Minutes of the Meeting held at The Flyford’s Hall on Tuesday 20th December 2022

Present

Sadie Densham
David Rhodes
Anna Toivola
Richard Davey (Chairman)
Mark Broughton-Taylor attended as clerk

1. Apologies

Linda Robinson – DC and CC Councillor
Andrew Short
David Waide
John East

2. Declaration of Interest

Andrew Short registered a pecuniary interest
David Waide registered a non-pecuniary interest

3. Public Participation

There was one member of the public in attendance at the hall and one online. It was noted that others tried to join online but were unsuccessful.

4. Planning Matters

4.1 W/22/02502/HP

Dr & Mrs Short
Stedefield
Church Lane
Flyford Flavell
WR7 4BZ

Application for Permission in Principle for 1 no. self-build dwelling.

John East had made a comment by email which was displayed for members to read. The following comment was agreed after discussion:

“The Parish Council is not able to comment on a proposed development that is not described in full and without design details being available. The Parish Council does object to the concept of this application for ‘development in principle’ as its experience in the parish has shown that applications approved without full details have created problems which have proved difficult to resolve.

The Parish Council would prefer to receive full details showing, access, size, scale and location. Furthermore, the Parish Council considers that the provision of one property does not materially affect the 5 year land supply so therefore the agent’s argument about the supply of housing is irrelevant.”

Proposed Sadie Densham
Seconded: Anna Toivola All in favour

4.2 W/22/02163/FUL

Land on Radford Road

Development of 4No. live/work units

It was agreed that a public notice will be sent to all residents in the parishes notifying them of this application. The notice was agreed as follows:

"Dear Resident,

I am writing to you at the request of the Flyford Flavell, Grafton Flyford and North Piddle Parish Council. There is presently a planning application being considered by Wychavon District Council for four live/work units on Radford Road near Flyford Flavell. The parish council is extremely concerned about this application and I have been asked to wite to you to urge you to support the council’s opposition. (You can find all the details by clicking on the link at the bottom of this letter).

Live/work units are defined in the local planning policy as something different to a normal house. They include living accommodation of about 150 square metres but then have a workshop attached where the occupants can operate a business. There is a policy in the local plan that allows these units to be built without the normal safeguards of sustainability or indeed part of the overall objective of the planning authority. Originally, we believe that the policy was intended for redundant buildings to be brought back into life and for things like farm diversification projects. Due to the wording of the policy though it seems that it can be used as a loophole to gain planning permission for housing when it normally would not be possible.

These houses are planned on the north side of Radford Road just beyond the village boundary. We think that this is unacceptable for serval reasons:

• It creates a gap between the existing village and the new ribbon development. It would be very difficult to oppose a subsequent application for housing on the ‘gap’ and so in due course Flyford could extend nearly half a mile further down Radford Road then it does at the moment.
• It would create a precedent for development in other parts of the village. Bishampton Road, New Hill and the land behind the Flyford Arms could all be sites to be targeted by this sort of development.
• The policy does not require an end user to be identified before planning permission is granted. Therefore, there is very little control on what business could be undertaken in the live/work unit. We believe that originally the idea behind the policy was to encourage traditional trades such as farriers and the like but as there is no stipulation it could be anything from computer based businesses to light industrial.
• Although there will be a condition that the units will be used for home businesses we know from experience that these controls are very hard to implement. If the business proves unviable, it is quite easy to have them lifted. This would then be a backdoor way to converting the unit into a generous size house.

The parish council believes that we are doing our part in accommodating new development in the parishes. The housing stock has increased by over 10% in the last few years but we see this proposal as unnecessary, inappropriate and potentially very damaging to the area.

The parish council has sent in a very robust objection to the proposal and has asked Cllr. Linda Robinson, our district councillor to take the matter to committee. There we will have the opportunity to voice our concerns but the agent has already moved to put pressure on the council not to allow it to go to committee.

If you agree with us, that this is a bad use of a policy designed to stimulate redundant building stock in the countryside and potentially very harmful to the village then we urge you to write to Linda and the planners supporting our objection.

You can make your comments online and by email. I would be grateful if you could copy me into any comments you make to Linda but comments made to the planners will be put on their website and will be available to the public.

Linda Robinson’s email address is: [email protected]

To comment on the planning application follow this link: https://plan.wychavon.gov.uk/Planning/Comment/W/22/02163/FUL

Please act quickly because unless this application is taken to committee it could be decided very soon."

It was further agreed that the Flyford Falvell councillors could call a public meeting in Flyford at any time they felt suitable.

The clerk was asked to write to the District Councillor and Chairman of Planning to raise our concerns about SWDP8 which appears to being used as a loophole in policy.

5. Any Other Business

Anna Toivola informed the council of a break in at her property – Ashfield Cottage, Grafton Flyford where the house was ransacked and her car stolen. The clerk has reported this to Jane Hand at Neighbourhood Watch and a WhatsApp group has been formed in Grafton Flyford. All residents are urged to join the Neighbourhood Watch group and this can be done via the parish council website at https://theflyfords.co.uk/links