Agenda item

The Director of Neighbourhood Services recommended that in respect of application 3/15/0040/FP, planning permission be refused for the reasons detailed in the report now submitted.

The Director advised that the application was for the demolition of a former workshop and the introduction of a residential use.  The Committee was advised that the recommendation for refusal resulted from the policy approach of the Authority to achieve sustainable development.  Such an approach did was not supported by residential development in the settlements without services and facilities and sought to ensure that employment sites across East Herts were retained to enable employment across the district.

The Director concluded that part of the basis for the recommendation was that there would be a poor relationship between the rear garden area of Oak Cottage and the frontage of the proposed development as this would be set back from the road.

Members were reminded of sustainability in that it was important to ensure that residential use was supported by amenities such as workplaces, schools and shops and a remote location such as Hare Street had very few such facilities.

Councillor S Bull, as the adjoining ward Member, questioned the viability of the site as a future business premises.  He commented that Hormead Parish Council and Hertfordshire Highways had not objected to the application and believed that the proposed development would contribute to the local housing need and enhance the area and street scene.  He urged Members to support the application and grant planning permission.

In response to comments from Councillors K Brush and T Page, the Director advised that the relevant policy was EDE2 loss of employment sites and there was no differentiation between sites that were actively used and those that were more modest in floor space terms.

The Director reminded Members of the policy approach of rigorous testing of the potential for interest in such sites for a future employment use.  He stated that if there had been any such testing as that referred to by Councillor Bull, then Officers would like to see the detail of that. 

The Director concluded that due to the rudimentary nature of the buildings it was not inappropriate for Members to reach a view that retention and conversion for employment was a less attractive proposal than redevelopment.

Various Members spoke in support for the application whilst expressing concern regarding the close proximity of the proposed development to both Kenton House and Oak Cottage.

Councillor T Page proposed and Councillor K Brush seconded, a motion that authority be delegated to the Head of Planning and Building Control to grant planning permission in respect of application 3/15/0040/FP, subject to appropriate conditions and subject to an amendment to the proposal to resolve the potential harmful impact from overlooking to the property to the south known as Oak Cottage.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.  The Committee rejected the recommendation of the Director of Neighbourhood Services as now submitted.

RESOLVED – that in respect of application 3/15/0040/FP, authority be delegated to the Head of Planning and Building Control to grant planning permission subject to appropriate conditions and to seek an amendment to the proposal to resolve the potential harmful impact from overlooking to the property to the south known as Oak Cottage.