Agenda item

Redevelopment of site to provide a three storey building comprising 36 residential units, consisting of 20 affordable units and a further 16 units for people with learning difficulties (including communal lounge, staff office and overnight room), as well as  associated landscaping, access, parking and amenity space.

Recommendation: Delegated powers be given to the Head of Planning, Green Spaces and Culture.

Redevelopment of site to provide a three storey building comprising 36 residential units, consisting of 20 affordable units and a further 16 units for people with learning difficulties (including communal lounge, staff office and overnight room), as well as  associated landscaping, access, parking and amenity space.

Officers introduced the report and referred members to the addendum sheet and revised plans that had been circulated.  A memo from the Highways was also circulated at the meeting which gave the most up to date comments for the proposal. 

Officers highlighted that the scheme was not much larger than the previous scheme approved.

Members discussed the application and questioned if there would be a shortfall in parking spaces if the Learning Difficulty units were converted to residential units.  Officers informed the Committee that condition 2 of the officers’ report had been amended as per the addendum sheet to ensure that there was no shortfall in parking for the site.  Members questioned the number of disabled parking spaces.  Officers informed the Committee that there were 3 as indicated on the plans.

Members discussed the windows which were indicated on the plans.  Officers informed the Committee that the applicant would be asked to adhere to what was proposed on the plans which included the partial obscured windows.  

Officers informed the Committee a correction to the condition 10 of the addendum was made, replace word ‘west’ with ‘east’.  Members agreed to delete 1.8 metres of condition 10 of the addendum.

Members also questioned the additional informative in the addendum which highlighted the protection of badgers.  Officers explained that the Council do not control the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; however, the informative had been added to make the applicant aware of their duty and responsibility.

Members requested that condition 14 be amended from 10% to the number 3 for clarity.

Resolved - That  delegated  powers  be  given  to  the  Head  of Planning,  Green  Spaces  and Culture to grant planning permission, subject to:

A) To the Council enters into an agreement with the applicant under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990  (as amended) and/or Section 278 of  the Highways Act 1980 (as amended) and/ or other appropriate legislation to secure:

(i)     Highways:

(a)  Installation of a  "Yellow Box"  junction on Honeycroft Hill at  the  junction with Honey Hill.

(b) Tactile Pavers at the existing dropped kerb crossing point on Honey Hill.

(c)  Repainting  of  the  2  right  turns  (to  serve  into  the  site  and  into  Brookside opposite the site) within the existing filter lane.

(ii) Education: £43,530

(iii) Health: £11,808.52

(iv) Libraries: £1,253.50

(v) Affordable Housing:

vi) Construction Training: either a  financial contribution  in  the sum of £23,626.88 or  an  in-kind  scheme  delivered  to  the  equivalent  of  the  financial  contribution delivered during the construction phase of the development.

vii) Project Management and Monitoring Sum: a financial contribution equal to 5% of the total cash contribution.

B) That in respect of the application for planning permission, the applicant meets the  Council's  reasonable  costs  in  preparation  of  the  Section  106  and  278 Agreements  and  any  abortive  work  as  a  result  of  the  agreement  not  being completed.

C)  That  officers  be  authorised  to  negotiate  and  agree  the  detailed  terms  of  the proposed agreement and conditions of approval.

D)  If the Legal Agreement/s have not been finalised within 3 months, delegated authority be given to the Head of Planning, Green Spaces and Culture to refuse planning permission for the following reason:

'The applicant has failed to deliver necessary offsite highway works and to provide contributions  towards  the  improvement  of  services  and  facilities  as  a consequence  of  demands  created  by  the  proposed  development  (in  respect  of education,  ng,  health  facilities,  public  realm,  open  space  improvement,  library improvements, construction and employment  training and delivery of   necessary offsite highway works. The proposal therefore conflicts with Policy AM2, AM7 and R17 of the adopted Local Plan and the Council's Planning Obligations SPG.'

E) That subject to the above, the application be deferred for determination by the Head of Planning, Green Spaces and Culture under delegated powers, subject to the completion of the legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and other appropriate powers with the applicant.

F) That if the application is approved, the conditions and  informatives in the officer’s report be attached subject to any changes negotiated by the Head of Planning, Green Spaces and Culture prior to issuing the decision and changes in the Addendum.