Agenda item

Report No: DEV/WS/20/044

Planning Application - (i) Extension to second floor office space to create new office units within the roof space including 11 no. dormers (ii) secondary access and escape stair to the rear on each floor level and (ii) removal of an existing window and creation of a new doorway on north elevation

Planning Application - (i) Extension to second floor office space to create new office units within the roof space including 11 no. dormers (ii) secondary access and escape stair to the rear on each floor level and (ii) removal of an existing window and creation of a new doorway on north elevation

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee following consideration by the Delegation Panel.

Bury St Edmunds Town Council objected to the proposal which was in conflict with the Officer’s recommendation of approval, subject to conditions as set out in Paragraph 75 of Report No DEV/WS/20/044.

As part of his presentation the Planning Officer outlined the detailed planning history of the site and took Members through videos of the site by way of a virtual ‘site visit’.

He also outlined the various changes that had been made to the application since original submission.

Lastly, the Officer proposed an additional two conditions to be included to ensure that all glazing within the roof space shall be fixed shut and non-openable and that the fire doors shall be fitted with an alarm.

Speakers:      Susie Cooper (resident objector & on behalf of fellow neighbouring objectors) spoke against the application (via a pre-recorded audio file submission)

                     Lionel Thurlow (architect) spoke in support of the application

Councillor David Smith asked if it would be possible to condition the use of the courtyard.  In response, the Principal Planning Officer explained that this would not be considered reasonable due to the communal use of the area by residents.  Members were also reminded of the two additional conditions in respect of the glazing and alarmed fire doors.

Some general discussion took place with regard to site visits.  The Committee was advised that unless Government Covid-19 guidance changed these would continue to be provided by way of video to the Committee.

Councillor Roger Dicker proposed that the application be approved as per the Officer recommendation and inclusive of the two additional conditions as outlined.  This was duly seconded by Councillor Ian Houlder.

(During the discussion of this item Councillors David Roach (2.30pm), Ann Williamson (2.46pm) and David Palmer (2.55pm) left the meeting at the times specified and were therefore not present for the vote.)

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

Decision

Planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

1. Time Limit - 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.   Prior to commencement of development, including any works of demolition, a Construction Method Statement shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority. The approved Statement shall be adhered to throughout the construction period. The Statement shall provide for:

i) Measures to control the emission of dust and dirt during construction

ii) Noise method statements and noise levels for each construction activity including piling and excavation operations

4. The site demolition, preparation and construction works shall only be carried out between the hours of 08:00 to 18:00 Mondays to Fridays and between the hours of 08:00 to 13:30 Saturdays and at no time on Sundays or Bank Holidays without the prior written consent of the Local Planning Authority.

5.   Before the development hereby permitted is first occupied/brought into use, all the proposed doors and glazing within the roof space shall be fitted with obscure glass to Pilkington glass level 4 privacy or an equivalent standard and shall consist only of non-operable fixed lights and shall be retained in such form in perpetuity.

6.   Prior to the first use of the development the noise protection measures provided by screening in association with the air condition unit detailed in plan 7360-700G shall be completed in their entirety in approved details.

7. The areas to be provided for storage of Refuse/Recycling bins as shown on Drawing No. 7360-100D shall be provided in its entirety before the development is brought into use and shall be retained thereafter for no other purpose.
8. The use shall not commence until the areas within the site shown on Drawing No. 7360-100D for the purposes of secure cycle storage and thereafter that areas shall be retained and used for no other purposes.

9.   Before the development hereby permitted is first brought into use, all the proposed doors and glazing within the roof space shall be fitted with obscure glass to Pilkington glass level 4 privacy or an equivalent standard and which shall consist only of non-openable fixed lights and shall be retained in such form in perpetuity. Further, all glazing within the roof space shall be fixed shut and shall not be openable.

10.Before the development hereby permitted is first brought into use, all external doors hereby permitted shall be fitted with an alarm that sounds when the external door is opened, or each door shall otherwise be linked to the existing fire alarm system within the building such that the opening of any external door hereby permitted shall automatically trigger the sounding of the existing fire alarm. Any such method as may be employed pursuant to this condition shall thereafter be retained. There shall be no use of the premises for the purposes hereby permitted unless and until the doors have been linked to the existing fire alarm as so prescribed or otherwise fitted with an alarm.

(On conclusion of this item Councillor Susan Glossop left the meeting at 3.10pm.)