Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Head of Planning and Building Control.

(Report circulated)

Councillor Denham declared a personal interest as the objector is a former colleague.

Councillor Prowse declared a personal interest as a student landlord.

The Development Manager presented the application for the demolition of the existing Postgraduate centre building and redevelopment to provide a Research, Innovation, Learning and Development (RILD) centre over four storeys with associated landscaping and enclosed roof top plant at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Barrack Road, Exeter.

Members were informed that the building would extend over four floors with the plant area on the roof also enclosed and comprise of two wings on either side of a central area called the 'Hub'. There would be a physical link between the proposed building and the existing Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry building at both ground and first floor levels.

The Development Manager informed Members of the main considerations in respect of the proposal which were the design of the building and its impact upon the character of the area and long range views. It was not anticipated that there would be any adverse impact on the highway. This was a new landmark contemporary building which would enhance the campus and add interest to Barrack Road.

Members were circulated with an update sheet advising that the applicant’s agent had confirmed that an additional ten cycle parking spaces could be incorporated within the development. The Development Manager informed Members that discussions were continuing between the applicant and Exeter School with regards to any potential disturbance during exam times from construction noise emanating from the site. This was a significant enough matter to warrant refusal of the application and could not be controlled by condition.

The recommendation was to approve the application subject to the conditions as set out in the report.

Mr Aspinwall spoke against the application. He circulated photographs and raised the following points:-

• was a resident at Baker Street
• the photographs showed the effect that the building would have on the long range views
• was two storey’s higher than the existing Peninsula College plus a hidden floor housing the plant; this was to save costs
• would cut out any long range views: would Halden View now be renamed?
• there was an existing parking problem in the area: the travel plan did not address this issue
• the 62 residents of Baker Street would be denied their view of the hills around Exeter.

Members raised concerns regarding the parking problems in the vicinity of the proposal particularly in light of the defective traffic order on the area.

The Development Manager clarified that there was already an existing Postgraduate Centre on this site and this proposal was to improve facilities and would not generate a significantly higher number of students.

RESOLVED that the application for demolition of existing Postgraduate centre building and redevelopment to provide a Research, Innovation, Learning and Development (RILD) centre over four storeys with associated landscaping and enclosed roof top plant be approved subject to the following conditions:-

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