Issue - meetings

Application for a new planning permission to replace an extant planning permission HGY/2008/1432 for change of use from hostel to residential (C3) and conversion of property into 15 residential units comprising 6 x 3 bed, 7 x 2 bed and 2 x 1 bed flats that will include erection of two storey rear stepped infill extension and replacement top floor structure to create new unit. Excavation of lower ground floor and new basement to accommodate leisure facilities, 11 car parking spaces in basement area and four parking spaces externally, and 15 cycle spaces. Refuse/recycling facilities and associated landscaping.

RECOMMENDATION: Grant permission to replace extant planning permission ref HGY/2008/1432.

The Committee considered a report, previously circulated, which gave details of the application, the consultation, the site and its environment, planning history and all the relevant planning factors and policies.

The Planning Officer gave a summary of the report, outlining the key points, and took questions from the Committee. The Committee then examined the plans.

The Committee asked about the issue of groundwater, and whether a condition that a hydrological survey be undertaken was required. In response to this, Mr Dorfman advised that the existing condition imposed an obligation to consider local hydrology and that he was satisfied that the in-house building control officers had the necessary expertise to assess the impact and to determine whether a full hydrological survey was needed before construction could commence. It was therefore suggested that the existing condition in relation to impacts on groundwater was sufficient to address this issue.

The Committee expressed concern that another application had been submitted when the existing permission still had more than a year to run, and asked whether it was possible to grant permission for a shorter period. Mr Dorfman responded that in the current economic climate, it was taking longer to secure the finance to enable developments to commence, and having discussed the issue, the Committee agreed that the period of time as recommended in the report should remain unaltered.

The Committee asked about the feasibility of a car club space in the vicinity of the development, in response to which it was felt that it would not be reasonable to require a car club space to be secured by way of a Section 106 Agreement, given the high level of contributions secured in the previously approved scheme. As such it was felt to be more appropriate for this to be discussed with the applicant and developers outside of the already agreed Section 106 agreement.

RESOLVED

That, subject to the conditions set out in the report and a variation to the original section 106 legal agreement so that it also applies to the current application, planning application HGY/2010/1175 be approved.

Conditions:

1. The development hereby authorised must be begun not later than the expiration of 3 years from the date of this permission, failing which the permission shall be of no effect. 

Reason: This condition is imposed by virtue of the provisions of the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and to prevent the accumulation of unimplemented planning permissions.     

2. The development hereby authorised shall be carried out in complete accordance with the plans and specifications submitted to, and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  

Reason: In order to ensure the development is carried out in accordance with the approved details and in the interests of amenity.    

3. Samples of all materials to be used for the external surfaces of the development shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority before any development is commenced.  Samples should include sample panels or brick types and a roofing material sample combined with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58