Agenda item

Judith Sims and Janet Shaddock addressed the Committee in objection to the applications.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services recommended that subject to the applicant or successor in title entering into a legal obligation pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, in respect of application 3/15/0231/FUL, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.

The Director also recommended that in respect of application 3/15/0232/LB, listed building consent be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.  The Director set out the nature of the application as well as the details of the existing buildings on the site. 

Members were advised of the key issues they should consider when determining the application.  The Director stated that the use of the buildings as well as the delivery of housing outweighed any harmful impacts of the proposed development.

In response to Councillor T Page, the Director confirmed that condition 18 was to ensure that the risk of flooding was minimal to an acceptable degree and this condition was a risk based approach in line with the technical standards used by the Environment Agency.  He also confirmed that the Council’s standards for garage size allowed for some flexibility in that they had to be either 5.6 metres in length and 2.6 metres wide or 3.2 metres wide and 5 metres in length.

Councillor K Brush sought and was given clarification as to the viability of the application with regard to social housing.  The Director confirmed that the Section 106 figure for infrastructure was very modest and the amounts needed to be six figure sums to have a meaningful impact in terms of affordable housing.  Councillor Page also raised a number of reservations regarding the viability of both applications.

Councillor McNeece commented on why there was a proposed southern access route alongside the existing northern route.  He had some sympathy with the residents of Black Swan Court and he emphasised that the provision for bins was inadequate and the bins might be too large to be manoeuvred down the access way.  The Director advised that it was most likely an issue of flexibility.  Members were advised that the issue of what could be achieved with a single access would have to be explored with the applicant and Hertfordshire Highways.

The Director responded to a point from Councillor M Freeman by stating that the emerging car parking standards were minimum standards and Officers acknowledged that more sustainable locations might result in reductions in car ownership.  The Director also pointed out that many garages were used for household storage and there were limited opportunities for parking close to this site.

Councillor T Page proposed and Councillor K Brush seconded, a motion that applications 3/15/0231/FUL and 3/15/0232/LB be deferred to enable Officers to enter into further discussions with the applicant in relation to the level of affordable housing provision and associated viability issues, the potential deletion of the southern access, parking and detailed construction management arrangements and arrangements for refuse disposal.

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 applications 3/15/0231/FUL and 3/15/0232/LB, planning permission and listed building consent be deferred to enable Officers to enter into further discussions with the applicant in relation to the level of affordable housing provision and associated viability issues, the potential deletion of the southern access, parking and detailed construction management arrangements and arrangements for refuse disposal.