Agenda item

Recommended for Approval.

Mark Wood addressed the Committee in support of the application.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services recommended that in respect of application 3/14/1584/FP, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.

The Director referred Members to the additional representations summary with particular reference to extra information that was relevant to paragraph 7.10 of the report.  Councillor D Andrews sought and was given clarification that the application was for accommodation for 5 residents and Members were advised to consider the application on that basis.

Councillor Andrews referred to whether paragraph 4.1 of the report was in fact an objection given that Hertford Town Council was supportive provided that the permission was for a maximum of three persons at any one time.  The Director emphasised that the representation from the Town Council had not been expressed as an objection although there was clearly some concern in respect of more than three persons being in residence in this location.

Councillor P Moore stated that she fully supported this application and she had noted the comments made by Hertford Town Council.  She commented that the 4.5 metre by 4.5 metre rooms with some en-suite facilities was perfectly adequate.

The Chairman stated her satisfaction with the proposed room sizes given that there were no minimum standards for bedrooms in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the room sizes being provided by UK developers were amongst the smallest in Europe.

Councillor P Ruffles commented that he was supportive of the application and he referred to his confidence in the close supervision that would be provided as part of this unique experiment of a residential therapeutic community.  He stated that, in order to manage the impact of the application on the surrounding area, the enforcement of the first condition was very important.

In response to a query from Councillor M Newman, the Director advised that the location of the property in relation to nearby public houses and children’s parks could be a material planning consideration although, in this case, the location was considered to be acceptable given the intended supervisory role of the staff and the need for the young people to integrate appropriately in the normal range of facilities within Hertford town centre

Members were reminded that there were other legislative controls in respect of the use of any public space in the town and the impact of the proximity of any public houses on the success of the rehabilitation process itself was not a planning matter as the proximity of a public house was a management matter for the staff running the rehabilitation centre.

Councillor N Symonds expressed her support for this application.  Councillor K Crofton was assured by the Director that if there were problems during the 2 year trial period, Members could refuse permission and the planning permission would not be automatically renewed after 31 December 2016.  Members were advised that the proposed use would revert to the previous residential use after this date.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the Committee accepted the recommendation of the Director of Neighbourhood Services as now submitted.

RESOLVED – that in respect of application 3/14/1584/FP, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.