Central Bedfordshire Council Planning Pages

Conditions or Reasons for Planning Application - CB/14/00292/FULL

Conditions or Reasons:

1) The South Bedfordshire Local Plan Review policy R12 seeks to protect open space including private garden areas where they perform an amenity function in the public realm, in towns and villages except where the development of the site is proposed in the Local Plan or where development of the site is essential for the improvement, enhancement or enlargement of the existing open space. The applicant seeks to enclose an area of private garden space in the public domain with a 2 metre high close-boarded fence, which has a prominent location by the main entrance of the estate. The approved landscaping scheme was designed to allow the site to be as open as possible, with the private garden space on the applicant's dwelling being perceived as in the public domain and contributing to the overall openness of the estate. The approved landscaping scheme has not been fully implemented and the proposal would prevent the planting of a tree on the frontage of the area of the plot to be enclosed. It is considered that the proposed 2 metre high close-boarded fence, due to its prominent location on the site, would enclose the available open space on the estate and disrupt the views into, across and out of the development. The proposed 2 metre high close-boarded fence is also not considered to adequately harmonise with the existing feature wall, and is considered to take away the unique character of the balanced, pair of walls entrance feature to the estate. The proposal would thus result in an unacceptable loss of open space and the closing up of the site. The proposal is therefore contrary to the principles of good design within the National Planning Policy Framework and to Policies BE8 and R12 of the South Bedfordshire Local Plan Review and Policies 40 and 43 of the emerging Development Strategy for Central Bedfordshire.

2) The siting and height of the fencing prevents adequate visibility splays being able to be achieved at the junction of the site access with the highway to the detriment of the safety and convenience of users of the highway; as such the proposal is contrary to Policy T10 of the South Bedfordshire Local Plan Review and Policy 27 of the emerging Development Strategy for Central Bedfordshire.

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