Issue - meetings

Minor material amendment (s73) to condition 2 (approved plans) and 3(general compliance with supporting documents) of planning consent reference: 75127/APP/2022/2395 dated 13-03-2023 "Minor material amendment application (S73) to amend condition 3 of planning consent reference 75127/APP/2019/3221 dated 27-04-2020 (Redevelopment of site including demolition of existing buildings (Use Class D1) to provide a part 2, part 3 storey building including a basement to provide a leisure centre (Use Class D2) with access, car parking (including a decked car park), landscaping and associated work).

The amendments include the removal of the car park deck and re-arrangement of the parking layout and provision of a switch room within the site.

Recommendation: Approval

RESOLVED: That the application be approved as per officers’ recommendation.

Minor material amendment (s73) to condition 2 (approved plans) and 3(general compliance with supporting documents) of planning consent reference: 75127/APP/2022/2395 dated 13-03-2023 "Minor material amendment application (S73) to amend condition 3 of planning consent reference 75127/APP/2019/3221 dated 27-04-2020 (Redevelopment of site including demolition of existing buildings (Use Class D1) to provide a part 2, part 3 storey building including a basement to provide a leisure centre (Use Class D2) with access, car parking (including a decked car park), landscaping and associated work).

The amendments include the removal of the car park deck and re-arrangement of the parking layout and provision of a switch room within the site.

Officers introduced the item giving a detailed presentation summarising the application. It was highlighted that the proposed removal of the car park deck would be deemed a benefit to the West Drayton Green Conservation Area in comparison to the previously approved application, and the proposal to accommodate a switch room was deemed acceptable. The application was recommended for approval.

Members sought clarification around the precise reduction in parking spaces when compared to the previous application. It was confirmed that there would be a reduction of 55 spaces, leaving 144 car parking spaces remaining. The proposed 144 spaces was deemed by officers to be an adequate provision to serve the leisure centre and would not result in the displacement of parking onto surrounding roads, additionally the applicant had submitted an active travel zone assessment which had been reviewed by the Highways Officers who had agreed a suite of improvement works to key walking and cycling routes which was to be funded by the applicant. Subject to those improvement works being carried out, the Highways Officer raised no objection to the proposals. The Committee supported the removal of the car parking deck and felt that, on balance, the absence of a large parking deck would be an improvement to the site.

The Committee raised a concern regarding turning space for vehicles in the newly proposed car park layout. Highways officers confirmed that a thorough assessment of the proposals had been undertaken including swept path analysis and looking at the dimensions of the car park, the size of the spaces including disabled bays, aisle width and turning radii which were all deemed acceptable. Officers also confirmed that, while there would be an uplift in the number of vehicle journeys made to the site once operational, they were confident that trips to and from the leisure centre would not overwhelm the highway network.

The Committee deemed the application to be a positive amendment to the wider development noting the overall benefit of the project and the good public transport links available in the vicinity. The officer’s recommendation was moved, seconded, and when put to a vote, unanimously approved.

RESOLVED: That the application be approved as per officers’ recommendation.