Agenda item

To consider a report of the Chief Planning Officer on an application for change of use from public house (Class A4) to community education and training centre (Class D1)

(report attached)

Plans, photographs and drawings were displayed at the meeting

  Officers presented a report which sought approval of an application for a change of use of a former public house to a community education and training centre at The Kiln, Brignall Garth LS9

  Members were informed that the site was in a predominantly residential area; that the former public house had closed in 2011 and that the proposals were for a training and education centre for people primarily from the Afghan community but would be open to anyone

  Some internal alterations had already taken place but no external alterations to the building were proposed

  To limit the impact of the application on residential amenity, Officers proposed conditions which would restrict the use of the premises to a training and education use within Class D1 and controlling numbers attending classes to 15 and up to 3 staff at any one time.  The proposed hours of operation would be 10.00 – 20.00 Monday – Sunday

  Members were informed of the Council’s obligations under Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, as set out in paragraph 10.4 of the submitted report

  The Panel then heard from two local residents who attended the meeting and outlined their concerns about the proposals, which related to:

·  highways, particularly the possibility of on-street parking which was already a problem in the area

·  speeding vehicles

·  that the proposals would not be of benefit to the local community

·  that those attending the centre would be from outside the area

The Chair expressed his concern that a representative of the applicant

had not attended the meeting

  Members discussed the application, with the following main issues being noted:

·  the extent of consultation by the applicant with the local community.  It was noted that a leaflet had been delivered to local homes on behalf of the applicant, with some residents having concerns about the accuracy of the information it contained

·  the current situation on site; the length of time the application had taken to come forward for determination and whether the application contained sufficient information for it to be validated

·  the numbers likely to be attending throughout the day, whether these would be children or adults and the proposed hours of use, with concerns that operating 7 days a week could have an impact on the amenity of local residents.  Members were informed that the centre would cater predominantly for adults.  In terms of opening hours, Members were advised that the previous use as a public house allowed for longer opening hours than what was being proposed in this application

·  the lack of details about car parking provision and public transport, particularly if most users of the centre would be from outside of the immediate area

·  the lack of details about boundary treatments , landscaping and security lighting

·  the possibility of the premises being used at week-ends for more social, rather than educational uses

·  site security/caretaking arrangements.  Officers advised there was ancillary accommodation in the premises which would be occupied by the caretaker

·  that the public house use had ceased some time ago; that the premises had been vacant since 2011 and the issue of the extent of the previous opening hours should be set aside

The Panel considered how to proceed, with a suggestion being

made that the application be deferred to enable the applicant or a representative to attend the meeting.  However, in view of the number of concerns raised about the application a proposal to refuse the application was moved and seconded

  RESOLVED -  That the Officer’s recommendation to grant permission subject to conditions be not approved and that the Chief Planning Officer be asked to submit a further report to the next meeting setting out detailed reasons for refusal of the application based upon the lack of detail in the submitted application and the concerns raised by Members in respect of car parking arrangements, operating times, nature of use of the premises, boundary treatments, lighting and security