Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Peter Stevens.

Any Member who is substituting for another Member should so indicate together with the name of the relevant absent Member.

There were no substitutes present at the meeting. 

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 4 October 2018 (copy attached).

Councillor Terry Clements made reference to Minute No 50 (Report No DEV/SE/18/035).  He asked that the reference to flooding within the minute in question be strengthened to more accurately reflect the level of discussion and concern raised by the Committee on this matter.

The minutes of the meeting held on 4 October 2018 were then unanimously received by the Committee as an accurate record and were signed by the Chairman, subject to the following amendment to Minute No 50:

“The flooding risk of the site” be amended (in both cases where it appears within the Minute No 50) to read: “The evidence and risk of flooding in the vicinity and the further impact the development could have on this”.

Report No: DEV/SE/18/040

Planning Application - 3 storey building with basement level to comprise 16 no. residential apartments (following demolition of existing buildings). As amended by revised plans and documents received on 25 September 2017, 24 May 2018, 2 July 2018, 23 July 2018 and 30 August 2018

Planning Application - 3 storey building with basement level to comprise 16 no. residential apartments (following demolition of existing buildings). As amended by revised plans and documents received on 25 September 2017, 24 May 2018, 2 July 2018, 23 July 2018 and 30 August 2018

This application had been referred to the Development Control Committee at the request of the Ward Members (Abbeygate) and because Bury St Edmunds Town Council objected to the proposal.

The application had been originally considered by the Committee at their meeting on 5 April 2018 where Members resolved to defer the item in order to enable amendments to be made to the design of the building to address concerns regarding the basement accommodation proposed as part of the scheme.

The Committee was advised that a number of amendments had been made to the proposal which included changes to the elevational treatment of the building and significant alterations to the basement flats which had been raised and were now half-basement units.  Further details had also been provided in respect of cycle parking and bin storage.

Officers were continuing to recommend that the application be approved subject to the completion of a Section 106 Agreement and conditions, as set out in Paragraph 92 of Report No DEV/SE/18/040.

Since publication of the agenda a supplementary paper had been circulated which related to the Council’s standard water efficiency condition.

As part of her presentation the Senior Planning Officer made reference to:

·         The marked improvement to the basement accommodation now proposed;

·         The lack of affordable dwellings that were to be provided in light of it having been evidenced by the applicant that this was not viable;

·         The waste bin storage proposed which was in line with what the Council’s Waste Officers had requested; and

·         Whilst there remained no on-site parking proposed, Officers were still of the view that on balance this was acceptable given the sustainable location of the site which already had nearby on road parking restrictions in place.

Speakers:    Dr Brian Jones (on behalf of the Churchgate Area Association) spoke against the application

                   Dr John Cochrane (neighbouring resident) spoke against the application

                   Councillor Tom Murray (Bury St Edmunds Town Council) spoke against the application

                   Mr Rob MacKay (applicant) spoke in support of the application

As part of the discussion on the application, the Chairman invited the Principal Conservation Officer to verbally elaborate on her reasoning for citing no objection to the scheme proposed.

Councillors John Burns, Terry Clements and David Nettleton all made reference to the resident parking schemes in the vicinity of the application site and the need for this to be promoted with future residents.  Councillor Clements also stressed that communication with regard to parking season tickets was something that needed to be strengthened by the Borough Council.

The Service Manager (Planning – Development) explained that use of a residents’ parking scheme/parking season ticket was not something that could be conditioned as part of the planning process.  However, an informative could be added  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

Report No: DEV/SE/18/041

Planning Application - (i) Change of use from financial and professional services (A2) on first floor (2a and 4a) to 3no. flats (C3) with ground floor access to Mill Road; (ii) internal and external alterations

Planning Application - (i) Change of use from financial and professional services (A2) on first floor (2a and 4a) to 3no. flats (C3) with ground floor access to Mill Road; (ii) internal and external alterations

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee following consideration by the Delegation Panel, the item had been referred to the Panel at the request of one of the Ward Members, Councillor Paula Fox (Haverhill South).

Haverhill Town Council objected to the application which was contrary to the Officer recommendation of approval, subject to conditions, as set out in Paragraph 11.1 of Report No DEV/SE/18/041.

Since publication of the agenda a supplementary paper had been circulated which related to the Council’s standard water efficiency condition, as had a ‘late paper’ which set out further information supplied by the agent with regard to parking.

Councillor John Burns drew attention to Paragraph 9.12 of the report which made reference to “the close proximity of bus and rail services”.  Councillor Burns queried this in light of Haverhill not having a rail station within the town.

The Senior Planning Officer apologised and confirmed that the reference to rail services was an error.  However, the application site was still considered to be in a sustainable town centre location.

In response to comments made by Members with regard to emergency services’ access in the vicinity of the application site, the Service Manager (Planning – Development) explained that relevant emergency services would need to raise this with Suffolk County Council as Highways Authority if they had any concerns.

A number of the Committee made reference to one of the flats being slightly below space standards.  The Service Manager (Planning – Development) advised that a refusal on this basis would be considered unsound by Officers and was not recommended.

Councillor Jason Crooks spoke in support of the application and stated that the change of use of the building to residential was likely to result in less demand for parking than the current occupying business required.  He therefore moved that the application be approved, as per the Officer recommendation.  This was duly seconded by Councillor Andrew Smith.

Upon being put to the vote and with 8 voting for the motion and with 6 against, it was resolved that

Decision

Planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

 1       The development hereby permitted shall be begun not later than 3 years from the date of this permission.

 2       The development hereby permitted shall not be carried out except in complete accordance with the details shown on the approved plans and documents.

 3       Demolition or construction works shall not take place outside 0800 hours to 1800 hours Mondays to Fridays and 0800 hours to 1300 hours on Saturdays and at no time on Sundays, public holidays or bank holidays.

 4       The use shall not commence until the area(s) within the site shown on Drawing No. AV/2270/5 for the purposes of secure cycle storage have been provided and thereafter those areas shall  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.