Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Basu, Mallett and Reid. Cllrs Brabazon, Egan and Hare substituted.  

Cllr Demirci identified that item 7, land to the rear of 1-11 the Drive was located within his ward and as such had facilitated and attended a number of meetings with objectors to the development. He stated that therefore he would relinquish the Chair for the duration of the item and take no part in discussions.

Cllr Hare identified in relation to item 9, Channing School, that he had undertaken an unaccompanied site visit with one of the residents who had made a representation in response to the application. Legal advice had been sought and it was determined that this visit would not preclude him from taking part in discussions on this item.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Planning Sub Committee held on 13 January.

RESOLVED

·        That the minutes of the Planning Committee on 13 January be approved and signed by the Chair.

Development of a terrace of three x4 bedroom houses.

RECOMMENDATION: grant permission subject to conditions.

[In the absence of the Vice Chair, following a vote it was agreed that Cllr Reith chair the meeting for the duration of discussions on this item. Cllr Demirci left the room for the duration of the item].

The Committee considered a report on the application to grant planning permission for the development of a terrace of 3x 4 bedroom houses on the site. 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. The planning officer gave a short presentation highlighting the key aspects of the report.

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

·        The availability of the site for development was queried with the land appearing to form part of the rear gardens of adjacent properties on The Drive. Officers advised that the land in question had previously been leased on a 88 year term to the residents of 1-11 The Drive and had been incorporated into their rear gardens until 2009 when the lease expired. It was confirmed that the Council was the freeholder of the land.

·        The sustainability of the proposed dwellings were questioned in light of limited details provided by the applicant. Confirmation was provided that the dwellings would be secured by condition to meet Code for Sustainable Homes level 4.

Two local residents addressed the Committee and raised the following points in objection to the application:

·        That residents of The Drive had not been notified of this evenings Planning Committee meeting and therefore had not had the opportunity to attend and make representations.

·        The leased land had been incorporated into the now mature gardens of the houses on The Drive and reclamation of the land would negatively affect these properties.

·        Residents on The Drive had made enquiries to the Council over a number of years to no avail regarding the future of the land with the hope of the land being re-leased or sold to numbers 1-11 The Drive.

·        The construction works would cause disturbance and additional costs to neighbouring properties with regards to new fencing etc.

·        The potential for the new houses to result in overlooking and loss of privacy and light to neighbouring properties was a concern.

·        The development would be out of line with policies to deter ‘garden grabbing’.

·        Pressures on parking and school places in the area would be exacerbated.

Officers advised that the agenda for the meeting was published within statutory guidelines, that formal notification of the meeting had been sent to residents who had submitted written consultation responses and the local Resident’s Association covering the area advised.

With regards to policies covering the development of residential gardens, officers confirmed that the National Planning Policy Framework did not prohibit development on such land but allowed local authorities to put in place policies to control such development where it would cause harm to the local area. The scheme was considered to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Variation of condition 8 (deliveries, loading and unloading hours of operation) attached to planning permission HGY/2011/0814 to no deliveries to be loaded or unloaded in respect of units 1, 2a, 2b, 5b and 6 between the hours of 2100 to 0600 Monday to Saturday or after 1800 hours Saturday until 0600 hours the following Monday, no deliveries shall be loaded or unloaded in respect of units 3, 4 and 5a after 1800 hours Saturday until 0400 hours the following Monday.

RECOMMENDATION: grant permission subject to conditions.

[Cllr Demirci took the chair for the remainder of the meeting].

The Committee considered a report on the application to grant planning permission for the variation of condition 8 (deliveries, loading and unloading hours of operation) attached to planning permission HGY/2011/0814 in order to extend the delivery hours to units 3, 4 and 5a on the site. 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.

The planning officer gave a short presentation highlighting the key aspects of the report and drew the Committee’s attention to a tabled addendum to the report setting out details of a further 3 representations received since the agenda was published and two additional conditions proposed covering loading/unloading and personal consent.

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

·        Members sought assurances that the variation would not result in noise problems, particularly in the early hours, for local residents and whether consideration had been given to the installation of noise reducing panels, in particular where the site backed onto Devonshire Hill Lane. Officers confirmed they were satisfied that sufficient safeguards were in place regarding noise and which was supported by the submission of a noise survey demonstrating that the variation would not breach condition 7 under the extant permission restricting any increase in background noise to below 5dBA. Additionally, a large retaining wall and established vegetation was in place to the rear of the site to reduce noise transmission.

·        Clarification was sought on the reason for the imposition of the personal consent condition. Officers advised that this meant the variation would apply only to HSS Hire Service Group Ltd as the current operator of the units and not the land as officers were satisfied that HSS had appropriate processes and procedures in place to minimise the impact on residential amenity such as loading and unloading being undertaken within units only, confirmation on the size of vehicles used etc.

Cllr Bull addressed the Committee and advised that he was unaware of any complaints from his constituents in the local area relating to operations on the site.

The Chair moved the recommendation of the report and it was

RESOLVED

·        That planning application HGY/2014/0055 be approved subject to 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 accordance with the plans and specifications submitted to, and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: In order to avoid doubt and in the interests of good planning.

3. Notwithstanding the description of the materials in the application, no development shall be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Variation of condition 2 (plans and specifications) attached to planning permission HGY/2011/1576 to allow a revised basement plan showing an extension at this level.

RECOMMENDATION: grant permission subject to conditions.  

The Committee considered a report on the application to grant permission for the variation of condition 2 (plans and specifications) attached to planning permission HGY/2011/1576 to allow a revised basement plan showing an extension at this level by 132 sq.m. 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. The planning officer gave a short presentation highlighting the key aspects of the report and advised that the minor material amendment would require the applicant under a pre-condition to enter into a deed of variation to the current s106 agreement.

The Committee queried whether the basement impact assessment undertaken for the previous approved scheme was still relevant. Officers confirmed that an addendum had been submitted to the original assessment to take into account the proposed extension and which confirmed that it was not considered to present any additional issues to those dealt with under the original proposal. Basement excavation works were already underway onsite with no adverse impacts identified.

An email summarising the key objections of a local resident to the application was circulated to the Committee focussed on the need for a further Hydrological Survey and Basement Impact assessment for the changed plans, concerns that the site was on a spring line, that the increase in volume of the basement was significant and not minor and that mitigation measures for surface water runoff should be in place. Officers reiterated the limited value in the undertaking of an additional basement survey and confirmed research on water courses in the area illustrating that no feeder streams ran near to the site. Clarification was provided that the extension of the basement was not considered significant within the context of the broader scheme.

The Chair moved the recommendation of the report and it was

RESOLVED

·        That planning application HGY/2013/2287 be approved subject to conditions and a pre-condition that the owners of the application site first have entered into a deed of variation to the current s106 agreement.

IMPLEMENTATION

1.    The development hereby authorised must be begun not later than the expiration of 3 years from the date of 24th December 2012, 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.

EXTERNAL APPEARANCE & SITE LAYOUT

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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The next scheduled meeting will be on 10 March.

The next scheduled meeting will be on 10 March.