Minutes:
The consultation procedure undertaken was
outlined in the report together with background information in respect of the
site. It was reported that one neighbour objection had been received which raised the
seven issues listed below:
In response
it was noted that:
§
the
amended scheme had reduced the proposed numbers of units from 42 to 34 and at
86 units per hectare, this was appropriate for the size of the site, in view of
the overall design of the proposal and would comply with Policy HR2 of the UDP;
§
the
car parking provision at 125% per dwelling was appropriate for the location of
the site near to a regular bus service and local centre;
§
as
identified within the committee report, there had been inevitable loss of some
landscaping to achieve the development.
However, this revised scheme retains a greater area of existing tress
and proposed new tree planting. It was
considered that the regenerative benefits of the development outweigh the loss
of landscaping as shown;
§
the
area was not a designated greenspace and was within the general extent of the
residential area within the UDP and Castlefields SPD, therefore the proposal
would not conflict with the Council’s greenspace policies.
§
the
Council’s highway engineer had raised no objection to the application in
relation to the capacity of the access roads to the site;
§
it was
accepted that there would be noise and pollution from vehicles. However, this
would not be necessarily considerably worse than the previous use of the
site. The site’s proximity to the local
bus services would provide good opportunities to use alternative forms of
transport to private vehicles; and
§
the
redevelopment of the site would not alter the current emergency access to the
existing flats and bungalows, there would be sufficient access for this for the
proposed development. The applicant had
agreed to upgrade the area currently used adjacent to Achillies Court for
emergency and refuse access to existing properties at the request of the Highway
Engineer.
The Committee was informed the applicant had
expressed agreement to provide the appropriate financial contribution under the
terms of the Open Space SPD.
It was reported that the plans had been amended
to incorporate the bin storage areas nearer to the apartment blocks to avoid
stand along structures and greater accessibility for collection.
The Committee was advised the proposal was a
step further forward in the regeneration of the Castlefields area and was
compliant with the principles of the Castlefields SPD.
Requested modifications to the submitted plans
in relation to highway and the requested tree survey had not yet been received
at the time of the meeting. In view of
this it was requested that authority be deferred to the Operational Director of
Environment and Regulatory Services in consultation with the Chairman and Vice
Chairman, subject to the submission of acceptable amended plans and a tree
survey.
RESOLVED: That the application be approved
subject to the following:
A) the applicant entering into a legal agreement for the provision of off-site
open space;
B) the following 27 conditions listed below: -
1. Standard Outline planning conditions (x 4)
2. Subject to amended plans (Policy BE1, BE2)
3. Provision
in full of car parking prior to commencement of construction of building.
4. Prior
to commencement of development details of widening of adjacent footway provided
and agreed in writing. (Policy BE1)
5. Prior to commencement the submission of material samples for approval (Policy BE2).
6. Prior to the commencement details of tree protection measures (x7)(Policy BE1).
7. Prior
to commencement the submission of details of all boundary treatments for
approval (Policy BE22).
8. Prior
to commencement the submission of details of a hard and soft landscaping scheme
(Policy BE1).
9. Prior
to commencement the submission of detailed species of soft landscaping for
approval (Policy BE1).
10.Prior to commencement the submission of
details of bin and cycle stores, to be secured, for approval (Policy BE2).
11. Prior
to commencement the submission of a ground investigation and undertaking of any
remedial works where required (Policy PR14).
12. Prior
to commencement the submission of existing ground levels and proposed finished
floor/ground levels for approval (Policy BE1).
13. Prior
to commencement the submission of drainage details for approval (Policy BE1).
14. Prior
to commencement the submission of details of wheel wash to be used throughout
the course of the construction period (Policy BE1).
15. Landscaping
scheme to be implemented during the course of development or next available
planting season (Policy BE1).
16. Access,
roads, car parking and service areas to be laid out prior to occupation of
premises (Policy BE1, TP6, TP7, TP12 and TP17).
17. No
lighting to be installed within the site or on the building without further
approval from the Local Planning Authority (Policy BE1 and PR4).
18. Restricted
hours of construction (Policy BE1).
The
following amendment to condition No. 4 was stated as follows:
The condition should be extended to include
the adjacent footpath to the north west of the site adjacent to Achilles court,
in order to achieve a formalisation and “tidying up” of this area for emergency
and refuse collection for existing dwellings.
C) That if the legal agreement is not
executed within a reasonable period of time authority be delegated to the
Operational Director – Environmental and Regulatory Services in consultation
with the Chairman or Vice Chairman to refuse the application on grounds that it
fails to comply with UDP Policy S25 Planning Obligations.