Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chair, Councillor Colville, welcomed everyone to the meeting and advised that his first task would be to establish if the Members of the LRB felt that they had sufficient information before them to come to a decision on the Review.

The Members of the LRB agreed that they had sufficient information before them. 

Councillor Green said this was quite tricky and pointed out the Roads Officer had provided very detailed specifications for the road.  He commented that he was sure there would be reasons behind that and that it would be for the LRB to see if this could be resolved in anyway in terms of being proportionate and reasonable.

Councillor Blair said he agreed that being proportionate was key.

Councillor Colville advised that it was important at this stage to note that no further development was possible unless the private road was brought up to an adoptable standard.  He said that it was for the Members of the LRB to determine whether or not there were material considerations that could give weight to the application being approved.  He advised that having given it a lot of thought, he proposed the following Motion:

The application is for the conversion of an outbuilding to dwelling house.  At present the site has a semi-derelict appearance, is visually intrusive, visually discordant and undermines the character of the area at this location.  The proposed development would retain a building at risk, and its sympathetic design and conversion would have a positive visual impact which will add character to the area.

The property will provide for a single bedroom, living room / kitchen, utility and single bathroom.  In terms of design, the proposal provides for a suitable volumetric extension to the existing building and is considered acceptable.  In this regard the application is consistent with the provisions of SG LDP Sustainable – Sustainable Siting and Design Principles.

The principle of converting the byre into a dwelling house is accepted within planning policy LDP DM 1 which supports the re-use of buildings within all development management zones.

Material considerations in relation to the application being consistent with SG LDP TRAN 4

Previous planning history.

In 2016 an application was submitted for alterations and extension to existing dwelling house at 8A Glassard (reference 16/02273/PP).  Given these works were to an existing dwelling house and did not significantly increase the expected vehicular movements it was approved.  The approval of this development (16/02273/PP) took the number of developments on the private access road to more than the ten units allowed in the Council’s application of Policy SG LDP TRAN 4 as it applies to the Isle of Colonsay.

The present building could revert to agricultural use, and, as there is currently no limit on the number of vehicular movements to or from such a building, this could result in a significant increase in vehicular movements.  The Planning Officer has confirmed in their response to point 2 within their submission (page 8 of Agenda Pack for this meeting) that a one bedroom property is not expected to generate significant volumes of traffic and the Applicant has confirmed that she does not own a car.  A planning condition (condition 4) has been included within the Planning Officer’s response (page 12 of Agenda Pack for this meeting) to limit permitted development rights and restrict the size of property ensuring a single bedroom unit long term, potentially reducing further the likelihood of an increase in vehicular movements.

From an Officer site inspection there are no further obvious development opportunities along this stretch of road and there are no allocations or Potential Development Areas (PDAs) that would encourage further applications for residential development.

Point 4 of section (P) of the report of handling (on page 21 of the Agenda Pack issued for the meeting of the LRB held on 30 June 2021) confirms that the Applicant has been in discussions with the neighbouring landowner regarding some more modest improvements to the existing road opening onto the public road which would considerably improve safe access to and from the public road onto the Glassard track, and is willing to submit a proposal along these lines.  Improvements would include improving sightlines onto the public road and improving drainage and the quality of the surface at the entrance to the Glassard settlement.

It is also noted at point 5 of section (P) of the report of handling that currently all the domestic bins for the Glassard residences are kept at the junction between the track and the public road in an ad-hoc storage.  It is believed that an improved storage facility for the bins could be accommodated with the improvements mentioned above which would also mean that the process of emptying the bins will be safer as well as providing a sightlier appearance.

The Applicant has confirmed in her submission to this meeting (on page 5 of the Agenda Pack) that she is happy to carry out these improvements.

Material consideration affordable housing

Policy LDP 8 – Supporting the Strength of Our Communities, recognises the need to ensure that our existing communities are strengthened through the delivery of new sustainable development opportunities in order to facilitate population growth and, in particular, attract more economically active families to live and work in Argyll and Bute.

The Applicant would be moving out of the largest housing association dwelling on Colonsay freeing up another property in the village.  It is noted there has been no turnover of affordable housing in the last few years on Colonsay.  There is an official pressure ratio of 8:0 – 8 households with identified need - this is a very high pressure ratio.  There are currently 11 households on the waiting list with Colonsay as first area of choice in total.

On the basis of the above information, I move that the application be approved as a minor departure from Policy LDP 11 and Policy SG LDP TRAN 4 in terms of how that policy relates to the Isle of Colonsay in terms of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.