Agenda item

Hempstead and Wigmore 

Redevelopment of existing surface level car parks to provide for retail or retail and leisure development, construction of a car park deck, amendments to access routes, servicing and internal pedestrian and vehicular routes, public realm works and landscaping.

Discussion:

The Vice Chairman chaired the meeting for this planning application.

The Head of Planning outlined the planning application and reminded the Committee that this application had been considered by the Committee on 14 February 2018 when it had been deferred for further consideration on matters of amenity and highways.

The Head of Planning reported upon the outcome of further discussions with the applicant arising from Members’ concerns and advised that the applicant had investigated the possible relocation of the new car park deck but considered that this was not feasible. The applicant considered that the impact upon residents was negligible having regard to the distance of the cark park deck from residential properties and the proposed landscaping scheme which would screen the deck.

The Head of Planning drew attention to the supplementary agenda advice sheet and suggested that if the Committee was minded to approve the application, new conditions 26 and 27 be approved. In addition, he drew attention to a number of representations received since despatch of the agenda objecting to this application, details of which were appended to the supplementary agenda advice sheet.

The Committee discussed the application and noted the distance of the car park deck from residential properties in Kingsdown Close and Tamarind Close.

It was suggested that, if approved, when considering the landscaping scheme under proposed condition 22, the applicant should be required to provide semi-mature trees and trees that are evergreen so that the deck remains screened for the full year.

Decision: 

Approved with conditions 1 – 25 as set out in the report for the reasons stated in the report, new conditions 26 and 27 as set out below and officers note that as part of the landscaping scheme referred to at condition 22, the trees used to screen the car park deck be semi mature and evergreen:

26.       Prior to any works above ground floor slab level on either the units or the new car park deck hereby approved, whichever is the former, details of a mechanism to procure a detailed assessment of the Sharstead Way/Hoath Way roundabout plus the wider highway network serving the centre and to investigate future design improvements shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The approved mechanism shall set out measures that will contribute towards the implementation of the design improvements.   The details shall also set out a programme for the detailed assessment to be undertaken.

Reason: To ensure the development is acceptable with regard to the Highway Network and in accordance with Policy T1 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

27.       Prior to first use of the deck car park, a plan showing a parking guidance system that displays the number of spaces available within the car park shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The approved signage shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details prior to first use and maintained in a working order thereafter.

Reason: To allow drivers to see available spaces to increase traffic flow and prevent queues forming in accordance with policies BNE2 and T13 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.