Agenda item

Recommended for Approval.

Mr Shaw addressed the Committee in objection to the application.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services recommended that in respect of application 3/14/1851/FP, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.

Councillor G Jones, as the local ward Member, commented that this application had been deferred in February 2015 and although the applicant had now moved the site a very short distance, he remained concerned regarding the proximity of the proposed development to residential dwellings.

Councillor G Jones urged Members to refuse planning permission as the application would be detrimental to the operation of a car park that served Tesco, a community hall, other shops plus the town’s busiest GP surgery.  The application would also result in harm to residential amenity in the form of continuous noise and disturbance from jet wash operations that would be better suited to an industrial area.

The Director summarised the details of the application and detailed a number of key issues that Members should consider.  He referred to the views of Environmental Health and the expert advice given to Officers regarding the impact of the proposals on the operation of the car park.  The Director advised that there was a balance of judgements to be made by the Committee in determining this application.

Councillor T Page commented that Bishop’s Park was an attractive and desirable place to live and this application would reduce the look and quality of development in this area.  He referred to the adverse impact of the application on the character and appearance of the street scene as well adverse impacts in terms of noise and increased traffic.

At this point (9.55 pm), the Committee passed a resolution that the meeting should continue until the completion of the remaining business on the agenda. 

Councillor K Warnell expressed concerns that the application would block access to the disabled parking bays.  The Committee Chairman commented that this application had not satisfied the concerns he had raised at the February meeting of the Committee.

Councillor T Page proposed and Councillor K Warnell seconded, a motion that application 3/14/1851/FP be refused on the grounds that the proposed development will result in a harmful visual impact on the largely residential character and appearance of the area and would result in noise and disturbance for the occupiers of neighbouring dwellings.  The proposed development, by reason of its siting and impact in reducing car parking spaces, would also disrupt the efficient and effective operation of the car park.  The application was therefore contrary to the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework and was also contrary to Policy ENV1 of the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007.

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 3/14/1851/FP, planning permission be refused for the following reasons:

1.        The proposed development by reason of its design and siting will result in a harmful visual impact on the largely residential character and appearance of the area.  Its operation will result in noise and disturbance and will therefore be harmful to the amenity of the occupiers of neighbouring dwellings.  The proposals are thereby contrary to Policy ENV1 of the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007.

2.        The proposed development, by reason of its siting and impact in reducing car parking spaces, will disrupt the efficient and effective operation of the car park and access to the spaces, involving the mobility impaired spaces within it.  It is thereby contrary to the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework.

Summary of Reasons for Decision

In accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015, East Herts Council has considered, in a positive and proactive manner, whether the planning objections to this proposal could be satisfactorily resolved within the statutory period for determining the application. However, for the reasons set out in this decision notice, the proposal is not considered to achieve an acceptable and sustainable development in accordance with the Development Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework.