Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Redevelopment of existing care home and erection of detached 3 to 4 storey 70-bed residential nursing home (Class C2 use) with associated parking, landscaping, amenities and works, following demolition of extensions to existing care home.

RESOLVED: That application 24/02758/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the conditions set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.

Audio recording – 6 minutes 35 seconds

The Principal Planning Officer presented an update and highlighted that:

·         Hertfordshire County Council Growth and Infrastructure Unit had confirmed that there was no requirement for a Section 106 (S106) contribution.

·         Since publication of the agenda one of the public responses had changed from neutral to an objection, meaning there were 10 Public objections in total.

·         In paragraph 5.18.4, the wording should be amended to ‘moderate’ rather than a ‘neutral’ impact.

·         The condition ‘10’ should have the word ‘The’ at the start of it.

The Principal Planning Officer then presented the report in respect of Application 24/02758/FP supported by a visual presentation consisting of plans and photographs.

The following Members asked questions:

·         Councillor Nigel Mason

·         Councillor Clare Billing

·         Councillor Ruth Brown

·         Councillor Val Bryant

·         Councillor Ian Mantle

·         Councillor Louise Peace

·         Councillor Jon Clayden

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

·         Two of the Category B trees would be felled, their location was indicated to the Committee, and that the Category B tree at the front of the property was being retained.

·         Clarified the definition of Category B trees and stated that to replace the 14 trees to be felled 96 would be planted.

·         The extension originally built in the 1980s was not fit for purpose due to updates in patient care and technology.

·         The land was categorised as green belt but was specified in the report as grey belt as it fitted the criteria due to the specific need for care home beds.

·         The replacement extension would reflect the colour of the original building but with modern high-quality materials.

·         Use class C2 was an independent living facility and use class C3 is a independent residential home, which can provide for people with care needs.

·         There would be 2 lifts in the building providing access to all bedrooms.

N.B. Councillor Tom Tyson entered the Chamber at 19:27.

The Chair invited the first Public Objector, Mr Michael Stoddard to speak against the application. Mr Stoddard thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation, and highlighted the following:

·         His objection was founded on design guidance published by Letchworth Heritage Foundation and North Hertfordshire District Council (NHDC) Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG).

·         The SPG states that extensions to listed buildings should be designed to respect the existing buildings characteristics.

·         The proposed flat roof did not match that of the existing building or any of the surrounding dwellings.

·         Any development performed in a conservation area should be to enhance or preserve the area, this proposed extension would not do so.

The Chair thanked Mr Stoddard for his presentation and invited the second Public Objector, Mr Martin Drake to speak against the application. Mr Drake thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation, and highlighted the following:

·         The planned extension was not in keeping with the existing one.

·         The development doubled the size of the existing building, and a large four-story building would overwhelm the beauty  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59