Minutes:
The report before members detailed an application for planning permission for a change of use from B1 to D1. The proposed change of use would cover an area of 800m².
Units C and D would be occupied by The Learning Centre (TLC Romford) Ltd, which was an independent day service for adults who had learning disabilities. TLC Ltd had 30 students plus per day and provided services for 60 students per week, who attended for between one to five days. The majority of students were collected from and returned home by two minibuses. These vehicles would not remain at the premises overnight.
The existing areas of hard standing provided off street parking for 28 vehicles.
The application site comprised of Units C & D, a two storey building located in Melville Court, a small complex of light industrial based units located on the northern side of Spilsby Road. The site was covered in hard standing which provided on-site car parking.
Members noted that the application had been called in by Councillor Barry Tebbutt to ensure consistency of the decision as the Council had previously been using a building on the site for educational purposes themselves.
With its agreement Councillor Pam Light addressed the Committee.
Councillor Light commented that the premises had been empty for a period of over twelve months despite extensive marketing.
Councillor Light also advised that there were several units on the site that remained empty and that this was a good opportunity increase usage of the units.
Councillor Light asked that the Committee give special consideration to the application and recommended approval.
During the debate members discussed the current levels of occupancy of the units on the site and the previous use of one of the buildings by the Council for educational purposes.
Members also debated whether there was a need for Local Authorities to be more flexible with applications of this type at a time where there are significant numbers of vacant commercial units. Members acknowledged that the application conflicted with Development Control Policies contained within the Local Development Framework but considered that there were special circumstances to justify a departure from policy that included the generation of employment and bringing a long term vacant unit back into use.
Members debated whether planning permission should be granted on a temporary basis. A majority of members held the view that the nature of the application, requiring the applicant to make a significant investment warranted a grant of planning permission for a period of ten years.
The report recommended that planning permission be refused, however following a motion to grant planning permission which was carried with 10 votes to 0 with 1 abstention, It was RESOLVED to delegate to Head of Development & Building Control to grant planning permission, for a period of 10 years, subject to agreeing reasonable restrictive conditions on hours of use and the nature of use within Class D1. If the Council was unable to satisfactorily agree with the applicant, the aforementioned conditions, then the application would be brought back to the Committee.
The reasons for approval were that: the application would bring a long term vacant unit back into use; there is an end user in place; the application would revitalise activity in the industrial estate with a deterrent effect on crime; the application would generate employment and provide a much needed community facility; there would be no adverse effect on traffic or parking.
The vote for the motion to approve and the resolution were both carried by 10 to 0 with 1 abstention.
Councillor Durant abstained from voting.