Agenda item

Recommended for Approval.

Mr Poole addressed the Committee in support of the application.

The Head of Planning and Building Control recommended that in respect of application 3/15/1733/FUL, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.

Councillor M Casey commented on the difficulty in parking and referred to house ownership demographics in Bishop’s Stortford Central ward.  Councillor M Casey referred to the Council’s parking standards and the 12% shortfall referred to in the Officer’s report

Councillor J Goodeve commented on the size of the garages proposed and sought reassurances that they would not be turned into living spaces and that those living in social housing would not be treated less favourably.  She also expressed concern about the possibility of flooding. 

Councillor B Deering referred to the engineers’ main objection in relation to drainage.

The Chairman referred to parking provision in the area and queried whether what was being proposed fell within acceptable parking standards.

The Head of Planning and Building Control referred Members to an additional submission regarding how many cars residents were likely to have  and that, given the location and characteristics of the site, the proposed parking provision was acceptable.  He acknowledged that the proposed provision did not meet the emerging standards in full but that it sat within current tolerances and the scheme proposed was not untypical of many.

The Head commented that within any planning decision, Members had to justify issues where relevant and assign a “weight” in terms of possible harm, and make a decision.  He stated that if Officers felt that what was being proposed had harmful impacts that outweighed the benefits, then they would not recommend approval.

The Head confirmed that a condition could be added to ensure garages could not be converted into living accommodation.  He stated that there had been a range of technical assessments carried out in terms of potential flooding and how this would impact on the location and this was acceptable to the Environment Agency and the Lead Local Flood Authority.  The objection of the Council’s engineers related to the approach to surface water drainage.  The Council’s engineers were seeking the best solution.  The solution proposed was not at the highest end of the spectrum.

Councillor M Casey referred to the garages and queried whether the modern car would be too big.  He expressed concern that the lack of proposed parking would force motorists to park elsewhere in what was already a congested area.

Councillor J Jones was concerned at the lack of parking and suggested that the Officer should press for a “higher quality” application.

Councillor Goodeve proposed and Councillor Casey seconded a motion for an additional condition to ensure that the garages could not be converted into living accommodation.  After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED. 

The Head of Planning and Building Control confirmed to Members that the Section 106 Heads of Terms in the published report would be updated in accordance with the detail set out in the additional representations.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the Committee accepted the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Building Control as now submitted.

RESOLVED – that in respect of application 3/15/1733/FUL, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the repot now submitted and the following additional conditions:

21.    Prior to the commencement of development there shall be submitted to and agreed in writing by the local planning authority details of the arrangements to deal with foul water drainage from the site. Once agreed, the scheme shall be implemented and made available for use prior to the first occupation of the development and shall be subsequently retained.

Reason: In order to ensure that satisfactory arrangements are in place with foul water drainage.

22.    Prior to the commencement of development there shall be submitted to and agreed in writing by the local planning authority an Ecological Mitigation Plan which shall set out the full details of steps to be taken to mitigate the impact of development on the ecological value of the site and to enhance that value and the timescale within which those steps are to be taken. Once agreed the steps set out in the Ecological Mitigation Plan shall be implemented in accordance with the agreed timescale.

        Reason: To ensure that the development does not result in an           unacceptable impact on the ecological interest of the site.

23.              5U10. (standard condition relating to retention of garages).