Agenda item

Luton and Wayfield

Demolition of redundant office and laboratory buildings and construction of 71 x three-bedroom houses; 11 x four-bedroom houses; 12 x one-bedroom flats; 8 x two-bedroom flats and 8 x three bedroom flats together with 193 car parking spaces and associated landscaping.

Discussion:

The Senior Planner outlined the planning application and suggested that if the Committee was minded to approve the application the proposed element of the Section 106 agreement numbered VI be amended as set out on the supplementary agenda advice sheet.

Furthermore, he advised upon changes to proposed conditions 5 and 21 details of which were also set out on the supplementary agenda advice sheet along with a correction to the site area/density of extant permission MC/05/0211.

A Member sought clarification as to the reasons why 25% affordable housing was being sought at this development having regard to the information referred to at Minute 948 above relating to the information released by the Communities for Local Government in November 2014 relating to developments involving vacant premises. In response, the Senior Planner explained that planning application MC/14/2737 had been received in September 2014, prior to the publication of the new rules and therefore the application had been processed on the information available at the time the application had been received.

The Committee discussed the application and concern was expressed as to the proposed materials to be used within the development and that the applicant had declined to have the proposed development processed through a Design Panel. The Senior Planner gave an assurance that although the applicant had not used a Design Panel, Officers had undertaken an internal assessment of the proposed development and were satisfied that it was of a reasonable design subject to future approval of materials to be used.

The Head of Planning advised that Officers were currently in the process of preparing a working paper as to those instances where it would be expected that a proposed development would be referred to a Design Panel for a review. This matter would be referred to Members at a future date for approval and would then be a document published on the Council’s website for use by developers.

Decision:

Approved subject to:

a)            The applicant entering into an agreement under the terms of Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to secure:

i)             25.5% affordable housing (28 units) comprising:

12 x one bedroom & 4 x two bedroom apartments for affordable rent; and

8 x three bedroom & 4 x two bedroom apartments for shared ownership;

ii)            The provision of a children's nursery in the Old Pump House or a contribution of £77,043.20;

iii)           Contribution of £136,640 towards primary school and secondary provision in the locality;

iv)           The provision of a community hall in the Old Pump House or a contribution of £15,858.36;

v)            Contribution of £47,652 towards improving pedestrian and cycle infrastructure in the vicinity;

vi)           The provision of Employment Training and Workforce Development in accordance with a Scheme to be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority prior to the commencement of development or a contribution of £22,800 towards employment training and workforce development;

vii)         The provision of landscaping in Luton Recreation Ground in accordance with drawing number 2160/14/B/13B plus £60,736.06 towards the maintenance of this landscaping for a period of 15 years;

viii)        The provision of an emergency access to Nelson Terrace;

ix)           The submission and approval of a Construction and Environmental Management Plan (CEMP)

b)            Conditions I – 4 and 6 – 20 as set out in the report for the reasons stated in the report and conditions 5 and 21 amended as follows:

5.         Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (or any order revoking and re-enacting that Order with or without modification) no additional windows or similar openings shall be constructed in the side elevation of houses on Plots 12, 13, 57, 58, 70, 71 and 82 without the prior written approval of the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: To enable the Local Planning Authority to regulate and control any such further development in the interests of amenity and privacy of adjoining property, in accordance with Policy BNE2 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

21.       No development above slab level shall take place until details of noise attenuation measures for the habitable rooms of all properties has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details and retained thereafter.

Reason: In the interests of amenity in accordance with policy BNE2 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

c)         The proposed materials to be used for this development be referred back to the Committee for approval.