Issue - meetings

To consider a report on Neighbour Consultations and to:

1.    Note the feedback from residents

2.    Approve the engagement of an architect to undertake feasibility drawings that articulate forms of viable development that align as closely as possible with residents’ feedback

3.    Approve a budget for the architect of £1,000 for each project.

The Sub-Committee considered a report on the outcome of neighbour consultations for Benwell House Phase 2 and White House Phase 2 Residential sites. The Development Management Consultant summarised the issues that had been raised in relation to BHP2, stating that residents primary concerns related to loss of light, privacy, TPO trees and height and massing. With regards to WHP2 concerns were focussed on traffic, flooding, infrastructure matter and the principle of housing on the site was questioned by some.

The Sub-Committee commented that the previous planning application for BHP2 had received over 200 objections and queried how many residents had been spoken to in the recent consultations. The Group Head Assets advised that this was a very focussed consultation with ward councillors and adjacent local residents that would be most affected. The Chair added that this should be considered the first step in a longer process.

The Sub-Committee requested that at future consultations notes are taken and circulated to all councillors.

The Sub-Committee queried where the funding would come from for the architectural drawings and was advised that for WHP2 there was a surplus which would be accessed, while for BHP2 this would be funded from the revenue budget.

Councillor Gibson abstained from the vote.

The Sub-Committee resolved to:

1. Note the feedback from residents
2. Approve the engagement of an architect to undertake feasibility drawings that articulate forms of viable development that align as closely as possible with residents’ feedback

3.    Approve a budget for the architect of £1,000 for each project.