Issue - meetings

The application before Members was for the re-development of land at the junction of Crow Lane and Sandgate Close. The development would provide 150 dwellings together with new accesses, associated car parking, landscaping and infrastructure works. The development would comprise five blocks of flats, up to five storeys in height, together with four blocks of terrace houses.

This was a re-submission of a previously refused application (ref: P1161.16).  The previous application, which was for the same amount of units, was refused planning permission.

The Committee noted that the application had been called in by Councillor Robert Benham on the grounds of assessing whether this would be an over-development of cramped design; that the development would be two storeys higher than other development at street level in Crow Lane; lack of amenity spaces; and that the proposals were not much different from the previous application that was refused.

With its agreement Councillor Robert Benham addressed the Committee.

Councillor Benham commented that the proposal was not too dissimilar from the previous application and that there had been no change to number of units proposed on the site. Councillor Benham also commented that the proposal would be very cramped and would provide little amenity for future occupiers.

During the debate Members discussed the lack of parking on the site and the effect that the adjacent Royal Mail sorting office would have on future occupier’s quality of life.

The report recommended that planning permission be granted, however following a motion to refuse the granting of planning permission which was carried by 10 votes to 1.

It was RESOLVED that planning permission be refused on the grounds that:

·         The adverse effect on living conditions for future occupiers of the development caused through unacceptably high levels of pollution and noise likely to be associated with the extent and hours of continued operation of the adjacent sorting office premises.

·         Harm caused by the development would outweigh the benefits of additional housing provision. Particularly relating to the noise impact on all occupiers from the close proximity of a 24hr depot.

·         Cramped, excessively dense overdevelopment of the site harmful to the appearance of the streetscene and with a layout which failed to provide sufficient amenity space and parking for future residents

·         Failure to secure affordable housing and education contributions through a legal agreement.

The vote for the resolution to refuse the granting of planning permission was carried by 10 votes to 1.

Councillor Robby Misir voted against the resolution to refuse the granting of planning permission.