Agenda item

Recommended for Approval.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services recommended that, in respect of application 3/13/2297/FP, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.

Councillor M Pope, as the local ward Member, stated that Gilpin Road was a narrow Victorian street that was not designed for the motor car and could barely cope with the demands of residents’ car parking.  He believed that Gilpin Road was already unable to cope with additional demands placed on it by commuters, student parking and parents of pupils at Presdales School.  He also expressed concerns in respect of access for emergency vehicles and the difficulties likely to be experienced by construction traffic.  He urged Members to refuse the application.

Various Members expressed concern as to how construction traffic would be able to negotiate Gilpin Road, one of the most congested roads in Ware, with cars parked on both sides of the road. 

The Director stated that this application did include 9 spaces for general parking in this area, meaning that the end result was a neutral or slightly better situation in terms of general off-street parking provision.

The Director advised that Officers had suggested a condition to be imposed on any permission that details of construction traffic and parking management should be submitted to and approved in writing by the Authority.

Members were advised that Hertfordshire Highways had not objected in respect of car parking and the applications did provide two valuable affordable dwellings in the form of one 1 bedroom flat and one 2 bedroom flat.

Councillor N Symonds proposed and Councillor T Page seconded, a motion that application 3/13/2297/FP be refused on the grounds that the proposed development would result in increased demand for on-street parking in an area where there was already significant demand and limited capacity.  The proposed development would therefore be harmful to the amenities of existing residents and would be contrary to policy ENV1 of the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007 and the National Planning Policy Framework.

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 3/13/2297/FP, planning permission be refused for the following reasons:

1.            The proposed development would be likely to result in increased demand for on-street parking in an area where there is already significant demand and limited capacity.  As a result the proposal would be harmful to the amenities of existing residents, contrary to policy ENV1 of the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007 and the National Planning Policy Framework.

Summary of Reasons for Decision

In accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2012 (as amended).  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.