressed the Committee and responded to questions from Members. In summary the key points highlighted included:

·         The proposal was considered to be overdevelopment, out of character and overbearing on Helpston Road residents.

·         Concern was raised on highways grounds as there was no parking on the site, neither currently, nor proposed.

·         If the surgery was aiming to expand and cater to patients outside the village, who would be travelling by car, parking was vital.

·         It was suggested that those supporting the proposal were concerned that without expanding, the funding to the surgery would be lost.

Andrew and Susan Nash addressed the Committee in objection to the application and responded to questions from Members. In summary the key points highlighted included:

·         Mr and Mrs Nash lived in the property that backed on to the surgery.

·         It was acknowledged that the village benefited from having a medical practice, however the scale and suitability of the proposed extension was called into question.

·         The proposal would extend to 1.5 metres from their boundary and 0.5 metres above the boundary wall.

·         This impact would be increased by the removal of all of the shrubs and trees from the application site.

·         It was not believed that the proposal had been sufficiently thought through and it was suggested that the development was too large for the application site.

The Committee discussed the application and maintained that adequate healthcare provision was important. It was considered, however, that the site was not suitable for the size of extension proposed, which comprised the majority of the existing garden.

A motion was proposed and seconded to agree that permission be refused, as per officer recommendation. The motion was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED: (unanimous) that planning permission is REFUSED for the reasons set out below.

Reasons for the decision

The proposal was unacceptable having been assessed in light of all material considerations, including weighing against relevant policies of the development plan and for the specific reasons:

R 1           The proposed increase in development and the services offered at Ailsworth Medical Centre as part of this proposed extension were considered likely to exacerbate the parking problems currently experienced in the vicinity of the site, specifically on Main Street, to the detriment of highway safety and therefore contrary to Policy PP12 and PP13 of the Peterborough Planning Policies DPD 2012.