Agenda and minutes

Venue: Rennes Room, Civic Centre, Paris Street, Exeter

Contact: Howard Bassett, Democratic Services Officer (Committees)  01392 265107 or email  howard.bassett@exeter.gov.uk

Note: The deadline speaking at Planning Committee is 10am on Thursday 12 March 2020 

Items
No. Item

24.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 210 KB

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 10 February 2020.

 

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 February 2020 were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as correct.

25.

Declarations of Interest

Councillors are reminded of the need to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests that relate to business on the agenda and which have not already been included in the register of interests, before any discussion takes place on the item. Unless the interest is sensitive, you must also disclose the nature of the interest. In accordance with the Council's Code of Conduct, you must then leave the room and must not participate in any further discussion of the item. Councillors requiring clarification should seek the advice of the Monitoring Officer prior to the day of the meeting.

 

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were made by Members.

 

26.

Planning Application No. 19/0650/OUT - The Old Coal Yard, Exmouth Junction, Mount Pleasant Road, Exeter pdf icon PDF 168 KB

To consider the report of the Service Lead City Development.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Principal Project Manager (Development) (MD) presented the outline application for the construction of 400 residential dwellings (Class C3), 65 senior living with care units (Class C2), new public open and green spaces, access road, refurbishment and extension of locally listed former water tower, and associated works (Landscaping reserved for future consideration).

 

The Principal Project Manager (Development) advised of two late objections from the Chair of the Railfuture Devon and Cornwall Branch and the Chair of SERUG (Salisbury to Exeter Rail Users Group) which is affiliated to Railfuture, requesting that the new buildings be pulled back by 25 metres from the railway line to facilitate any identified future railway improvements. He reported that Network Rail had been asked to respond and that it had confirmed that it had no objection to the application as it had sold the land to Eutopia Homes in 2018, and had carried out consultation revealing no impact on future rail projects.

 

The Principal Project Manager (Development) presented the scheme in detail highlighting the following:-

 

·         provision of a mixed housing scheme comprising 465 units in total, meeting a variety of housing needs and to create a balanced community. The scheme included a five storey apartment block with 66 apartments near to Mount Pleasant Road, 104 four-bed townhouses, a ‘Village Green’, two blocks of 230 Build to Rent apartments, a hard landscaped square, referred to as ‘Pump House Square’, a converted and extended water tower building to contain a management suite and social hub for the Build to Rent apartments and a part 4/5 storey block containing 65 ‘senior living with care’ apartments;

·         details of vehicular access to the site from the road serving Morrisons and making the existing access to/from Mount Pleasant Road a pedestrian/cycle access point only, except for emergency vehicles;

·         low car parking to encourage more sustainable modes of travel, including walking, cycling and public transport, as well as reducing the dominance of cars in the street-scene with a total of 192 car parking spaces across the scheme as a whole. Over 1,000 cycle parking spaces would be provided across the scheme;

·         a package of affordable housing provision of 105 units; and

·         the following financial contributions:-

 

·         £1,051,421 education contribution;

·         £500,000 towards Stoke Hill Roundabout improvements;

·         £333,139 towards allotment link option two;

·         £25,000 towards Traffic Regulation Orders; and

·         £134,767 to expand Mount Pleasant Surgery.

 

With reference to the allotment link option two, Members referred to the objections received includingfrom the management committee of the Prince Charles Road Allotment Association against Devon County Council’s request as Local Highway Authority to secure funding toprovide a pedestrian/cycle shared footpath link to the development site through the Prince Charles Road allotments site. The Principal Project Manager (Development) advised that the design details of this access would be the subject of a separate planning application, however acceptance of the contribution would indicate support in principle.

 

Councillor Begley, having given notice under Standing Order No. 44, spoke on the item. She raised the following points:-

 

·         support from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

27.

Planning Application No. 19/1676- FUL - St. Andrews Yard, Willeys Avenue, Exeter pdf icon PDF 115 KB

To consider the report of the Service Lead City Development.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Bialyk was not present in the meeting for the consideration of this item.

 

The Principal Project Manager (Development) (PJ) presented the application for the demolition of existing single storey business premises and construction of a new nine dwelling residential apartment block

 

The Principal Project Manager (Development) stated that the revised scheme was essentially similar to that previously submitted. It largely addressed only one of the two previous reasons for refusal agreed at the July meeting of this Committee, that is, the scheme’s poor design in relation to the character of the area. The other reason for refusal, namely the scale, massing and height of the building remained unchanged. The Principal Project Manager (Development) considered that the intention to now pursue a more traditional elevational approach was more appropriate. Consequently, it was considered that the applicant had addressed the second reason for refusal relating to design. The Principal Project Manager (Development) stated that a planning judgement was necessary to decide whether the changes made to the design of the building outweighed the unchanged height, scale and massing of the proposed building. The recommendation was for approval, subject to the conditions as set out in the report.

