Agenda item

Description:

Reserved Matters application (in respect of appearance, landscaping, layout and scale) pursuant to outline planning permission granted under 09/00566/OUT and as amended under 15/00738/RVC, 15/00739/RVC, 15/00753/RVC, 15/00754/RVC, 15/00755/RVC and 15/00756/RVC for the development of the site to provide up to 39,750sqm of floor space to comprise residential (Class C3), office (Class B1a), Class C1, Class D2, Class A1, Class A2, Class A3, Class A4 and Class A5 as well as the provision of a new link road and pedestrian routes, car and cycle parking, highways and transport facilities, public open space, landscaping and other associated works. Discharge of condition no. 12 on Archaeology pursuant to outline planning permission 09/00566/OUT.

Additional Information:

The Assistant Head of Planning explained to the Committee that further to paragraphs 9.28 – 9.42 dealing with amenity space, the following table attached to the Committee update papers summarised the position:

Item 4(a) Charter Sq. (formerly known as Majestic House) Amenity Space

In addition, further to paragraph 9.80 in the committee report, the query regarding the management of the refuse stores on collection remained outstanding.  As a result, a new condition was recommended to require further details to be submitted and approved by the Council to ensure that a large number of refuse bins were not left obstructing the pavement. The wording of the condition was as follows:

1.      Before the occupation of the first residential unit hereby permitted, full details regarding how all of the refuse stores are to be manoeuvred and stored on collection day shall be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority. The servicing of the residential part of the development shall be carried out in accordance with these approved details and shall remain in operation for as long as the development is occupied.

Reason: To protect the amenities of the adjoining residential occupiers.

Furthermore in order to prevent overlooking and the potential for loss of privacy for future residents, it is considered necessary to add a condition requiring the submission of full details (including locations) of privacy screens to be installed between neighbouring residential units.

2.   Before the occupation of the first residential unit hereby permitted, full details (including locations) of privacy screens to be installed between neighbouring residential units shall be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority. The construction of the residential part of the development shall be carried out in accordance with these approved details and the privacy screens shall remain in situ for as long as the development is occupied.

Reason: To protect the amenities of the adjoining residential occupiers.

Public Speaking:

In accordance with the Council’s procedure for speaking at committee meetings, Jackie Wand-Tetley spoke against the proposed development and raised the following key points:

·Immense scale

·Excessive size and bulk

·Out of scale with surroundings

·Overdevelopment

·Design is unimaginative, ugly

·Lack of amenity space

·Distance to childrens’ play area too far

·Inadequate public open space

·Air Quality concerns

In accordance with the Council’s procedure for speaking at committee meetings, Marlon Deam spoke for the proposed development and raised the following key points:

·Reduced floor-space compared with approved outline scheme

·Scheme discussed extensively with planning officers in pre-application meetings

·High quality design, complies with policy EN1

·Appropriate amount of open space provided

·Increased permeability to public realm

·Principles already established with outline scheme.

Debate:

During the debate the following key issues were raised:

• Large buildings but follows outline approval
• Design is subjective
• Could provide larger development
• No affordable housing provided
• Proposed play area is too far away
• Open space management query

Decision:

The application was approved as set out in the report of the Head of Planning and Housing Strategy subject to the following additional conditions:

1.    Before the occupation of the first residential unit hereby permitted, full details regarding how all of the refuse stores are to be maneuvered and stored on collection day shall be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority. The servicing of the residential part of the development shall be carried out in accordance with these approved details and shall remain in operation for as long as the development is occupied.

Reason: To protect the amenities of the adjoining residential occupiers.

2.    Before the occupation of the first residential unit hereby permitted, full details (including locations) of privacy screens to be installed between neighbouring residential units shall be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority. The construction of the residential part of the development shall be carried out in accordance with these approved details and the privacy screens shall remain in situ for as long as the development is occupied.

Reason: To protect the amenities of the adjoining residential occupiers.