Issue - meetings

Demolition of extensions and outbuildings and conversion of former Police Station to erect new residential building to provide 32 dwelling units in a mixture of unit sizes, including one, two and three bedroom flats and four bedroom houses, parking provision, cycle and refuse storage.

RECOMMENDATION: grant permission subject to conditions and subject to a s106 legal agreement.

The Committee considered a report on the application to grant planning permission for the demolition of extensions and outbuildings and conversion of the former St Ann’s Police Station to erect a new residential building to provide 32 dwelling units and four bedroom houses. The report set out details of the proposal, the site and surroundings, planning history, relevant planning policy, consultation and responses, analysis, equalities and human rights implications and recommended to grant permission subject to conditions and subject to a s106 legal agreement.

The planning officer gave a short presentation highlighting the key aspects of the report. The Committee were read out a letter of objection received from David Lammy MP concerned with the low proposed affordable housing contribution and an email from local ward councillors B. Blake and Morton expressing broad support for the scheme.

An objector addressed the Committee and raised the following points:

·         Demolition should not be permitted of the rear extension to the police station.

·         The scale and massing of the new building would create a street canyon effect for pollution.

·         Additional concerns with the scheme were raised over parking provision, site cramming and the low affordable housing contribution.

·         The accuracy of the PTAL rating (public transport accessibility level) awarded to the site was questioned, including the disparity with the rating given to the nearby St Ann’s hospital site and errors given in the details of bus routes serving the area.

·         Concerns were raised about the proposed height of the new building, particularly as it would overlook a children’s playground.

·         A lack of detail had been provided on waste management arrangements for the site.

A representative for the applicant addressed the Committee and raised the following points:

·         The applicant, One Housing, was a non profit housing organisation.

·         The scheme would bring a heritage asset back into use including securing ongoing maintenance as well as providing a good mix of new housing units.

·         The applicant had consulted with local residents on the scheme and taken concerns raised into account.

·         The scheme was of high design quality.

·         The physical constraints of the conversion of the locally listed police station building impacted on the cost of the scheme and thereby the viability assessment.

·         Onsite parking spaces would be allocated to the larger family and disabled access units. 

The Committee raised the following points in discussion of the application:

·         Although a copy of the viability assessment had been circulated to members of the Committee under confidential copy, concern remained on the low 13% affordable housing contribution proposed. The applicant advised that this figure reflected the maximum possible taking into account the costs associated with the conversion of the locally listed building. Additional benefits associated with the scheme were emphasised including s106 contributions, the provision of new housing and local employment opportunities.

Further assurances were sought from officers regarding the contribution put forward by the applicant. Officers informed that the viability assessment had been independently assessed and which had validated the 13% level as a consequence of the sales values  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34