House plans get go-ahead

Published on 14th June 2007 in News

A planning application to re-build and convert existing farm buildings in Swinefleet to form a house with a granny annex and 'work-from-home' studio was given the go-ahead by East Riding councillors last week despite being set for refusal.

Meeting on Thursday, members of East Riding of Yorkshire Council's (ERYC) planning committee approved the application relating to Onslow House in Church Lane, submitted by Mr and Mrs Alcock.

Originally, an application was submitted for the erection of a new home on the site and the re-building of barns to form two new homes, but this was amended to provide for the re-building and conversion of existing farm buildings to form a single home incorporating a granny annex and 'work-from-home' studio.

Planning officers advised committee members that the application should be turned down as there were concerns about whether Swinefleet was a sustainable location for this type of housing development. Swinefleet possesses few services or facilities, and other planning applications have been refused for being unsustainable.

But at a meeting of the ERYC's western area planning committee in February this year, councillors considered that planning permission should be granted as Swinefleet was a sustainable settlement and the proposal would preserve the Listed farm Buildings.

And at Thursday's meeting, councillors deemed Swinefleet to be a sustainable location for the development and unanimously approved the application, subject to appropriate conditions, including an additional condition to ensure the usage of the granny annexe, and ensure that the 'work-from-home' studio is ancillary to the main building.

Applicant Mrs Alcock told the Goole Times this week that she was delighted with the result.

Outline plans for an eight-strong residential development in Airmyn were finally met with approval from East Riding of Yorkshire Council's (ERYC) planning committee last week.

The application, submitted by J. and G. Backhouse, for a development at 107 High Street to include a mixture of two, three and four-bedroom houses, following the demolition of an existing local family-owned and run lawnmower business, was approved by planning councillors last Thursday, despite recommendations to the contrary from planning officers.

The application has been set for refusal at ERYC western area planning committee meetings in the past, but was deferred each time after councillors voted in favour of the scheme. Two of the proposed two-bedroom houses have been earmarked to meet identified local housing needs under a registered social landlord scheme.

Planning officers were against the application on the grounds that the site currently provides local employment, and it is considered that the development of the site for housing would result in the loss of potential employment land and therefore make the village less sustainable and increase its role as a commuting settlement for Goole.

There were also concerns amongst planning officers that Airmyn has limited facilities/services, and that although significant employment, retail and other facilities are available close by in Goole, it is thought to be unlikely that residents would use those facilities other than by the private car.

But last week councillors voted in favour of the application being approved. The only red tape holding back approval is the completion of an agreement under section 106 0f the Town and Country Planning Act to secure the provision of two units for affordable housing, after which point the application can go ahead.