Agenda item

Copies of the following papers attached:-

There had been circulated copies of the request from Mr Jamie Reddihough per Mark R Russell, Ethical Planning (North East) Ltd, Stoddart Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, to review the decision to refuse the planning application for erection of a dwellinghouse, garages and associated access on land North West of Town O’ Rule Farmhouse, Bonchester Bridge, Hawick. The supporting papers included the Notice of Review and associated documents (including the Decision Notice and Officer’s Report); papers referred to in the Officer’s Report; Consultations; and a list of policies.   The Planning Advisor drew attention to new evidence, in the form of a report entitled Preliminary Bat Roost Assessment and Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey, which had been submitted with the Notice of Review documentation and which had not been before the Appointed Planning Officer at the time of determination. The Review Body considered that the new information could be considered, as it met the test set out in Section 43B of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 and that this new information was material to the determination of the review.  It was agreed that, as expert opinion on the report was required, there was a need for further procedure in the form of written submissions and that the Council’s Ecology Officer be given the opportunity to comment on the new information provided. Notwithstanding the decision to defer determination of the review, Members asked to hear the Planning Advisor’s presentation about the application and this was followed by a preliminary discussion on the location, sense of place, scale, height and design of the proposed development.  Members noted that the principle of a new dwellinghouse on the site had previously been established.

DECISION

AGREED that:-

(a)        the request for a review had been competently made in terms of Section       43A of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997;

(b)       the new information submitted with the Notice of Review documentation      met the test set out in Section 43B of the Town and Country Planning   (Scotland) Act 1997 and that the review could not be considered without further procedure in the form of written submissions in respect of that             new evidence;

(c)        to request representations from the Ecology Officer on the new evidence in the form of the Preliminary Bat Roost Assessment and Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey; and

(d)       consideration of the review be continued on a date to be arranged.