Issue - meetings

Outline application for the erection of 9 x 3 storey, four bedroom townhouses with associated parking and access.

RECOMMENDATION: Grant outline permission subject to reserved matters and subject to a Section 106 Legal Agreement

The Officer advised the Committee that this application was deferred from the last scheduled meeting of the Planning Committee on 6 October 2008, in order for a consultation to take place with the Governors, Head Teacher and parents of the adjacent Rokesly School.  It was now understood that the applicants had met with the representatives of the school on 26 October 2008.  The application was now returned to the Planning Committee for Members consideration and decision.  The Committee was reminded that the development was an outline application for the erection of 9 x 3 storey, four bedroom townhouses with associated parking and access.

Two representatives from Rokesly addressed the Committee and objected to the application, following the consultation with the applicant on the following grounds:

• That the development would have a serious detrimental effect on the character of the area.
• Concerns regarding the safety of the children in Rokesly school.
• Loss of amenity.
• Intrusion
• Over shadowing
• Concerns regarding highway and pedestrian safety

The road layout was a concern as children would find it difficult to cross the roundabout and was considered to be an accident waiting to happen.  In respect of the application the refuse collection arrangements were considered to be unsatisfactory and located too far from occupants’ front doors.

The proposed development was further considered to be visually intrusive as  the 3 storey building would loom over the playground.  The children would be penned in the playground surrounded by high garden walls.  The proposed arrangements for the windows and balconies would create further overlooking onto the playground.  The flat roofs would be used by residents as terraces and they would be able to see into the south facing classrooms.  The development would further cause considerable over shadowing of the playground, significantly throughout the day, which was heavily used in the mornings and at playtimes. 

Cllr Santry entered the meeting at 7:40pm.

Members enquired of the objectors whether they had been consulted by the applicants.  The Committee was informed that the objectors had met with the applicants and the issues were discussed in detail however, on reflection it was felt that the application did not address the issues raised.

Cllr Gorrie addressed the Committee to receive confirmation on the following three points:

1. That the applicants had consulted with Rokesly School and that feedback from the school had been received.
2. Whether officers felt that the site was suitable for residential development.
3. To clarify the responsibility of the Council in terms of the process to be followed, bearing in mind that the application was for outline permission.  How the application would be reviewed and discussed with stakeholders and any changes to the scheme would need to be consulted and managed by the school.

The planning officer confirmed that in the UDP the site was identified for mixed use residential and retail development and was considered to be suitable as an analysis had been carried out previously to arrive at this decision.  In terms of the outline application, the Committee could add conditions  ...  view the full minutes text for item 289