Agenda item

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Erection of 57 dwellings comprising of 18 x 1-bed apartments and 39 x 2-bed apartments including provision of car parking with all associated ancillary and landscaping works following demolition of existing office building (Amended by plan received 17.09.20).

Councillor Sue Ngwala declared that this application was within her ward. However, she had not predetermined it and would therefore take part in the debate and vote.

RESOLVED: That application 20/01714/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the conditions and reasons contained in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager, and that the S106 in respect of County Council Youth contributions be amended to contribute towards Youth Services in Letchworth.

Audio Recording – 5 Minutes 36 Seconds

Erection of 57 dwellings comprising of 18 x 1-bed apartments and 39 x 2-bed apartments including provision of car parking with all associated ancillary and landscaping works following demolition of existing office building (Amended by plan received 17.09.20.

Councillor Sue Ngwala declared that this application was within her ward. However, she had not predetermined it and would therefore take part in the debate and vote.

Before presenting the report, the Principal Planning Officer advised that the (J) before the s106 contributions in the table at paragraph 4.3.42 needed to be corrected to pound-signs (£).

The Principal Planning Officer presented the report in respect of application 20/01714/FP supported by a visual presentation in consisting of photographs and plans.

The following Members asked questions of the Principal Planning Officer:

·                Councillor Sue Ngwala.

In response to the Member’s question, the Principal Planning Officer advised that there was site provision of 23 affordable dwellings based on 65% rented tenure (10 x 1 bed flats, 5 x 2 bed flats) and 35% shared ownership (8 x 1 bed flats).

Mr John Welch, First Garden Cities Homes, thanked the Chair for the opportunity to address the Committee in support of the application, including:

·                The aim of the organisation was to provide homes to those in need;

·                The application was for 57 well-designed apartments;

·                16 apartments were for sale and the other 41 were shared ownership; and

·                The 41 apartments would go to local people with a connection to Letchworth.

The following Members asked questions of Mr Welch:

·                Councillor David Levett; and

·                Councillor Sue Ngwala.

In response to questions, Mr Welch advised that:

·                Having 61 EV charging points was important as the organisation recognised the world was changing and there was a need for more sustainable schemes/a carbon neutral agenda;

·                Traffic management had been undertaken by the County Council; and

·                Traffic was less of an issue now as more people worked from home.

Once questions had concluded, the Committee moved to debate.

The following Members took part in the debate:

·                Councillor Sam Collins;

·                Councillor David Levett;

·                Councillor Ruth Brown;

·                Councillor Tony Hunter;

·                Councillor Sue Ngwala;

·                Councillor Daniel Allen; and

·                Councillor Morgan Derbyshire.

Points raised by Members included:

·                The number of EV charging points;

·                Car parking spaces under requirement;

·                Bus service provision; and

·                S106 contribution to youth services in Letchworth.

In response to matters raised in the debate, the Principal Planning Officer advised that:

·                The County Council did not recommend s106 contributions towards the bus service;

·                The contribution towards Hitchin Young People’s Centre was requested by the County Council. However, he would investigate as to whether this money could be transferred to youth provision in Letchworth.

The Development and Conservation Manager added that in order to generate funding for bus provision, the development had to be bigger.

Once the debate had concluded, Councillor Daniel Allen proposed and Councillor Sue Ngwala seconded to grant planning permission.

Upon being put to the vote, it was:

RESOLVED: That application 20/01714/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the conditions and reasons contained in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager, and that the S106 in respect of County Council Youth contributions be amended to contribute towards Youth Services in Letchworth.