Agenda item

Recommended for Approval

The Head of Planning and Building Control recommended that in respect of application 3/19/1642/FUL, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.  The Principal Planning Officer, on behalf of the Head of Planning and Building Control, highlighted that the recommendation on page 74 of the report submitted should end after the word “below”.

Members were advised that the existing leisure centre had reached the end of its life and the proposed replacement centre was considerably larger at more than double the existing floor space.  The proposal included enhanced pool and gym facilities and a new café area.  The Principal Planning Officer, on behalf of the Head of Planning and Building Control, confirmed that the proposed development would be to the south of the existing centre, which would remain open during construction.

The Committee was advised that the application constituted inappropriate development in the Green Belt and very special circumstances should exist for approval of planning permission.  The evidence of increasing demand for pool and gym facilities and the  sustainable location of the site, together with the lack of alternate sites weighed heavily in favour of development and site was well served by public transport and existing car parks.  Officers therefore considered that special circumstances applied in this case.

The Principal Planning Officer, on behalf of the Head of Planning and Building Control, referred to the town centre location and the good public transport links plus the proposed cycle parking.  Members were advised that there would no long term loss of playing fields and the building exceeded building regulations in design due to fabric first principles being applied.  She also referred to the proposed use of photo voltaic cells and air source heat pumps.

The Principal Planning Officer, on behalf of the Head of Planning and Building Control, said that the site was close to the boundary of the Bishop’s Stortford Conservation Area and there would be no harm to heritage assets.  The curving nature of the design represented a significant visual improvement over the existing leisure centre.

Councillor D Snowdon addressed the Committee as the local ward Member.  He was supportive of the development and referred to a number of the key features that made this a great development that was wanted by the public and clearly met the demand for leisure provision.  He concluded that a new pool was needed and there would be an 11.2% reduction in carbon emissions.  He said that his only concern was the impact of the application on Rye Street and asked whether this impact could be controlled by conditions.

The Principal Planning Officer, on behalf of the Head of Planning and Building Control, confirmed to Councillor S Bull that the option of a multi storey car park had not been considered and Officers believed this would not be appropriate in this location.  She said that this was a sustainable location and the proposed 240 spaces were considered to be sufficient.

The Principal Planning Officer, on behalf of the Head of Planning and Building Control, responded to a comment by Councillor T Beckett that the car park fronting onto Rye Street had been included in the parking provision.  Councillor B Deering referred to the importance of the facilities being of sufficient and proper size for competitions.  The Principal Planning Officer, on behalf of the Head of Planning and Building Control, confirmed that there had been input from Sport England.  The Chairman referred to the lack of a height restriction to allow easy access for coaches to the proposed facilities.

It was moved by Councillor P Ruffles and seconded by Councillor S Bull that the application be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report submitted, on the basis that the special circumstances outweighed the harm and there would no loss of habitat and the loss of open space was considered to be acceptable.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.  The Committee accepted the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Building Control as now submitted.

RESOLVED – that in respect of application 3/19/1642/FUL, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report submitted.