 

The Principal Project Manager (Development) referred to an email objecting to the development received from Councillor D. Moore including the following points:-.

 

·         revised development only addresses one of the reasons for refusal. The height and mass of the development remains out of keeping on both the plot and in its location in Willey’s Avenue. The whole three story block adjacent to the terrace row is oppressive in its design and mass;

·         the design and access statement shows the building in relation to other properties, cited as apartments opposite, but these are at the end of Willey's Avenue, not adjacent to the property; and

·         as parking is on site and in a sustainable location, if permission is granted a condition should be added that no on street parking provision be allowed in order to reduce the potential for conflict for car parking on street spaces.

 

Ms Kidney spoke against the application. She raised the following points:-

 

  • the community does not object to the development of the site but to the current plans. The revised scheme does not address the majority of the previous concerns, particularly size, scale and massing. It is an oppressive, domineering development;
  • the design has been altered but not the bulk of this building and it feels like the developer is trying to shoehorn as many people as possible;
  • the building still does not fit into the existing street scene. The mass and scale remain excessive, overbearing and visually intrusive. It does not relate well to the adjacent terraced properties and has a poor relationship with the existing neighbourhood;
  • this development has a mansard roof which is out of character as most buildings in the local area have a pitched roof;
  • the scale and massing of this design will have a huge impact on existing neighbours on three streets and have  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

28.

Planning Application No. 19/0733/FUL - 7-9 and 10 Blackboy Road, Exeter pdf icon PDF 154 KB

To consider the report of the Service Lead City Development.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Principal Project Manager (Development) (PJ) presented the application for the retention of the Sorry Head public house and demolition of the vehicular servicing centre and redevelopment with a four storey building comprising of a ground floor retail unit (Class A1), purpose built student accommodation development (71 bed-spaces) above, one wardens’s flat and associated private amenity space, secure cycle storage and landscaping.

 

The Principal Project Manager (Development) advised that the scheme considered at the previous meeting of this Committee had been amended by:-

 

·         removing the second floor cluster flat to the rear and replacing with a mansard roof setting the highest point 1.3 metres in from the boundary;

·         reducing the number of bed-spaces from 72 to 71;

·         changing the materials of one of the new units at the front from render to brick with dormer windows reduced in size and plinths added to the base of the walls and cappings added to the top; and

·         a commitment, following comments of the Fire and Rescue Service, to provide a dry riser in the main staircase.

 

Responding to Members’ queries he advised that:-

 

·         it would be for the applicant to discuss with a neighbour the issue of a boundary wall in respect of the part demolition of a building which was not a planning matter;

·         the student management plan could make reference to ensure that the light from a stairway would not become intrusive to neighbours; and

·         the applicant had undertaken to provide cycle parking within a secure courtyard and that some cycle parking spaces would also be provided outside the retail unit.

 

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

 

The recommendation was moved and seconded.

 

RESOLVED that, subject to a financial contribution of £3,000 towards a Traffic Regulation Order, planning permission for the retention of the Sorry Head public house and demolition of the vehicular servicing centre and re-development with a four storey building comprising of a ground floor retail unit (Class A1), purpose built student accommodation development (71 bed-spaces) above, one warden’s flat and associated private amenity space, secure cycle storage and landscaping be APPROVED, subject also 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 91-92 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

 

2.         The development hereby permitted shall not be carried out otherwise than in accordance with the submitted details received by on 17 January 2020 (dwg no. AS18.64 L.02.00 rev 05 & L.02.01 rev 05) and 26 February 2020 (dwg nos. AS18.64 L.01.02 rev 05; L.02.02 rev 06; L.02.03 rev 06; L.02.04 rev 06; L.04.00 rev 05; L.04.02 rev 05; L.04.01 rev 06; L.03.03 rev 02 & L.03.02 rev 02) the Local Planning Authority on as modified by other conditions of this consent.

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

 

3.         Samples  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

29.

List of Decisions Made and Withdrawn Applications pdf icon PDF 45 KB

To consider the report of the Service Lead City Development.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Service Lead City Development was submitted.

           

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

 

30.

Appeals Report pdf icon PDF 54 KB

To consider the report of the Service Lead City Development.

 

Minutes:

The schedule of appeal decisions and appeals lodged was submitted.

 

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

 

 

31.

SITE INSPECTION PARTY

To advise that the next Site Inspection Party will be held on Tuesday 7 April 2020 at

9.30 a.m.  The Councillors attending will be Councillors Lyons, Foale and Branston.

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the scheduling of the next Site Inspection Party for Tuesday 7 April 2020 at 9.30 a.m., with Members listed as Councillors Branston, Foale and Williams be noted. Update - site inspection cancelled.