For:            Williams Bros per JBD Architects, Mortimer House, Holmer Road, Hereford, HR4 9TA

To consider a planning application which has been referred to the Committee because the Central Area Planning Sub-Committee was mindful to refuse it, contrary to policy and officer recommendations

Ward: Tupsley

The Development Control Manager reported the following update:

ADDITTIONAL REPRESENTATIONS

Letter from Councillor Oliver stating that the Central Area Sub Committee refused the application on the basis of Policy H18 of the UDP.  In his view the site was too small for the number of units proposed and did not include sufficient private amenity space.

OFFICER COMMENTS

Policy H18 related to domestic extensions rather than the creation of new residential development.  The site contained an area of communal garden which, in the context of city living, was not unusual and was in line with other permitted developments of flats/apartments in and around the city.

In accordance with the provisions of the revised Code of Conduct adopted by Council on 27th July 2007, Councillor Mrs M Lloyd Heyes a Local Ward Member, spoke against the application on the grounds of highway safety, density and the lack of amenity space.  She then withdrew from the meeting. 

Councillor WJ Walling, a Local Ward Member, commented that he had reservations about the original scheme because it had also included two one-bedroomed bungalows, but he felt that the deletion of these in the revised scheme made it more acceptable.

Councillor AP Taylor, also a Local Ward Member, welcomed the alterations but expressed concerns about the access and egress and related highway and pedestrian safety considerations, particularly when children were travelling to school.

Councillor DW Greenow felt that the scheme for six dwellings was acceptable and that the design would blend in with the street scene.  He was of the opinion that there would not be any significant highway safety issues associated with the scheme.  Councillor PGH Cutter shared this view.  Councillor Mrs PA Andrews was not entirely satisfied with the proposals but took the view that there were insufficient grounds to refuse it.  Councillors Mrs JE Pemberton and PD Price had some concerns about vehicles entering and exiting the site at the same time and the Development Control Manager said that this would be dealt with by appropriate conditions.

Having considered all the details about the application, the committee decided that it should be approved.

RESOLVED

That planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

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       E05 (Restriction on delivery and construction hours)

         Reason: In order to protect the amenity of occupiers of nearby properties.

4       E18 (No new windows in specified elevation )

         Reason: In order to protect the residential amenity of adjacent properties.

5       E19 (Obscure glazing to windows )

         Reason: In order to protect the residential amenity of adjacent properties.

6       W01 (Foul/surface water drainage )

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

7       W02 (No surface water to connect to public system )

         Reason: To prevent hydraulic overloading of the public sewerage system, to protect the health and safety of existing residents and ensure no detriment to the environment.

8       W03 (No drainage run-off to public system )

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

9       F39 (Scheme of refuse storage )

         Reason: In the interests of amenity.

10     G01 (Details of boundary treatments )

         Reason: In the interests of visual amenity and to ensure dwellings have satisfactory privacy.

11     H02 (Single access - footway )

         Reason: In the interests of highway safety.

12     H06 (Vehicular access construction )

         Reason: In the interests of highway safety.

13     H13 (Access, turning area and parking )

         Reason: In the interests of highway safety and to ensure the free flow of traffic using the adjoining highway.

14     H27 (Parking for site operatives )

         Reason: To prevent indiscriminate parking in the interests of highway safety.

15     H29 (Secure cycle parking provision )

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