The application is in respect of two residential wings, linked by a new day care facility.  The Committee deferred consideration of the application at its previous meeting for a site inspection, which was carried out on 1st August.

Ward: Ledbury

The Legal Practice Manager said that a request had been received from Ledbury Town Council for a referendum in respect of the Planning Application and he outlined the legal requirements for a referendum to be held.  He said that in this instance the Town Council had not complied with those requirements.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking Mr Watts of Ledbury Town Council said that there was no objection to the principle of the care home but that the Town Council objected to its design and location. Mr Kerridge spoke against the application and Mr Hehir, the applicants agent, spoke in favour of the application.

Councillor BF Ashton one of the Local Ward Members said that there were some deep seated concerns within the local community about the new unit.  There was little objection to the principal of the proposals but the design and location was felt to be over dominant and too close to the main road.  The criteria for the home had not changed from the existing unit which was a care home and not a residential unit but that these were not issues for the Planning Committee.  Careful consideration had been given to the accommodation that could be provided within the new unit to build in preparation for an increase in the elderly population of Herefordshire.  It had not been possible to locate the unit elsewhere on the site but the applicants had taken care in the design of the unit to meet the accommodation needs and planning requirements.  

The height had been reduced from 16 metres to 13.4 meters and the  Northern Team Leader pointed out that it would not be much higher than a large residential dwelling.  Councillor Mrs PA Andrews said that the existing unit no longer met the residential requirements for a care home and it would have individual rooms of a reasonable size for each resident.  She felt that the applicants had made a number of compromises in trying to meet the needs of the unit and to overcome the objections of the complainants.  Councillor RI Matthews said that as much as possible should be done to overcome objections by the careful use of building materials and the provision of comprehensive landscaping.

Having considered all the aspects in relation to the application, the Committee was satisfied 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 -   A09 (Amended plans)

Reason:  To ensure the development is carried out in accordance with the amended plans.

3 -   B01 (Samples of external materials)

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

4 -   F16 (Restriction of hours during construction)

Reason:  To protect the amenity of local residents.

5 -   F32 (Details of floodlighting/external lighting)

Reason:  To safeguard local amenities.

6 – F48 (Details of slab levels)

Reason:  In order to define the permission and ensure that the development is of a scale and height appropriate to the site.

7 -   G01 (Details of boundary treatment)

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

8 -   G04 (Landscaping scheme (general))

Reason:  In order to protect the visual amenities of the area.

9 -   G05 (Implementation of landscaping scheme (general))

Reason:  In order to protect the visual amenities of the area.

10 - 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.

11 - H27 (Parking for site operatives)

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

12 - Prior to the commencement of the development hereby approved, a 'Green Travel Plan' shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.  The development shall be undertaken in accordance with the approved details.

Reason:  To promote sustainable forms of transport.

13 - Before the development hereby approved is first brought into use an ambulance parking bay shall be properly demarcated within the application site, in accordance with details to be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.  The bay shall remain available for ambulance parking at all times.

Reason:  To ensure adequate parking provision is made for emergency vehicles.

Informative:

1.  N15 – (Reasons for planning permission)