Agenda item

To consider the report of the Chief Planning Officer on an application for a part 2 storey, part 3 storey residential Care Home with 58 bedrooms and a 2 storey block of 8 extra care flats, with car parking and landscaping and Conservation Area consent for demolition of existing health centre, relating to the redevelopment of Wetherby Health Centre.

(Report attached)

  Plans and photographs were displayed at the meeting.  A site visit had taken place earlier in the day which some Members had attended

  Officers presented the report which sought permission for the demolition of the existing health centre at St James’s Street, Wetherby, which was situated in the Conservation Area and its replacement with a residential care home with extra care units, car parking and landscaping

  Details of the design and proposed materials were outlined as were the Section 106 contributions.  In terms of car parking spaces there would be 14 spaces provided for the residential home and 4 spaces in the extra care accommodation

  Members were informed of the receipt of a further representation from Wetherby Silver Band

  Officers were of the view that the proposals would positively enhance the Conservation Area and were respectful of the adjacent listed building.  If minded to approve the application, an additional condition requiring details of the covered walkway between the main nursing home and extra care flats was requested

  Members commented on the following matters:

·  that the principle of development was supported but that some basic issues needed to be addressed

·  the level of car parking to be provided and whether visitor parking had been taken into account when deciding upon the provision of 14 spaces

·  whether the use of the car parking spaces would be unrestricted

·  whether the proposed level of parking had been assessed against the document ‘A Parking Strategy in Wetherby 2010 – 2014 and beyond’

·  the energy conservation aspects of the proposals

·  whether a drainage assessment had been undertaken and evaluated

·  whether the extra care flats would be managed or whether they could be sold off individually

·  the staffing levels for the facility

·  whether Ward Members had been consulted on the proposals

·  a lack of detail in the landscaping proposals

·  the pitch of the roof as shown on the graphics which seemed particularly steep

Officers provided the following responses:

·  that the level of car parking had been assessed with regard to the UDP guidelines and the TRICS database and Officers were confident that the car parking demand from the development could be comfortably met within the 14 spaces to be provided.  In terms of the 4 spaces available for the extra care flats, this was the maximum level required by the UDP

·  that the TRICS database was based on real development and the demand for parking from other residential homes had been taken into consideration

·  that the parking spaces would be unallocated, apart from the ambulance space

·  that the Panel’s Highways representative was familiar with document referred in respect of a parking strategy in Wetherby and was of the view that the scheme would not lead to a detrimental impact in terms of parking in Wetherby Town Centre

·  that in respect of sustainability, the proposals included the use of photovoltaics which would provide hot water to the facility

·  that a drainage assessment had been undertaken and relevant conditions were included

·  that the extra care flats would be managed and could not be sold off individually

·  that the staffing levels were based around a three shift system, with 14 staff on duty during the day and 6 at night

·  that Wetherby Town Council had been consulted on the proposals but that local Ward Members had not been involved

Members considered how to proceed

RESOLVED -  That the application be deferred and delegated to the

Chief Planning Officer in consultation with Ward Members and subject to the conditions set out in the submitted report (and any others he might consider appropriate) and in the event that agreement is not reached with Ward Members, then a further report be submitted to Panel for determination of the application