Agenda item

Report No: DEV/SE/18/047

Planning Application - Conversion of building to provide 14 residential units, including addition of dormer extension, minor operational development and associated car parking

Planning Application - Conversion of building to provide 14 residential units, including addition of dormer extension, minor operational development and associated car parking

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee at the request of Councillor Paula Fox (Ward Member: Haverhill South).

Members were made aware that as it was an application for a ‘major’ development it had not first been presented before the Delegation Panel.

Officers were recommending that the application be approved subject to the completion of a Section 106 Agreement and conditions, as set out in Paragraph 50 of Report No DEV/SE/18/047.

As part of his presentation the Senior Planning Officer advised that:

·         The Town Council had objected to the scheme;

·         During the course of the life of the application the size of the units had been amended and they now complied with LACORS guidance; and

·         The applicant had submitted a viability appraisal justifying why affordable housing could not be provided as part of the application.  This had been considered and endorsed by the Council’s external consultant.

Speaker:      Mr Ben Pridgeon (Agent) spoke in support of the application

Councillor John Burns spoke in objection to the application.  He queried how Vacant Building Credit could be applied to the scheme given that the building had only been vacant for a short period of time.

The Service Manager (Planning – Development) explained that Vacant Building Credit was legal requirement set out in the NPPF and it did not specify the length of time in which a building had to be vacant in order to qualify.

Councillor Peter Stevens spoke in support of the application.  He remarked on the need for this size of accommodation and considered the scheme to be an appropriate use of a vacant building.  He therefore moved that the application be approved, as per the Officer recommendation.  This was duly seconded by Councillor Frank Warby.

Upon being put to the vote and with 9 voting for the motion, 2 against and with 1 abstention, it was resolved that

Decision

Planning permission be GRANTED subject to:

The completion of a Section 106 Agreement with the following contributions:

Primary School contribution: £24,362

Pre School contribution: £16,666

Library Contribution £224

And, 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 following approved plans and documents:

 3       No individual dwelling hereby approved shall be occupied until the optional requirement for water consumption (110 litres use per person per day) in Part G of the Building Regulations has been complied with for that dwelling.

 4       The dwellings hereby approved shall not be occupied until the area(s) within the site shown on 003_A-095 Rev 03 (indicating 19 allocated vehicle parking spaces and cycle storage for 38 cycles) for the purposes of [LOADING, UNLOADING,] manoeuvring and parking of vehicles has been provided and thereafter that area(s) shall be retained and used for no other purposes.

 5       The dwellings hereby approved shall not be occupied until details of the areas to be provided for bin storage on 003_A-095 Rev 03 has been provided and thereafter that area shall be retained and used for no other purposes.

6.       Prior to first occupation, at least 10% of car parking spaces in private communal parking areas shall be provided with an operational electric vehicle charge point at reasonably and practicably accessible locations. The Electric Vehicle Charge Points shall be retained thereafter and maintained in an operational condition.