Agenda item

Recommended for Refusal.

David Kitching addressed the Committee against the application.  Mark Dunstan spoke for the application.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services recommended that, in respect of application 3/12/1440/FP, planning permission be refused for the reasons now detailed.

Councillor M Newman, as the local ward Member, stated that the existing chapel had served as a valuable community facility for 50 years, particularly for elderly residents.  He stated however, that the lack of foundations meant that this unusual shaped building’s safe use was now beyond question.  He commented that there was no way to rebuild this structure which was in need of demolition due to the cracks in the walls.

Councillor M Newman referred to the Glebe Land site as the only viable location for the relocation of the Chapel in Hunsdon, as Officers had pointed out to the applicant that rebuilding the Chapel on the existing site was not a viable proposition.

Councillor M Newman stated that the site was owned by the diocese of St Albans but was leased to Hunsdon Parish Council.  He referred to the conflict posed by this application in that some residents felt the site should be retained for the amenity of the village whilst others wanted the site for the amenity of churchgoers.

Councillor M Newman stressed that both views should be respected if the community of Hunsdon was to be truly inclusive.  He emphasised that at recent public meetings, there had been opposition to the application.  He stated that such public meetings tended to attract those in objection to planning applications.

Councillor M Newman referred to the conflict between the Officer’s recommendation and the Council’s planning policies in that this application offered compensatory land and a previous application had been withdrawn as Officers had raised concerns about the lack of compensatory land.

Councillor M Newman concluded that there was no mention of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which was explicit in encouraging community facilities such as places of worship.  He also pointed out that a key issue was the balance between the loss of amenity in terms of a new building where there was currently no form of development versus the loss of any facility for communal worship in Hunsdon.

Councillor P Moore stated that the existing chapel was in no way serviceable as a church.  She stressed that churches offered much more than a place of Sunday worship in that they provided many community activities as well as offering emotional and spiritual guidance to residents.

Councillor M Alexander stated that the proposed development offered a church and community function that would have good access in the centre of Hunsdon and there was a bus stop directly opposite the site.  He referred to the ageing population with 25% of people being over the age of 60.

Councillor M Alexander commented that recreation came in many forms and the dictionary definition was inclusive of many of the things that could be undertaken should this application be approved.

In response to comments from Councillors A Burlton and T Page, Councillor M Newman commented at some length about the historic use of various plots of land in Hunsdon.  The Director advised that Members had identified the key points to consider, namely the community need versus the visual appearance and impact of the application.

The Director also referred to the balance Members should consider in respect of the impact of the application on the value of the space that was available for community usage in Hunsdon.

Members were advised that the Officer’s recommendation was based on the quality of the alternative provision of open amenity land and that the scale of the proposed development was excessive in this location.

Councillor P Moore proposed and Councillor M Alexander seconded, a motion that application 3/12/1440/FP be grantedsubject to appropriate conditions and authority be delegated to the Director of Neighbourhood Services to formulate the conditions in consultation with the local ward Member and Chairman of the Development Control Committee.

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 (A) in respect of application 3/12/1440/FP, planning permission be grantedsubject to appropriate conditions; and

(B)   in respect of application 3/12/1440/FP, authority be delegated to the Director of Neighbourhood Services to formulate the conditions in consultation with the local ward Member and Chairman of the Development Control Committee.