Agenda and minutes

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 25 July 2022.

Subject to the amendment of the first bullet point at the beginning of page eight in Minute Number 24 to read “this development should seek higher carbon neutral standards to future proof houses and seek to reach Net Zero in line with the Council’s Net Zero 2030 plan, which is a material consideration”, the minutes of the meeting held on 25 July 2022 were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as correct.

No declarations of interest were made by Members.

To consider the report of the Director City Development.

The Director City Development presented the outline planning application with all matters considered in detail except landscaping, for the demolition of the existing buildings and construction of mixed-use development comprising Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (Sui Generis) and Co-Living (Sui Generis) with associated infrastructure. (Revised plans were received). He set out a detailed description of the site and surrounding area, and the proposed development, including aerial views, site plan, elevations and photomontages showing the proposed new buildings in the context of their surroundings.

The proposal comprised the demolition of all existing buildings comprising the former Heavitree Road Police Station and Magistrates Court, clearance of the site and re-development to provide a mixed Co-Living and Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) scheme in two separate building blocks with associated access, parking and infrastructure. The former would comprise 358 studio apartments and the latter 677 rooms including a mixture of studio rooms and cluster flats.

The Co-Living block would occupy the western (lower) part of the site with the student accommodation block sitting between this and Gladstone Road. The two buildings would be separated by a pedestrian walkway and associated landscaping. The Co-Living block would comprise a roughly rectangular building set around a sunken central courtyard. The proposed student accommodation would occupy the upper part of the site and would be provided in a block with frontage onto both Heavitree Road and Gladstone Road. This block comprised two quadrangles arranged around two external courtyards and a small wing on the Gladstone Road frontage facing northwards towards the adjacent former ambulance station site.

The Director City Development detailed the following key elements of the application:-

·         Sustainable Development and Application of the National Planning Policy Framework 2021 (NPPF) - due to the lack of a five year housing supply there was a presumption in favour of sustainable development through a “tilted balance” approach”;

·         the proposal was considered to be a sustainable development when balancing the development plan policies, NPPF policies, including the presumption in favour of sustainable development in paragraph 11, National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG), and the constraints and opportunities of the site;

·         the Principle of the Proposed Development providing much needed new homes in a very sustainable location; optimising ‘brownfield land’, building at higher density in a strategic ‘gateway’ location, supporting Liveable Exeter (Eastgate) promoting active travel in a virtually car free development and contributing to Exeter’s Net Zero Carbon 2030 Plan; and

·         the type of residential accommodation being the Co-Living element helps meet the five year housing supply and includes an element of ‘affordable housing’. Both PBSA and Co-Living would support economic growth, especially within the city centre’s wider strategic importance to the City.

The Director City Developmentset out the following responses to objections received to the development:-

·         the building line had been brought forward along Heavitree Road, but would still retain a 15 metre set back and would allow for some softening in appearance with landscaping;

·         given the site was a gateway to the city centre, the opportunity had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

To consider the report of the Director City Development.

The report of the Director City Development was submitted.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

To consider the report of the Director City Development.

The schedule of appeal decisions and appeals lodged was submitted.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

To advise that the next Site Inspection Party will be held on Tuesday 27 September 2022 at 9.30 a.m. The Councillors attending will be Councillors Hannaford, Lights and D. Moore

RESOLVED that the next Site Inspection Party will be held on Tuesday at 9.30 a.m. on 27 September 2022. The Councillors attending will be Councillors Hannaford, Lights and D. Moore.