Agenda and minutes

None.

Cllr Curling declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 6 and left the room for the duration of this item.

The minutes of the meeting held 8 December 2015 were approved.

The Chairman noted that Cllr Higgins had replaced Cllr Melvin on the Committee since the publication of the agenda.

All items were considered in Part 1.

Construction of a research building, together with associated substation, car parking, access and landscaping.

Recommendation: Approval + Sec 106

Officers introduced the report and provided an overview of the application, They noted the addendum, and the additional condition for air quality. Though the application site was within the green belt, special circumstances of employment, a unique facility and building being on an existing car park made it acceptable.

In their discussions, councillors raised the following points:

·         The report did not include a condition regarding waste disposal, and though a site-wide Refuse Management Strategy was in place, no development should take place until details of this had been submitted to and approved by the Head of Planning.

·         As the development would be in an existing car park, concerns were raised about the impact on parking availability and the additional stress that any displacement would place on local residents. Officers responded that as this was only one of a number of car parks on the site, and as parking capacity was currently greater than use across the site, a transport assessment had shown that displaced parking could be accommodated elsewhere on site. Additionally, Brunel have received planning approval for 109 car parking spaces which they are yet to implement.

·         Members raised a concern that the landscaping indicatively shown on the submitted plans lacked sufficient height and general coverage. The proposed development would lead to a significant loss of tree cover, especially when viewed from Nursery Lane. Though the building would fit in size and scale between two neighbouring buildings, it would still be visually prominent, and Members requested an informative be included to encourage greater effort to bolster the landscaping.

·         Members raised concerns as to the ambiguity of the restrictions on the  building usage and user. It was explained to Members that this planning obligation was a precedent previously used by the Council and that the details of the restrictions would be covered by the section 106 agreement for this site. The Legal Officer agreed to circulate a copy of the previous section 106 agreement which related to a very similar precedent planning obligation for information.

The motion for approval was moved, seconded and upon being put to a vote was unanimously agreed.

RESOLVED:

-          That the application be delegated to the Head of Planning and Building Control for approval, subject to:

1.    The amendments to conditions 9, 10, 16; removal of condition 17 and replacement with new condition 17 on Air Quality; and the addition of new informative 19 as set out on the Addendum Sheet

2.    Replacement of condition 11 to the following wording that requires details to be submitted: “No development shall take place until details of a Refuse Management Strategy for the development hereby permitted has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Thereafter the operation of the site shall be in full accordance with the approved Refuse Management Strategy."

3.    The following informative text to be added to condition 16: “Your attention is drawn to the debate of the Planning Committee at the time the planning application was considered. Members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

Demolition of existing modern U shaped extension. Conversion of existing Grade II listed building and erection of a replacement extension building to provide 25 self-contained apartments (Class C3), with associated basement car, cycle and motorcycle parking, private and communal amenity spaces and landscape enhancement, retaining existing entrance piers, the main vehicular entrance on The Drive and existing secondary servicing access with ancillary outbuildings.

Recommendation: Approval + Sec 106

Officers introduced the report, and noted that a Member site visit had taken place on 15 January 2016. Officers noted the addendum; that refuse information had now been submitted, and comments from historic England had been received.

In their discussions, councillors raised the following points:

·         The landscaping in between the two buildings included a route which passed ground floor bedroom windows. Councillors suggested modifying the landscaping to present a barrier, and to modify an existing condition in order to protect privacy.

·         A condition regarding access should be amended to ensure that vehicles can safely exit the site as well as enter.

·         Members were concerned about the distance between facing windows and the balconies overlooking windows, but officers clarified that condition 26 would require physical measures to prevent overlooking to be implemented.

The motion for approval was moved, seconded and upon being put to a vote was unanimously agreed.

RESOLVED:

-          That the application be delegated to the Head of Planning and Building Control for approval, subject to:

1.    Amendments to conditions to ensure the privacy of ground floor flats

2.    A demonstration that refuse vehicles and other HGVs can turn both into and out of the site.

Demolition of existing modern U shaped extension. Conversion of existing

Grade II listed building and erection of a replacement extension building to

provide 25 self-contained apartments (Class C3), with associated basement

car, cycle and motorcycle parking, private and communal amenity spaces

and landscape enhancement, retaining existing entrance piers, the main

vehicular entrance on The Drive and existing secondary servicing access with

ancillary outbuildings (Application for Listed Building Consent).

Recommendation: Approval + Sec 106

The motion for approval was moved, seconded and upon being put to a vote was unanimously agreed.

RESOLVED:

-          That the application be approved.