Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Lynch and Lane.

RESOLVED: That under the following items, the Councillor listed below was granted leave to address the Committee:

N/2016/0411

Councillor Stone

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The Head of Planning elaborated on a report submitted by the Director of Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning relating to former St Edmunds Hospital site. It was explained that there were 2 applications to be considered, one for planning permission and one for listed building consent which had been considered by the Committee on the 9^th June 2015. It was noted that since then, the Council had worked with the applicant to resolve outstanding matters to expedite the redevelopment of the site and that information about the issues needed to grant permission had been submitted and assessed by officers and independently verified and had satisfied the Director of Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning, subject to the conditions set out in the report.  It was noted that the submitted viability assessment had satisfactorily addressed unresolved issues and therefore it was deemed that a Section 106 Agreement was no longer required and thus it was proposed to secure by conditions the requirement for submission of phasing plan detailing the programme of works.

In response to questions of the Committee, it was confirmed that the timescale of completion of works was not yet known and that demolition and redevelopment of the site would be sensitive to the heritage of the site. The Director of Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning explained that the site had been a problem for a considerable time but that there was a need for the developers to get on the site quickly.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee AGREED that the proposed phasing plan to carry out works to the Workhouse building be secured by planning conditions, set out in the report.

Report of Director of Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning.(Copy herewith)

The Development Manager, on behalf of the Director of Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning, submitted a List of Current Appeals and Inquiries and elaborated thereon. It was noted that the hearing for application N/2015/0419 Demolition of Bective Works and Jebez House was being heard that day and noted that it would be a few months until a final decision would be made.

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(Copy herewith)

The Development Manager submitted a report on behalf of the Director of Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning and elaborated thereon. It was explained that the application sought the variation of condition 5 of planning permission to increase the opening hours of various permitted functions of the Abbey Buildings. In response to questions asked, the Development Manager explained that they would monitor any complaints being received by local residents and act accordingly.

RESOLVED:

That that the application be APPROVED subject to the conditions as set out in the report.  

(Copy herewith)

The Development Manager submitted a report on behalf of the Director of Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning and explained that the application was for a listed building application for alteration to the Visitor Reception. It was noted that it was a very minor work being carried out and no objections had been received from Historic England.

The Committee discussed the application.

RESOLVED:

That the application be APPROVED subject to the conditions as set out in the report.

ADDENDUM

(Copy herewith)

The Senior Planning Officer submitted a report on behalf of the Director of Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning and elaborated thereon. It was explained that the application was for the erection of 81 dwellings, 29 being accessed from Grange Road and 52 from Booth Lane and would include a pedestrian link and an area of public open space. In response to questions asked, it was explained that a condition could be added to include the erection of motorcycle barriers. It was also further explained that a public open space could not be provided  on the smaller part of the site but it was noted that all properties had private gardens and the open space in the larger part of the site was easily accessible to all residents.

The Committee discussed the report.

RESOLVED:

That the application be APPROVED IN PRINCIPLE subject to:

1.1.1   The prior completion of a Section 106 Legal Agreement to secure:

i) 35% of the development to be used for affordable housing and that 10% of all dwellings are constructed to mobility standards;                                                                  

ii) A financial payment to fund the provision, improvements to connections and/or enhancements to areas of off-site public open space within the vicinity of the site;

iii) A financial payment to fund the improvements of bus services within the vicinity of the site;

iv) A financial payment to fund the provision of primary and secondary school education within the vicinity of the site;

v) A financial payment to fund improvements to and/or the provision of pedestrian ways and/or cycle ways;

vi) An obligation to ensure that the specification for the on-site proposed open space (including play equipment) is submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority and that this is made available for public access and is maintained in perpetuity;

vii) A scheme for the provision of construction worker training opportunities and a payment towards the operation of this programme; and

viii) The Council’s monitoring fee subject to the Director of Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning being satisfied the monitoring fee is necessary and of an appropriate scale.

1.1.2   The Conditions as contained in  the report and an additional condition to require motorcycle barriers to be installed at the footpath link and for the following reason:

The proposed development, subject to conditions, would represent the satisfactory reuse of the land and contribute to the established housing need in Northampton. The development is of a satisfactory design and layout and would not impinge upon the amenities of surrounding occupiers or highway safety. The development is therefore in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework, Polices H1, H2, S1, S10, and INF2 of the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy and Policies E20, H17 and H32 of the Northampton Local Plan.

1.2      It is also recommended that in the event of the Section 106 Legal Agreement not being completed within three calendar months of this Committee meeting, in addition to being able to grant planning permission as recommended above, the Head of Planning be given delegated authority  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9a

(Copy herewith)

The Senior Planning Officer submitted a report on behalf of the Director of Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning. Member’s attention was drawn to additional information contained within the addendum. The Chair commented that the application was for retrospective permission to change the use from a single dwelling to a house in multiple occupation (HMO) and explained that it was specifically for 4 occupants.

Members discussed the report.

RESOLVED:

That the application be APPROVED subject to the conditions set out in the report and the addendum.

(Copy herewith)

The Development Management Team Leader submitted a report on behalf of the Director of Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning and elaborated thereon. Member’s attention was drawn to additional information that was contained within the addendum.

Members discussed the application.

RESOLVED:

That the application be APPROVED subject to the conditions set out in the report.

(Copy herewith)

The Development Management Team Leader submitted a report on behalf of the Director of Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning and elaborated thereon. Member’s attention was drawn to additional information that was contained within the addendum.

Councillor Stone addressed the Committee and stated that she was pleased to see that officers had a good dialogue with local residents and noted that they had recently had their Neighbourhood Plan accepted and hoped that this would give residents more control on local developments.  She also commented on the area’s heritage.

The Committee discussed the report.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee AGREED that the Authority’s Prior Approval would not be required for the method of demolition and proposed restoration of the site for the following reason:

The means of demolition and the proposed restoration of the site are considered to be acceptable and would be consistent with the aims and objectives of policies of the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy and the National Planning Policy Framework.

An informative will also be included to the decision notice to advise the applicant to be mindful of potential archaeological remains on site.

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