Agenda and minutes

To approve and sign the minutes of the meetings held on 26 October and 16 November 2020.

The minutes of the meetings held on 26 October and 16 November 2020 were taken as read and approved as correct for signing by the Chair at the earliest convenience.

Members declared the following interests:-

To consider the report of the Director City Development, Housing and Supporting People.

The Assistant Service Lead (City Development) presented the application for the construction of a commercial building extending to 2,820sqm (GIA) for the flexible use of Class E (Commercial, business and service uses, excluding sub class E(g)(iii) Industrial processes), access, car and cycle parking, landscaping and associated infrastructure

The Assistant Service Lead (City Development) provided a description of the site and the development and went through the site location plan, views of the site including aerial views, and photographs showing the relationship with the Chasee development and the M5 motorway bridge, including a photo from the motorway itself. He ran through the footprint and floor plans with CGI images also shown. He provided detail of previously approved schemes including a residential scheme and a smaller office development. The current proposal covered a larger footprint than the previous office application.

He referred to the following key issues:-

·         the principle of development;

·         the Topsham Gap;

·         the scale, design, impact on character and appearance and impact on amenity of surroundings, the design being acceptable to the Design Review Panel and with a Green Wall to be provided;

·         parking for 46 car parking spaces, 46 cycle spaces, 10 co-bikes and 2 co-cars;

·         access and impact on local highways and parking provision;

·         sustainable public transport links; and

·         landscaping and sustainability and ecology, the scheme to be developed to being BREEAM excellent standard.

He also referred to the following:-

·         consultee responses from Devon County Council, Environmental Health, the Flood Authority, Highways England and the RSPB and associated conditions requested;

·         44 objections had been received including from the Topsham Society and the Ministry of Defence;

·         two further representations (one from the Topsham Society) including reference to road surfacing, increased traffic and parking and the scale of the development. The initial objections had been summarised in detail in the officer report; and

·         the applicant was not obliged to make public the comments of the Design Review Panel but it, together with all other representations received, were published on the website.

The following responses were given to Members’ queries:-

·         the applicant had reduced the height of the building taking away much of the top floor so there would be little significant impact from the motorway; and

·         on a previous appeal the Inspector had considered the principle of development and had concluded that the site was suitable for a substantial building.

David Burley spoke against the application. He raised the following points:-

·         the site was a recreational-amenity space for the adjacent Chasse development but has been subject to repeated applications;

·         the Topsham Society highlight that the proposal is vast, equivalent to the Ashfords Building on Honiton Road. Whilst that faces a dual carriageway, the application site is in a quiet, private residential tree lined road and intrudes deeply into this quiet and small scale setting;

·         the building is not proportional to the M5 embankment. It exceeds the height of the motorway by nearly 9 metres;

·         it is 6.7 metres higher than the highest eaves of the adjacent Chasse and is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 91.

To consider the report of the Director City Development, Housing and Supporting People.

Councillor Morse declared a disclosable pecuniary interest and left the meeting during consideration of this item.

The Principal Project Manager (Development) (HS) presented the application for the demolition of existing sport facility and rifle range and re-development of the site to provide 42 new dwellings, associated car parking, amenity space and access.

The Principal Project Manager (Development) set out a detailed description of the application and went through the site location plan, views of the site including aerial views, site levels and photographs of the existing site and its context with adjacent buildings, layouts, floor plans, and sections.  His presentation covered additional revised plans received after the publication of the report.

The Principal Project Manager (Development) highlighted the following key issues:-

·         the principle of development;

·         transport;

·         heritage conservation and environment;

·         design and affordable housing;

·         impacts on existing occupiers; and

·         economic benefits and CIL/Section 106.

The Principal Project Manager (Development) referred to the following:-

·         a Tree Preservation Order had been made for the site;

·         two additional representations received, one regarding the impact on the green space and the access to the properties to the rear of Clifton Hill and the other to the inadequate mitigations measures for the loss of landscaping;

·         additional comments received since the publication of the update sheet from the Arboricultural Consultant reinstating his preference for compensatory landscaping on the south west boundary, and on site landscaping scheme mitigation measures still being considered inadequate;

·         an updated plan condition, and a proposed additional condition 26 in the update sheet and a new condition 27 to reflect the comments of the Arboricultural Consultant to refer to a revised Arboriculture Method Statement to be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to commencement of development;

·         a viability report in respect of the proposed affordable housing being provided by Plymouth City Council; and

·         corrections to the report to show the number of units as 42 not 44 by the removal of two five-bed houses for a total of 11 not 13 such houses and therefore 31 not 33 houses in total on pages 92 and 112, to refer to flats being four storey on page 92, and to delete co-living on page 114.

The Principal Project Manager (Development) concluded by highlighted the following key elements:-

·         the site is a brownfield site within the urban area in a sustainable location close to a range of services;

·         the principle of housing is acceptable as leisure provision in the area was still considered adequate, with the St Sidwell’s Point shortly to be opened;

·         the development would make a positive contribution to the Council’s five year housing land supply which was deficient;

·         there was a presumption in favour of sustainable development;

·         cycle parking and parking on the site was acceptable;

·         reduction in the number of units by two was made for privacy reasons;

·         the proposal is acceptable in its design and general visual impact, including its impact on the Conservation Area and the Locally Listed Building and supported by the Design  ...  view the full minutes text for item 92.

To consider the report of the Director City Development, Housing and Supporting People.

Councillor Bialyk declared a disclosable pecuniary interest and left the meeting during consideration of this item and for the other items on the agenda.

Councillors Foale, Ghusain, Hannaford, Harvey and Wright declared non-pecuniary interests and left the meeting during consideration of this item.

The Assistant Service Lead (City Development) presented the application for a first floor extension to form a new bedroom. He provided a description of the site and referred to the following key issues of the principle of development, scale, design, impact on character and appearance and impact on amenity of surroundings.

The recommendation was for approval, subject to the conditions as set out in the report.

The recommendation was moved and seconded and carried unanimously.

RESOLVED that planning permission for a first floor extension to form new bedroom be APPROVED, subject to the following conditions:

1)         The development to which this permission relates must be begun not later than the expiration of three years beginning with the date on which this permission is granted.

Reason:  To ensure compliance with sections 91 and 92 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

 2)        The development hereby permitted shall not be carried out otherwise than in strict accordance with the submitted details received by the Local Planning Authority, these drawings are as follows:

·         Amended Location Plan - Date Received: 05/11/2020

·         Amended Site Plan - Date Received: 05/11/2020

·         Proposed Ground Floor Plan - Date Received: 26/10/2020

·         Proposed Floor Plan - Date Received: 05/11/2020

·         Proposed Rear Elevation - Date Received: 05/11/2020

·         Proposed Front Elevation - Date Received: 26/10/2020

·         Proposed Side Elevation - Date Received: 26/10/2020

Reason: In order to ensure compliance with the approved drawings.

 3)        No site machinery or plant shall be operated, no process shall be carried out and no demolition or construction related deliveries received or dispatched from the site except between the hours of 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 1pm Saturday and at no time on Sundays, Bank or Public Holidays.

Reason: To protect the amenity of the locality, especially for people living and/or working nearby.

Informatives

 1)        In accordance with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, this development has been screened in respect of the need for an Appropriate Assessment (AA) and given the nature and scale of the development it has been concluded that the proposal does not require an AA.

 2)        In accordance with Paragraph 38 of the National Planning Policy Framework the Council has worked in a positive and pro-active way and has imposed planning conditions to enable the grant of planning permission.

To consider the report of the Director City Development, Housing and Supporting People.

The report of the City Development Manager was submitted.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

To consider the report of the Director City Development, Housing and Supporting People.

The schedule of appeal decisions and appeals lodged was submitted.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.