Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Erection of a terrace of 4 dwellings (2 x 3 bed and 2 x 4 bed) and new vehicular accesses onto The Green, associated car parking, landscaping and ancillary works.

RESOLVED: That application 20/00970/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the conditions and reasons contained in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.

Audio Recording – 1 Hour 30 Seconds

Erection of a terrace of 4 dwellings (2 x 3 bed and 2 x 4 bed) and new vehicular accesses onto The Green, associated car parking, landscaping and ancillary works.

The Development and Conservation Manager presented the report in respect of application 20/00970/FP supported by a visual presentation consisting of photographs and plans.

Peter Lapham thanked the Chair for the opportunity to address the Committee on behalf of the applicant, North Hertfordshire District Council, including:

·                The land was identified as being suitable for residential development and had been vacant for some time;

·                The proposals consisted of 2x 3 bed properties and 2x 4 bed properties;

·                The homes provided generous rear gardens; and

·                A small number of comments had been received from the public in regard to the proposal.

The following Members sought clarification from Mr Lapham’s presentation:

·                Councillor Ruth Brown; and

·                Councillor Tom Tyson.

Mr Lapham responded to questions as follows:

·                The size of the proposed dwellings and the number of bedrooms were guided by the existing adjoining houses which were also fairly generous;

·                It would have appeared unbalanced if the proposed dwellings were smaller than the existing properties;

·                The size of the proposed properties were in keeping with the existing homes;

·                The properties would be sold at Market Value; and

·                Land would not be taken from Plot 1.

The following Members took part in the debate:

·                Councillor Tom Tyson;

·                Councillor David Levett;

·                Councillor Ruth Brown;

·                Councillor Mike Rice; and

·                Councillor Sam Collins.

Points raised by Members included:

·                Assurance that the proposed properties would be in keeping with the existing ones;

·                Plot 1 Parking;

·                The number of bedrooms and size of the properties;

·                The completion of a Housing Needs Assessment; and

·                Market Value vs rent.

The Development and Conservation Manager responded to points raised as follows:

·                Referred Members to Conditions 2 and 3;

·                The land was Council owned and therefore residents were not authorised to park on it;

·                There was a policy that provided balance to community;

·                The Housing Needs Assessment was only applied to bigger schemes;

·                It was important to get the scale and property right for the area;

It was proposed by Councillor Mantle, seconded by Councillor Tyson and upon being put to the vote, it was:

RESOLVED: That application 20/00970/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the conditions and reasons contained in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.