Agenda item

Planning Application No. 16/0113/03 - Radmore and Tucker, Frog Street, Exeter

To consider the report of the Assistant Director City Development.

 

Minutes:

The City Development Manager presented the application for the demolition of the existing building and erection of a new building for student accommodation comprising 98 units (Use Class C2), cycle parking, works of hard and soft landscaping and other works incidental to the proposals.

 

Members were circulated with an update sheet - attached to minutes.

 

Mr Groom spoke in support of the application. He made the following points:-

 

  • the previous proposal, put forward in January this year, had been refused and amendments made to overcome the two reasons for refusal;
  • objections from Historic England had been met by significantly reducing the building footprint in length, depth and height.  The historic views Historic England were concerned about were now preserved and they no longer had any objection to the development;
  • issues of scale and massing had also been addressed - the proposed development was now a full storey lower at the western edge than before and was also stepped down significantly at the eastern edge to the point where a full section of building had been removed to improve amenity.  Additionally, the building line at the rear has been pulled in to increase the distance between properties and increase the area of amenity space at ground floor;
  • the changes made demonstrated that the developer had listened to this Committee and other local stakeholders;
  • all other design, planning and management issues about the proposal remained as previously reported; and
  • concerns and comments during the course of the consultation process had been taken on board and it is believed that the building will positively contribute to Exeter as a whole.

 

The Highway Development Management Officer stated that a contra flow would need to be introduced for West Street as it was anticipated that many students would access the University campus by bike and would utilise this one way street. A Traffic Regulation Order was necessary and it was proposed to seek payment by the developer through the Section 106 Agreement.  It was stated that students would also use Bonhay Road to get to the campus but were also likely to use West Street to reach the city centre. It was considered that the site and area were suitable for a student block.

 

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

 

RESOLVED that, subject to a Section 106 Agreement under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, requiring an obligation relating to a Student Management Plan together with a financial contribution towards a Traffic Regulation Order to introduce a contraflow in West Street for cyclists and for the relocation of a streetlight on the pedestrian footway, planning permission for the demolition of the existing building and erection of a new building for student accommodation comprising 98 units (Use Class C2), cycle parking, works of hard and soft landscaping and other works incidental to the proposals be APPROVED, subject also to the following conditions:-

 

1)

UN6  -  Unique Condition 6

 

2)

C05  -  Time Limit - Commencement

 

3)

C15  -  Compliance with Drawings

 

4)

C12  -  Drainage Details

 

5)

C17  -  Submission of Materials

 

6)

C35  -  Landscape Scheme

 

7)

C58E  -  Contract Prior to Demolition

 

8)

C57  -  Archaeological Recording

 

9)

C70  -  Contaminated Land

 

10)

The development hereby approved shall not commence until details of the proposed finished floor levels and overall ridge heights of specified dwellings, in relation to an agreed fixed point or O.S datum have been submitted to, and been approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority. Thereafter the development shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details

Reason: In the interests of the visual amenities of the area and the residential amenities of future occupants and existing neighbouring occupant.

 

11)

A Construction Environmental Management Plans (CEMP) shall be submitted to and agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to the commencement of development on site and adhered to during the construction period. This should include details of monitoring and mitigation measures to control the environmental impact of the development during the construction and demolition phases, including site traffic, the effects of piling, and emissions of noise and dust. The CEMPs should contain a procedure for handling and investigating complaints as well as provision for regular meetings with appropriate representatives from the Local Authorities during the development works, in order to discuss forthcoming work and its environmental impact.

Reason: In the interest of the environment of the site and surrounding areas.

 

12)

Construction work shall not take place outside the following times: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Fridays); 8am to 1pm (Saturdays); nor at any time on Sundays, Bank or Public Holidays.

Reason: In the interests of the amenity of occupants of nearby buildings.

 

13)

Prior to the commencement of the development a Sustainable Urban Drainage Scheme (SUDS) to deal with surface water associated with the development shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority (in consultation with Devon County Council as the Lead Local Flood Authority). The said scheme shall include details of the on-going maintenance arrangements associated with any drainage system to be installed. The development shall be implemented strictly in accordance with the approved scheme.

Reason:To ensure the satisfactory drainage of the development.

 

14)

Prior to occupation of the building hereby approved a Wildlife Plan which demonstrates how the proposed development has been designed to enhance the ecological interest of the site, and how it will be managed in perpetuity to enhance wildlife has been submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority. Thereafter the development shall be carried out and managed strictly in accordance with the approved measures and provisions of the Wildlife Plan.

Reason: In the interests of protecting and improving existing, and creating new wildlife habitats in the area.

 

15)       No development shall take place until details of all building services plant, including sound power levels and predicted sound pressure levels at a specified location outside the building envelope have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local planning Authority. The predicted noise levels shall be submitted prior to commencement of the development and shall be demonstrated by measurement prior to occupation of the development;

 

16)       No development shall take place until an Air Quality Assessment has been submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority. Any mitigation measures identified as necessary within the assessment shall be installed and operational prior to the occupation of the development

 

Supporting documents: