Decision details

Officers made a presentation to the Planning Committee on Application No P2025/0160.

Outline application (all matters reserved) for the siting of two detached dwelling houses as detailed in the circulated report.

The Local Members (Cllrs. B. Woolford and N. Jenkins) had requested that the application be determined by the Planning Committee and were present to give their representations at the meeting.

RESOLVED:

That Application No. P2025/0160 be REFUSED, for the following reasons:

Principle of Development:

The proposed development, by reason of its form, siting and scale, constitutes an unjustified, undesirable and inappropriate form of development outside the existing settlement boundary, within the open countryside and green wedge. The physical development would encroach into a currently undeveloped area and would result in the spread and intensification of domestic use that would be prejudicial to the rural character of the area, and result in the unacceptable erosion of the open countryside as well as a harmful incursion into the green wedge, both of which should remain for the most part undisturbed. In addition, it would be contrary to the overall principles of placemaking and sustainable places, contrary to Policies SC1, EN3 and BE1 of the Neath Port Talbot Adopted Local Development Plan and the advice contained within Planning Policy Wales Edition 12.

Impact on Visual Amenity:

The proposed development would result in the introduction of an unjustified form of development within the open countryside and within a designated Green Wedge, to the detriment of the character and appearance of the area. In both spatial and visual terms, the development would fail to preserve the openness of the Green Wedge and would set a precedent that would give rise to the gradual erosion of the Green Wedge, giving a more urban and developed appearance. As such, the development does not accord with good design and placemaking principles set out in Planning Policy Wales and Policy BE1 of the Neath Port Talbot Adopted Local Development Plan.

Highway Safety:

The application as submitted fails to provide sufficient evidence that it would allow for sufficient visibility permitting vehicles to enter and exit the site safely, as required under TAN18. The application subsequently fails to demonstrate that it would not compromise the safe, effective and efficient use of the highway network and would not have an adverse impact upon highway safety, contrary to Policies TR2 and BE1 of the Neath Port Talbot Local Development Plan and TAN18.

Density:

By reason of the failure to meet the required housing density the proposed application would result in an ineffective use of land and as such would be contrary to Policy BE1 of the Neath Port Talbot Local Development Plan.