Agenda item

Copies of the following papers attached:-

review 21/00706/FUL 

There had been circulated copies of a request from Mr Drew Glendinning, c/o Ferguson Planning, Shiel House, 54 Island Street, Galashiels to review the decision to refuse the planning application for the erection of a dwellinghouse on Plot 4, Westcote Farm, Westcote, Hawick.  The supporting papers included the Notice of Review (including the Decision Notice and Officer’s Report); Papers referred to in the Officer’s report; additional information; consultation replies; objection comments and list of policies.  The Planning Adviser drew attention to the revised location plan submitted with the Notice of Review but not before the Appointed Officer at the time of determination.  Members agreed that the information was new but considered that it met the Section 43B test, was material to the determination of the Review and could be considered without the need for further procedure.   Members firstly considered whether there was a building group under Clause A of Policy HD2 and noted that there were a number of existing houses in the immediate vicinity consisting of the original farmhouse, several conversions and new-builds to the north of the site. Members were satisfied that this constituted a building group and there was notional capacity for addition.  In considering whether the site was within the group’s sense of place and in keeping with its character, the Review Body noted the location of the site within a field on the southern edge of the group, and Members were concerned that the proposal was not within the cluster of buildings and houses around the original farmhouse and that it appeared to constitute ribbon development, lying outwith the group and breaking into a field. Members were also concerned that this could set a precedent for further sporadic development in the field. After full discussion, the Review Body concluded that the building group was complete and that the site was not an appropriate addition to the group.  After considering all relevant information, the Local Review Body concluded that the development was contrary to the Development Plan and that there were no other material considerations that would justify departure from the Development Plan.  Consequently, the application was refused.

DECISION

AGREED that:-

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

(b)       the review could be considered without the need for any further procedure on the basis of the papers submitted;

(c)       The development was contrary to Policy HD2 of the Local Development Plan 2016 and New Housing in the Borders Countryside Guidance 2008 because it would constitute housing in the countryside that would not relate well to the existing building group and would lead to an unjustified sporadic expansion of development into a previously undeveloped field. Furthermore, there is no overriding economic justification to support the development. Material considerations do not outweigh the resulting harm; and

(d)       the officer’s decision to refuse the application be upheld and the application refused, for the reasons detailed in Appendix III to this Minute.