Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Planning Officer regarding applications for part demolition and conversion of Spenfield to create six apartments and studio flat, construction of seven terraced dwellings on the car park to the rear with associated boundary treatments, landscaping and car parking.

The report of the Chief Planning Officer presented an application and listed building application for part demolition and conversion of Spenfield to create six apartments and studio flat, construction of seven terraced dwellings on the car park to the rear with associated boundary treatments, landscaping and car parking.

The applications had been considered at the meeting of the South and West Plans Panel at the meeting held in October 2016 when approval for Application 16/04153/FU had been deferred and delegated to the Chief Planning Officer and Application 16/04154/LI had been granted.  Subsequent to the meeting in October, a complaint had been made that reported differentiations in height were less than actually reported and that there had also been an error in notifying local residents.  The decision notices had been put on hold to allow for this additional report to address these issues.

Members had visited the site prior to the meeting and the meeting in October and site plans and photographs were displayed during discussion of the applications.  A model of the proposals was also available for inspection.

Further issues highlighted in relation to the applications included the following:

·  There had been no additional issues raised with the further objections received.

·  The differentiation in height and distances as previously reported was explained.

·  The proposed apartment block met requirements with regards to distance from existing residential properties.

·  The proposed apartment block sat comfortable with the listed building and the proposals would give a beneficial re-use of the Spenfield Building.

·  It was recommended that the application be approved.

Local residents addressed the Panel with concerns and objections to the application, these included the following:

·  The new terrace would obscure views for existing residents and the plans were not fitting within the conservation area.

·  There had not been any significant change to the initial proposal that had been refused.

·  The ground floor of Spenfield had been described as of museum quality and should be preserved and an alternative use found.

The applicant’s representative addressed the Panel.  The following was highlighted:

·  All the concerns raised by the Planning Inspector had been addressed including comments regarding internal alterations.

·  The steps in the terrace were now in line with the fall of the land.

·  There was a 20% reduction in shadowing in comparison with the previous scheme.

In response to Members’ comments and questions, the following was discussed:

·  There had been engagement with Ward Members.

·  Concern that flat roofs were not in keeping with the neighbourhood design statement or conservation area.

·  Historic England had supported the form, scale and design of the proposals and the fact that they did not compete with the listed building.

·  There were no issues with overlooking from the proposed apartments.

·  The loss of views from existing properties would not form grounds for refusal of the application.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That Application 16/04153/FU be deferred and delegated to the Chief Planning Officer  subject to the conditions listed in the appended report and the prior completion of a Section 106 agreement to cover the following:

·  Contribution of £48,425.79 for off-site greenspace provision and £6,737.50 towards a scheme for sustainable travel

In the circumstances where the Section 106 Agreement has not been completed within 3 months of the panel resolution, the final determination of the applications shall be delegated to the Chief Planning Officer.

(2)  That application 16/04154/LI be granted listed building consent subject to the conditions listed in the appended report.

Condition 1 of both applications shall be subject to a variation to require the development to be commenced before the expiration of two years from the date of the approval.