Agenda item

7.1

The Director of Development Services submitted a report informing Members of a breach of planning control in relation to the unauthorised creation of a hardstanding surface at the front of 326 Granville Road and making recommendations on any further action required.

7.2

The report stated that a complaint was received in August 2010 about the creation of a drive and a hard standing area at the front of the property. A site visit was carried out and it was noticed that a small wall with a hedge had been removed and a concrete based hard standing area had been created which was more than 5 square metres. No dropped kerb had been created and officers had not witnessed any vehicles parked on the hard standing area.

7.3

Several letters had been sent to the owner of the property and telephone conversations had taken place in trying to resolve this issue. The owner had removed a small part of the hard standing near to the pavement to create a porous area to allow water to run-off into it. However, this permeable area was not sufficient to stop water run off onto the highway.

7.4

Further letters had been sent to the owner suggesting that a drain or gully was created at the bottom of the hard standing area to allow water to run-off into a permeable or porous area, so that water can be soaked into the ground and not onto the highway. The owner had ignored any requests to do this and it was now considered that the matter should be reported for further action.

7.5

RESOLVED: That (a) authority be given to the Director of Development Services or the Head of Planning to take all necessary steps, including enforcement action and the institution of legal proceedings, if necessary, to secure the removal of the unauthorised hard standing at the front of 326 Granville Road; and

(b) delegated authority be given to the Head of Planning, in consultation with the Chair (Councillor Alan Law) to vary the action authorised to achieve the objectives hereby confirmed including taking action to resolve any associated breaches of planning control.