Agenda item

The Planning Officer presented the report and outlined the reasons for refusal as detailed in the report.  Further correspondence has been received from the applicant regarding the housing need and the Planning Officer updated Members on this.

The following spoke under the public participation at meetings scheme:

·         David Jenner – Applicant

Some Members had visited the site the previous day.

The following points were discussed:

·         The availability of suitable housing for older people and the process of downsizing

·         Whether future occupancy could be limited via a condition

·         The concerns of aging and the suitability of properties

·         Whether it is appropriate to convert a modern building into a dwelling when it was originally approved for agricultural purpose

·         There was a discussion about the Home Options report and whether it was possible to extract the priorities and needs from this report.

A motion to refuse the application was moved, seconded, put to the vote but not carried.

Members were minded to approve the application therefore a motion to approve the application was moved, seconded, put to the vote and carried.

The final determination of the application was deferred under standing orders until the next meeting so that the relevant Officers can prepare a report to consider policy implications of the decision.

RESOLVED:

DEFER final determination of the application to allow the relevant Officer to prepare a report on the policy implications of the decision to approve and the application to be brought back to a future planning committee.