Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Haque, Lynch and Meredith.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 15^th March and 22^nd March 2016 were agreed and signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED: That under the following items, the members of the Public and Councillors listed below were granted leave to address the Committee:

N/2015/1021

Mr Paul Mower (01223 894498)

Mr Paul Garratt

Barry Waine (07860541451)

N/2015/1314

Cllr James Hill (Ward)

Keith Holland Delamere (07719090780)

Mrs Woodvine (07504828073)

Mr Gautam Chhabra

Mr Jeremy Heppell

N/2015/1424

Mr Jenkins

Barry Waine

Cllr D Stone

N/2016/0123

Cllr Hibbert

N/2016/0310

Mr Michael Ingram

Councillor Hill declared a personal  interest in item 10c as the Ward Councillor for Rectory Farm.

Councillor Golby declared a personal  interest in item 12a as a member of Duston Parish Council.

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The Development Manager submitted a List of Current Appeals and Inquiries and elaborated thereon. The Whitworth Road appeal decision was referred to and advised that this does not affect the Council’s Interim Policy on HIMO regarding 15% concentration within 50m radius. It was advised that moving forward the Council need to produce more robust evidence when defending any appeal e.g. fly tipping, noise complaints from neighbours, photos etc. Equally if Members were minded to object to any HIMO application, they need to justify what harm would be caused by such a change of use, rather than just giving general comments that HIMOs may affect an area.

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ADDENDUM

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The Principal Planning Officer submitted a report on behalf of the Director of Regeneration Enterprise and Planning and elaborated thereon. It was advised that theapplicationwasdeferredby Committeeon 22nd March2016toallow furtherinvestigationinto the provision ofdisabledaccesstoflatsandthe possibilityof having liftaccess. It was reported that officersraisedtheseissueswiththeapplicant. The applicant’sagentresponded advisingthat their clienthasconsideredthere-use of the liftsand commentsas follows:

·      Theliftsare eithergoodsliftsor pully liftsand neithercould beusedas passengerlifts.

·      There is nostatutoryrequirementforliftstoserve a3-storeydevelopment.

·      Toreconfigurea liftwithinthebuildingwouldinevitablyinvolvethelossof auniton each ofthethreefloors.  Thelossof anyunitstotheschemewouldmakeitevenlessviable thanthecurrentschemeforwhicha  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10a

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This item was withdrawn from the agenda

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The Principal Planning Officer submitted a report on behalf of the Director for Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning and referred to the addendum. The Committee were advised that the application was deferred by Committee on 22^nd March 2016 to allow the applicant to carry out further consultation with the local community.

The Applicant, Hawthorn Leisure, accompanied by Instinctif Partners, Hawthorn’s community consultants, met with Councillor James Hill and representatives of Rectory Farm Residents’ Association (‘the Representatives’) on 1^st April 2016.

It was acknowledged by all parties attending that the pub is no longer commercially viable as a business.

Following a comprehensive discussion, Hawthorn Leisure agreed to pass on some of the Representatives’ thoughts and suggestions to the Co-op and in particular a request that the Co-op give consideration to allowing potential future community use of one or more room(s) on the first floor of The Barn Owl building, subject to the approval and implementation of the current planning application.

Members were advised that potential future community use of one or more rooms does not form part of the current planning application and cannot therefore be conditioned.  A separate planning application would be required in respect of any future community use of part of the first floor and such an application would have to be considered on its planning merits. However, Hawthorn Leisure has advised that they would be happy to continue to keep the Committee, Councillor Hill and the Representatives appraised of on-going discussions with the Co-op regarding future access to the first floor of the site as development progresses.  Should the current scheme be approved, the Applicant has indicated that the Co-op has expressed optimism about being able to accommodate the Representatives’ interest with respect to access to the first floor.

It was reported that the Director of Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning has subsequently spoken to Hawthorn Leisure and they have confirmed that Co-op would, subject to details, be willing to provide a room for the local community.

Councillor James Hill addressed the committee as Ward Councillor for Rectory Farm and spoke against the application.

Councillor Hill left the room at 19:10

Mr Keith Holland Delamere addressed the committee as the Chairman of Rectory Farm Residents Association and spoke against the application.

Mrs Woodvine addressed the committee as a resident of Rectory Farm and spoke against the application.

Mr Gautam Chhabra addressed the committee as the Director of Hawthorn Leisure Ltd and spoke in favour of the application.

