By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
Plans for a self-build home in a Cotswold village have been given the go-ahead.
Martin Brookes and his wife have been granted permission for the development at Myrtle Cottage in Gretton Road, Gretton.
Tewkesbury Borough Council’s planning committee considered the scheme at their meeting yesterday (August 19).
Officers recommended granting delegated permission for the proposals on the half-hectare site south of Myrtle Cottage which inclines steeply towards Cups Hill.
The property is designed to have three double bedrooms with ensuites on the first floor while the kitchen, dining and living room would be in one of the pitched roof element on the ground floor and a double garage, office, utility and bathroom in the other pitched roof element.
Gary Dickens, the agent for the proposal, called on councillors to approve the plans.
He said the principle of development had been firmly established and the application related to technical matters.
“Working alongside the appointed architect, the applicants felt it was necessary to take a bespoke design approach due to the site’s characteristics and its sensitive planning constraints,” he said.
“The proposal will involve the removal of the existing structures and items followed by the erection of a contemporary dwelling designed to meet the applicant’s current and future needs.
“The objections from neighboring properties are duly noted, but as set out in the planning officer’s report, the proposal will ultimately not have any material impact on their amenity.
“The distance to the nearest neighboring property is circa 45 m, which is well in excess of the standard industry distance for 21 m, window to window, which is used when considering potential overlooking.
“This is a high quality scheme incorporating renewable technology that makes good use of an appropriate parcel of land within a sustainable location and has been deliberately designed to minimise any potential impact on the character of the area, the national landscape and neighboring properties.”
Councillor Ian Yates (LD, Churchdown Brookfield with Hucclecote) asked questions over the access which he said is partially owned by the applicants.
“It concerned me a little when we looked at it on Friday. It is not steep, it is very steep.
“It is also narrow in places.”
Officers said the gradient was one in nine and the highways authority, who were consulted, had no objections to the access.
The owners also proved they have legal access to the road and have served notice on the owners of that road as well.
Councillor Jim Mason (C, Winchcombe) said he was happy to go with the officer’s recommendation and proposed delegated permission.
However, he did raise concerns about water run-off.
“With regards to the surface water, you are going to have to get that right. Gretton really suffers badly from surface water flooding especially the main road.
“This is a hillside, you are going to get a lot of run off of water from that. You will require a robust surface water drainage system.”
Councillors voted unanimously in favour of the proposal.