PLANNING COMMITTEE - 41 - 17 December 2008

F/YR08/0907/F 6 October 2008

Applicant : G Breame Agent : Fenland District Council (T Adams) 234 Ramsey Road Pondersbridge Huntingdon Cambridgeshire Formation of vehicular access This proposal is before the Planning Committee due Fenland District Council involvement This application is an other 1.

SITE DESCRIPTION

The site is located on the western side of Ramsey Road in Pondersbridge and comprises a semi-detached house amongst a number of similar semi-detached properties. At present the site only benefits from pedestrian access due to a large ditch which runs to the front of the properties.

2.

HISTORY None

3. CONSULTATIONS

Parish/Town Council: Not yet received. Local Highway Authority (CCC): Due to the existing access and parking

arrangements the Highway Authority cannot justify requesting parking and turning. A S184 licence will be required.

FDC Scientific Officer (Land

Contamination): No comments.

Local residents/interested parties: None received. 4.

POLICY FRAMEWORK

FDWLP Policy

E8 - Proposals for new development should: - allow for protection of site features; - be of a design compatible with their surroundings; - have regard to amenities of adjoining properties; - provide adequate access.

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5.

ASSESSMENT Nature of Application

This application seeks full planning permission for the formation of a vehicular access at 234 Ramsey Road, Pondersbridge. The application is considered to raise the following key issues; - Access - Parking Access A new vehicular access is to be formed which involves the formation of a driveway and parking area to the front of the dwelling. A pedestrian access concrete path only serves the property. This crosses the open dyke which runs to the front of these properties. The new access involves piping the existing dyke subject to approval by the drainage authority and the provision of a 3.5 metre wide driveway with new access onto Ramsey Road. There are further properties in the vicinity with a vehicular access which do not appear to have turning available. The Council’s records indicate that these properties do not appear to have any authorised consent for the accesses. Parking The new driveway is sufficient to park several cars in tandem but there is no turning available which may result in vehicles backing out onto the highway. County Highways have commented that as the existing parking arrangements for the majority of the properties do not include parking and turning inside the properties the existing vehicles have to reverse out onto the public highway or reverse into their driveways and drive out forwards. As this is the case with the existing properties the Local Highway Authority cannot justify requesting parking and turning to be provided in this instance. A S184 licence will be required however which can be attached as an informative to any permission granted. In light of the Highways Authority’s comments it is felt that the proposal is acceptable.

Conclusion The proposed vehicular access is felt to be acceptable in this instance given the

number of existing vehicular accesses to the nearby properties. Given that the existing driveways do not provide turning within the sites, it is felt that the proposed vehicular access is acceptable despite a vehicle having to potentially reverse onto the road to exit the property. The Local Highway Authority has raised no objection to the proposal in light of the existing arrangements, therefore the recommendation is for an approval. This proposal is in accordance with development plan policies, however Members should be aware that the proposal is in line with this Council’s mission which is:- “ To improve quality of life for people living in the Fenland District”

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The scheme also aligns with the Council’s following Corporate objectives to ensure that adequate and safe parking facilities are provided for the residents of the existing property:- Shaping Fenland’s Future - To help shape the future of the District to improve local quality of life The recommendation therefore is that this application is granted subject to appropriate conditions.

6.

RECOMMENDATION

GRANT

1. C4A (Time Limit) 7.

UPDATE Members will recall that this application was deferred from last month’s committee to enable them to visit the site in order to assess the on-site situation. This application remains recommended for approval subject to the following condition:

GRANT 1. C4A (Time Limit)

PLANNING COMMITTEE - 44 - 17 December 2008