Extension and conversion of three (3) number existing apartments into six (6) number self contained studio apartments.

Extension and conversion of three (3) number existing apartments into six (6) number self contained studio apartments.

The Senior Planning Officer reported that:

§             Amendments to the recommendation were proposed to enable any necessary condition or Section 106 Agreement to be imposed in respect of ineligibility for residents parking permits.

§             No comments had been received from Hereford City Council on the amended scheme (involving the reduction in the flat numbers).

§             An additional condition was recommended to ensure the removal of an existing polytunnel structure in the rear garden.

In response to concerns raised before the meeting by Councillor DB Wilcox regarding the basement accommodation and the recent start of work on site, the Central Team Leader advised that the basement was already a self-contained unit and would remain as such and that works had started on site but that this involved the stripping out of the property which did not require planning permission.

Councillor PA Andrews advised that Hereford City Council was unhappy with the initial proposal of 8 apartments but did not object to the amended proposal of 6 apartments.  She felt that there were no material planning considerations to warrant refusal and supported the application.  A number of members supported this view.

The Central Team Leader commented that this was a car free development and drew attention to the proposed legal agreement regarding the ineligibility of occupants of the apartments to obtain residents’ parking permits.  The Senior Planning Officer added that the property had an existing entitlement to 2 permits but it was intended that these would be rescinded.

RESOLVED:

Subject to no further objections raising additional material planning considerations by the end of the consultation period and subject to any necessary condition or Section 106 Agreement in relation to the ineligibility of occupants of the apartments to obtain a residents parking permit, the officers named in the Scheme of Delegation to Officers be authorised to approve the application subject to the following conditions and any further conditions considered necessary by officers.

1.      A01 (Time limit for commencement (full permission)).

         Reason: Required to be imposed by Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

2.      B01 (Samples of external materials).

         Reason: To ensure that the materials harmonise with the surroundings.

3.      W01 (Foul/surface water drainage).

         Reason: To protect the integrity of the public sewerage system.

4.      W03 (No drainage run-off to public system).

         Reason: To prevent hydraulic overload of the public sewerage system and pollution of the environment.

5.      H29 (Secure covered cycle parking provision).

         Reason: To ensure that there is adequate provision for secure covered cycle accommodation within the application site, encouraging alternative modes of transport in accordance with both local and national planning policy.

6.      F39 (Scheme of refuse storage).

         Reason: In the interests of amenity.

7.      Within two months of the date of this permission a planning obligation under Section 106 Agreement of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (or other appropriate mechanism) shall be completed.  The agreement shall secure the ineligibility of future occupants of the development for residents' parking permits in perpetuity, and shall otherwise be in accordance with the draft agreement (subject to necessary variation) received with the planning application on 6th June, 2007.

         Reason: The development has been promoted as a sustainable car-free scheme; in order to prevent indiscriminate parking on the local road network in the interests of highway safety and to comply with Policy DR3 of the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan 2007.

8.      Within two months of the date of this permission a scheme for the permanent removal of the existing polytunnel and landscaping of the resultant area shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.  The development shall be carried out in accordance with the agreed details.

         Reason: To enhance the character and apperance of the Conservation Area in accordance with Policy HBA6 of the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan 2007.

9.            The first floor area labelled as “landlord’s office and cleaners store” shall be used as such and not for residential purposes.

Reason: For the avoidance of doubt as to the nature of the approved scheme

Informatives:

1.      N15 - Reason(s) for the Grant of PP/LBC/CAC.

2.      N19 - Avoidance of doubt.