Issue - meetings

Residential redevelopment of playground site adjoining Stainby Road to propose 22 residential dwellings with associated landscaping, boundary treatment, bin store, cycle store and 2 car parking spaces for wheelchair users.

RECOMMENDATION: Grant permission subject to conditions and subject to a section 106 legal agreement.

The Committee considered a report, previously circulated, which gave details of the application, the site and its environment, planning history, consultation and relevant planning policies and factors. The Planning Officer gave a presentation outlining key issues, and responded to questions from the Committee.

The Committee asked who the users of the current play area were, in response to which officers advised that the equipment provided was for children aged five and under, but that the space itself was open for anyone to use. Officers advised that, at present, the space was rarely used. In response to questions from the Committee regarding the proposal to change the road from one-way to two-way traffic and the relocation of the play area, officers advised that the proposed location for the play area was better as it was more secure and more enclosed and it was hoped that this would lead to it being more used. It was reported that the introduction of two-way traffic was unlikely to change the overall volume of traffic but might reduce the average speed on the road, which would be beneficial. The Committee asked whether there would be a time when the old play area had been removed and the new area was not yet completed, in response to which it was reported there may be some gap in provision of play facilities on the site. Sandra Lawrence, Housing, advised that it could take 6 months from the granting of the application for new facilities to be in place; consultation with local residents regarding what they wanted in respect of play facilities was ongoing.

Two local residents, Ms Benson and Mr Barnes spoke in objection to the application. Ms Benson told the Committee that residents had not had a sufficient opportunity to engage with the development forum, as they had been told about it at short notice. Ms Benson advised that the current playground should be improved and extended, and that the development was inappropriate as it would put pressure on existing community facilities such as schools, as the additional community infrastructure to support new development was not in place. Mr Barnes reported that he was in favour of the development in principal, but felt that it should include a community facility, such as a training facility for young people in the area, so that residents would benefit from the development.  Mr Barnes felt that any money generated from the development should be reinvested in community facilities for local residents.

In response to questions from the Committee, Ms Benson advised that she was opposed to the relocation of the play area, as the proposed new site was one of the only open green spaces in the vicinity, which would be lost. She also felt that the issue of overdevelopment in the area was a key issue. In response to further questions from the Committee, Ms Benson reported that the issue of lack of community facilities was more of an issue than any potential improvements to the streetscape, and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 131