Agenda item

Erection of two-storey side extension and decking with associated alterations

The Mount, Lakenham Hill, Northam

The following Councillors attended the virtual site visit:

Councillors: Lock, Leather, Hames, O’Rourke, Pennington, and Smith.

A recording of the virtual site visit was sent to Councillors Bushby, Kenneally, and Harding.

Application No.1/0837/2025/FUL - Erection of two-storey side extension and decking with associated alterations, The Mount, Lakenham Hill, Northam

Interests – Councillor Hames, dual-hatted (Northam Town Council)

Recommendation - Refuse

The Principal Planning Officer presented the report and informed the Committee of the main planning considerations. This included a verbal update which detailed:

Northam Town Council

-       ‘The Council considered the matter at its committee meeting on the 13^th November 2025, resolving “to recommend the proposal be granted permission, noting concern that the proposal did not accommodate solar PV panels. The Council considered that to not install polar panels was a missed opportunity”’.

Northam Neighbourhood Plan

-       ‘The Northam Neighbourhood Plan (NNP) was formally submitted by Northam Town Council to Torridge District Council, in accordance with Regulation 15 of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended), on 13^th May 2025. The NNP was subject to formal public consultation, in accordance with Regulation 16 of the aforementioned regulations over the period 13 August to 26 September 2026. The NNP is currently subject to a independent examination with the outcome of that examination still awaited. National planning policy indicates that the weight given to an emerging plan should be determined by having regard to the stage of plan preparation, the level of outstanding objection and the degree of consistency with national planning policy. Given that the findings of the examination are yet to be issued and no analysis has been completed by the independent examiner as to the level of outstanding objection, no material weight is currently being afforded to the policies and proposals contained within the aforementioned Plan.’

Councillor Leather said the application is an improvement on previous ones and meets Policies ST06, DM24, DM01, DM05, and ST03. He also noted that the area includes a large nursing home opposite the site and a mix of property sizes along the street.

Councillor Leather proposed to approve the application.

Councillor Hames said that although earlier designs were unacceptable, the revised application includes improvements which means he will support it. He added that energy-generation, water saving, and wildlife-protection measures should also be considered.

The Planning Manager said there is no policy requiring energy generation, though it could be added as an informative. She detailed that the committee may choose to condition biodiversity net gain, for example through bat or bird boxes.

Councillor Hames seconded the proposal to approve the application, adding an informative on energy generation. Councillor Leather accepted this amendment.

To support their approval Members referred to policies ST01, ST14, ST09, DM01, DM04 (a,c,d,h,i), DM05, DM06, DM08, NPPF paragraph 135 (a,b).

It was proposed by Councillor Leather and seconded by Councillor Hames that the application is approved.

A recorded vote was taken.

(Vote: For – Unanimous)

Resolved –

That the application is approved subject to an informative regarding energy generation to be agreed with the Chair and Vice-Chair.

Mike Leigh addressed the committee as applicant in support of the application.