Mr Jeremy Heppell addressed the committee as the agent and spoke in favour of the application.

The Committee discussed the report.

RESOLVED

That the Committee APPROVED the applicationsubject to the conditionsas setout in the report andfor the following reason:

Theproposalwouldbring  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10c

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Councillor James Hill returned to the room.

The Development Manager submitted a report on behalf of the Director of Regeneration, Planning and Enterprise and elaborated thereon. The addendum was referred to advising the committee that further information has recently been received from a local resident identifying properties in Cowper Street that are alleged to be in HIMO use.  Investigation of the properties is being undertaken in conjunction with the Private Sector Housing Department.  Some of the properties are previously identified as confirmed HIMOs.  One has come into use as a HIMO and another has ceased being used as a HIMO.  From available data, it has been concluded that the percentage of confirmed HIMOs within 50m of the application site has not increased, i.e. it remains at 8 confirmed HIMOs, equalling 11%.  There remains one suspected HIMO, which even if confirmed would not result in the area concentration exceeding 15%.

Mr Jenkins as resident of the area addressed the committee and spoke against the application.

Councillor Stone as the Ward Councillor for Castle addressed the committee and spoke against the application.

Mr Barry Waine as the planning consultant addressed the committee and spoke in favour of the application.

In response to questions from the committee the Development Manager advised as below

·         Correspondence has been sent to the local MPs in relation to noise insulation for HIMOs.

·         Inspections on the property can be carried out within reason to ensure it is occupied by a maximum of 3 people.

·         The 11% HIMO figure was ascertained via checking with Private Sector Housing records and. planning records.

·         Paragraph 50 of the National Planning Policy Framework was referred to -HIMOs contribute to different mix of housing provision.

Cllr Larratt requested a copy of the letter sent to MPs regarding noise condition.

Committee requested enforcement to be carried out regarding the number of people in occupancy.

RESOLVED

That the application be APPROVED subject to the conditionsas

setout in the report andfor the following reason:

            The developmentwouldnotleadtoan unacceptableconcentrationofHIMOswithin thelocalitythatwouldadverselyimpactuponthecharacterofthestreet,norwould the  development  have  significant  ad  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10d

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Councillor Larratt left the committee at 20:00.

The Principal Planning Officer submitted a report on behalf of the Director of Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning and elaborated thereon. It was advised that theapplicantsought planningpermissiontoretainan electronicaccessgate(approximately2.1m in height)andfencingtotherearoftheclub.Workstoimplementthedevelopmentcommenced earlierthisyear,withoutthebenefitofplanningpermission;however,thisapplicationsought to regularisethe situation.

Councillor Hibbert addressed the committee as Secretary of Northampton and County Club and spoke in favour of the application.

RESOLVED

The Committee APPROVEDsubject to the conditionsas setout belowandfor the following reason:

The retentionofthe gatesand fencingas proposedisconsidered to be of less than substantial harm,whilstprovidingwiderpublicbenefitsinsecuringthe site in order to reducecrime andanti- socialbehaviourissues,andwouldassistinensuringthe continuedviableuse of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10e

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The Development Manager submitted a report on behalf of the Director of Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning and elaborated thereon. It was advised theapplicationsought fullplanningpermissionfromDaventryDistrictCounciltoerect 54 dwellingsincluding publicopen space,a balancingpond andassociated infrastructure.Thedevelopmentwouldbe accessedfromWhitesLanewitha main accessroadrunningnorthtosouthinthewesternhalfofthesiteandtwofurther roads runningeastwestfromthis. The balancingpondandpublicopenspacewould be located in the southern partof the site.

Mr Michael Ingram addressed the committee and  had concerns regarding traffic in Duston, no cycle link and a lack of affordable housing.

In response to questions from the committee the Development Manager responded as below:

·        Daventry District Council will need to make sure that the Policies in the West Northamptonsire Joint Core Strategy are complied with.

·        A masterplan is being prepared regarding the strategic framework covering the Northampton West SUE area.

·        The school and doctors surgery would be provided as  part of the wider sustainable urban extension of 2,500 houses

The committee requested that The Development Manager include additional comments regarding the cycle way to be provided and link to existing routes.

RESOLVED

The committee had NO OBJECTIONS tothe principle of developmentsubjectto theissuesoutlinedin the report beingaddressedbyDaventry DistrictCouncil and that cycle way  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12a