Agenda item

The application before members was for the redevelopment of the site and erection of a residential development consisting of a part two and three storey building (including apartments in the roof space) fronting onto Victoria Road and a two storey building (including apartments in the roof space) to the rear of the site.

The development would comprise of two separate buildings with block 1 consisting of seventeen apartments and block 2 consisting of seven apartments, giving a total of twenty four new residential units of which 50% would be affordable housing.

In accordance with the public speaking arrangements the Committee was addressed by an objector with a response from the applicant.

The objector stated that in principle the scheme was acceptable but there was a concern regarding the location of the refuse storage.

In response the applicant’s agent commented that they had consulted with local residents whilst developing the scheme and would be happy to reconsider the location of the refuse bins with the objector.

During a brief debate members raised concern as to whether the relocation of the refuse bins would lead to a reduction in the car parking spaces on the site.

Following a motion to refuse the granting of planning permission which was lost by 2 votes to 9. It was RESOLVED that planning permission be granted subject to first completing a section 106 agreement based on the heads of terms set out below and the conditions as set out in the report with an additional condition requiring the submission and implementation of a refuse storage scheme within the site without the loss of parking spaces the negotiation and precise wording of which to be delegated to the Head of Regulatory Services and failing the successful negotiation of a satisfactory condition the matter be remitted to a future meeting of Regulatory Services Committee for further consideration .

·         The provision on site of 50% of the units within the development as affordable housing (comprising 12 apartments) of which 70% (8 units) will be rented (with 50% of this provision capped rent and the other 50% discounted rent) and the remaining 30% (4 units) will be shared ownership.    

·         A financial contribution of £144,000 to be used towards infrastructure costs and paid prior to the commencement of development in accordance with the Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document.

·         A financial contribution of £9,456 to be used towards the “Community Sustainable Energy Fund” in lieu of the shortfall of 3.94 tonnes CO2/yr in achieving the required 40% CO2 reduction target, to be paid by the developer prior to commencement of the development.    

·         All contribution sums shall include interest to the due date of expenditure and all contribution sums to be subject to indexation from the date of completion of the Section 106 Agreement to the date of receipt by the Council.

·         To pay the Council’s reasonable legal costs in association with the preparation of a legal agreement, prior to completion of the agreement, irrespective of whether the legal agreement is completed.

·         Payment of the appropriate planning obligations/ monitoring fee prior to completion of the agreement.

The vote for the resolution to grant planning permission was carried by 9 votes to 2.

Councillors Best and White voted against the resolution to grant planning permission.