Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER    

Change of use of care home to 16 residential apartments (C3 use), with roof extension to comprise increased ridge height, dormer windows and rooflights, with internal and external alterations.

RESOLVED: That application 23/01492/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the reasons and conditions set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.

Audio recording – 9 minutes 16 seconds

N.B. Councillor Nigel Mason declared a predetermination on this item and moved to the public speaking gallery to present as Member advocate.

The Senior Planning Officer provided an update that the Applicant had agreed to the pre commencement conditions set out within the recommendations.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report in respect of Application 23/01492/FP supported by a visual presentation consisting of photographs and plans.

The following Members asked questions:

·       Councillor Ruth Brown

·       Councillor Ian Mantle

·       Councillor Tom Tyson

In response to questions, the Senior Planning Officer advised that:

·       The increase to the height ridge would be 1.5 metres to the main building, and 0.6 metres to the existing two storey side.

·       The surrounding buildings had higher elevations.

·       There was a Section 106 (s106) payment item for £15 for Childcare services.

·       There was an off-site contribution for affordable housing in the S106 agreement.

The Chair invited Councillor Nigel Mason to speak against the application. Councillor Mason thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation, including that:

·       There were concerns regarding parking on the site.

·       There were road safety concerns as the site was on a known traffic hot spot.

·       The application had 12 parking spaces, but had 16 apartments, this was below the guidelines which stated that for this size development there should be 18 resident parking spaces and 12 visitor parking spaces.

·       The parking space explanation at 4.3.33 and 4.3.34 of the report did not appease the situation.

·       It was likely that the majority of residents would have at least one car, and parking would therefore spill out onto the surround already overcrowded streets, causing a traffic problem in an already congested area.

·       The roads surrounding the development were frequently congested and the traffic light junction onto Bedford Road caused chaos, leading to the area being gridlocked.

·       There would be addition traffic congestion from any construction traffic.

·       The conversion of the care home would lead to the loss of a viable business and residential beds. There was an aging population, and this conversion was not in the best interest of the public.

·       Raising the roofline would have an impact on the character of the area.

·       Paragraph 111 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) should be applied in this matter as there would be an unacceptable impact on the traffic system in this area.

·       The application offered too many flats, with no affordable housing and an inadequate amount of parking.

The Chair thanked Councillor Nigel Mason for his presentation.

N.B Councillor Nigel Mason left the Chamber at 19:52 for the duration of this item.

The Chair invited Mr James Gran to speak as agent to the applicant, in support of the application. Mr Gran thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation, including that:

·       The roof extension and the conversion had received a positive response from Highway and Officers.

·       There was an under provision of parking spaces, however the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49