Agenda item

APPLICATION NO.

22/00625/FULLS

APPLICATION TYPE

FULL APPLICATION - SOUTH

REGISTERED

04.03.2022

APPLICANT

Mr C Saunders

SITE

Durban House Nursing Home, 33 Woodley Lane, Romsey, SO51 7JL,  ROMSEY TOWN

PROPOSAL

Demolition of 'Mountbatten Wing' at front of nursing home, demolition of No 35 Woodley Lane and construction of extension accommodating 22 new nursing care bedrooms and associated facilities

AMENDMENTS

Amended plans 05.05.22, 11.05.22 & 01.11.22

CASE OFFICER

Paul Goodman

REFUSED for the reasons

1.

The proposed extension, by reason of its scale, height and very close proximity to the back-edge of the footway results in an uncharacteristic and unacceptably prominent form of development in Woodley Lane. These factors result in a visually intrusive form of development thereby having a detrimental effect on the established character and appearance of the street scene.  The proposal is considered to be contrary to policy E1 of the Test Valley Borough Revised Local Plan (2016) and the paragraph 134 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2021.

2.

The proposed development by virtue of the height of the two storey extension and close proximity to the common boundary with No.35A Woodley Lane would result in an unacceptable feeling of enclosure that would have an overbearing impact when experienced from the private rear garden of that property. The proposal would therefore result in an adverse effect on the living conditions of the occupiers of this property contrary to policy LHW4 of the Test Valley Borough Revised Local Plan 2016.

3.

The proposed development by means of its nature, location and scale could have likely significant effects upon the nearby Solent and Southampton Water European Designated Site which is designated for its conservation importance. In the absence of information relating to the development achieving nutrient neutrality or onsite/off site mitigation, the applicant has failed to satisfy the Council that the proposal would not adversely affect the special interest of the Solent and Southampton Water European Designated Site, therefore the application is contrary to Policies COM2 and E5 of the adopted Test Valley Borough Revised Local Plan (2016) and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended).

Note: In reaching the decision to refuse planning permission for these reasons the Southern Area Planning Committee acknowledged, via a planning balance exercise, the economic benefits (comprising the provision of an additional 4no. jobs, and employment during the construction phase) and social benefits (comprising the provision of dementia and end of life care accommodation to serve the needs of the community) that would otherwise arise from the grant of permission but felt that the effect of the proposal was such that these benefits did not weigh sufficiently in favour to override the harm identified to the street scene, character and appearance of the area, the amenity of No.35A Woodley Lane, or the effect on the European site.