Minutes:
Members were advised that all five applications related to the same building and were to be determined by the Development Control Committee due to the cumulative number of residential units being proposed. Four of the five applications are prior approval applications under Schedule 2, Part 3, of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as Amended). The fifth application was a full planning application for the external changes required to facilitate the changes of use proposed. Due to the related nature of the applications, they were presented in one report.
The consultation procedure undertaken was outlined in the report together with background information in respect of the site.
The Committee was advised that since the publication of the report, amended plans had been received which addressed the issue with the alterations not respecting the character of the building. This amendment limited the alterations required to the outward facing elevations and Officers now considered all the applications to be acceptable and recommended approval of all five.
It was noted that two representations had been received from Councillors Norman Plumpton Walsh and Sinnott, who raised concerns about the small size of the bedsits, the lack of availability for parking, access to the building and the lack of natural light in the basement.
It was reported that due to the need to issue a decision within a 56 day period on prior approval applications, delegated authority was requested for the Operational Director – Planning, Policy and Transportation, to determine the applications following the expiry of the publicity. Also to consider any representations received which were relevant to the considerations of the applications as set out in the report and consideration of any amended plans received which attempted to address the issues raised.
Members discussed all applications and considered the updated Officer’s recommendations relating to 18/00130/P3MPA and 18/00132/FUL, where the plans had been amended. They considered that the limiting of the alterations on these two applications to the outside of the building did not go far enough to maintain the strong design features and detail of the outward facing elevations. The Committee made the decisions described below, for each application.
RESOLVED: That
a) delegated authority is given to the Operational Director – Planning, Policy and Transportation, to issue a decision within a 56 day period as required on prior approval applications, following the expiry of the publicity; and
b) the delegated power be exercised along the following line:
18/00129/P3JPA & 18/00133/P3JPA
That prior approval for the change of use from Class B1(a) (offices) to Class C3 (dwellinghouses) was not required; and
Development under Class O is permitted subject to the condition that it must be completed within a period of 3 years starting with the prior approval date.
18/00130/P3MPA
Delegated authority is granted, to the Operational Director – Policy, Planning and Transportation, in consultation with the Chair, to determine the application following clarification of the implications in relation to the external alterations.
18/00131/P3PPA
That prior approval for the change of use from class B8 (storage or distribution centre) to Class C3 (dwellinghouses) was not required; and
Development under Class P was permitted subject to the condition that it must be completed within a period of 3 years starting with the prior approval date.
18/00132/FUL
The application was refused as the proposed external alterations would result in the conversion of existing windows into entrance doors in the main outward facing elevations to both High Street and Devonshire Place, which would not respect the character of the building and adversely affect the streetscene. So the proposal was contrary to the provisions of Policy BE2 of the Halton Unitary Development Plan.