declarations of interest

No interests were declared.

part b minutes for information

sw/09/0604 (2.4) - land r/o 157 whitstable road, faversham

The Area Planning Officer introduced the application which sought planning permission for a two storey, one bedroom dwelling on land to the rear of 157 Whitstable Road, Faversham. He explained there would be two parking spaces; one for the proposed house and one for the existing property. The Area Planning Officer explained that the dwelling had been designed to avoid overlooking and the windows to the front of the dwelling would be made obscure by a condition within the report. Access to the property would be via a shared drive where there was a right of way to cross the driveway, but no permission to park on it. The proposed dwelling was sited within the built-up area of Faversham, but was not in the Conservation Area.

The Area Planning Officer reported that Faversham Town Council and Kent Highway Services had raised no objection to the proposal. Eight letters of objection had been received and the main points that had been raised were summarised. The Area Planning Officer explained that PPS3 encouraged the use of brownfield sites for residential use in a built-up area. He considered the additional dwelling would not significantly add to traffic problems in the area. He suggested that it would not set a precedent as other houses in the area had different circumstances at the rear of their gardens, especially with regard to access. In order to mitigate privacy problems, walls which potentially overlooked neighbouring properties either had obscured windows or were blank, with no windows on that side.

Mr Wood, the Applicant, explained the site of the proposed dwelling in relation to the four existing properties which were beyond the building line.

Local residents made the following comments: a precedent would be set; this is building in a back garden; subsidence issues; access to the dwelling; inconvenience and damage to access road caused by the construction work; loss of parking spaces on Whitstable road while dwelling being constructed; two more cars would increase car parking problems; the report was misleading; overlooking; restricted access; privacy issues; additional noise and would be very crowded.

The owner of the access road advised that the road was privately owned and that residents at the end of the access road had access to their garages, but could not park on the road. The Area Planning Officer further advised that the owner of the access road, owned it in its entirety and advised that a letter which confirmed this would be made available to Members of the Planning Committee.

Members then toured the site and asked the Area Planning Officer and Planning Officer questions which they answered.