Agenda item

Rochester West

 

Demolition of existing buildings and structures and construction of a ground plus part five, part six storey building to comprise flexible commercial floorspace (Use Classes A1/A3/B1/B2/D2) at ground floor and providing a total of 64 residential units (Use Class C3) above, along with associated car parking and cycle parking, landscaping and other associated works.

Discussion:

 

The Head of Planning outlined the planning application in detail and suggested that if the Committee was minded to approve the planning application, there were proposed amendments to the Section 106 agreement and conditions, details of which were set out on the supplementary agenda advice sheet.

 

In addition, he reported receipt of additional letters of representation received since despatch of the agenda, copies of which were appended to the supplementary agenda advice sheet.

 

The Head of Planning informed the Committee that the proposed development would be a car-free development but confirmed that parking spaces would be available for disabled persons. This would be the first car-free development in Medway. It was considered that this particular site was suitable for a car free development as it was in a sustainable location being close to the centre of Rochester, had public transport links in close proximity and commercial units located on the ground floor which would likely include a convenience store.

 

The proposed development would also include six lockable individual cycle storage units.

 

The Committee discussed the application and in particular, those schools which would benefit from the educational element of the Section 106 agreement.

 

There was some concern that despite being promoted as a car free development, it was possible that some occupiers of the properties in the development may own a vehicle or choose to own a vehicle at a future date and would then seek to park their vehicle in other residential streets in Rochester where on-street parking was available. It was suggested that if this became a problem, it may be necessary to review Controlled Parking Zones in some areas of Rochester.

 

The Head of Planning advised that as part of the development, there would be a Car Club, which would enable cars to be available to occupiers of the properties for occasional use.

 

Arising from discussion, it was suggested that proposed condition 9 be strengthened to state that the disabled parking bays are to be solely used by disabled residents and not for visitors to the residential units unless they were also disabled.

 

A Member referred to the comments received from Kent Police and in response, the Head of Planning confirmed that if approved, the planning permission would include an informative encouraging the applicant to liaise with Kent Police.

 

A Member also suggested that an additional condition be imposed to cover the management of waste collection.

 

In response to questions as to the allocation of educational contributions, the Head of Planning informed the Committee that he would report back to Members on this Section 106 head of agreement before the Section 106 was signed.

 

Decision:

 

Approved subject to:

 

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

 

•           Contribution of £400,000 towards provision of affordable rented accommodation off site.

 

•           Contribution of £159,342.72 towards open space facilities within the vicinity of the development including The Vines and/or Eagle Court Open Space and/or Eastgate House Gardens as well as Medway’s Metropolitan park - Great Lines Heritage Park (towards repair, maintenance and inspections of bridges).

 

•           Contribution of £42,473.71 towards education and the provision of school places.

 

•           Contribution of £17,779 towards heritage and museums to improve interpretation at Rochester Castle.

 

•           Contribution of £4,890.88 towards youth services for detached work at the Rochester Castle park grounds for young people to have fitness sessions as part of our universal offer for young people in the Rochester community.

 

•           Contribution of £37,640.05 for the NHS towards reconfiguration and update of infrastructure in the Rochester Healthy Living Centre to support the delivery of primary care and community health services.

 

•           Contribution of £1,335.04 towards bird disturbance mitigation measures.

 

•           Provision of car club and access to car rental services for new residents and existing ones.

 

•           Restriction on permit parking for residents of this development.

 

b)         Conditions 1, 3 – 6, 11 – 22 and conditions 2, 7, 8, 9, 10 amended as follows and additional conditions 23 – 25 as set out below:

 

 

2. The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans:

 

Drawing numbers 6522-LOC, 6522-PL01, 6522-PL02, 6522-PL03, 6522-PL04 Rev E, 6522-PL05 Rev F, 6522-PL06 Rev K, 6522-PL07 Rev G, 6522-PL08 Rev G, 6522-PL09 Rev F, 6522-PL10 Rev F, 6522-PL11 Rev G, 6522-PL12 Rev F, 6522-PL20 Rev C, 6522-PL21 Rev D, 6522-PL22 Rev E, 6522-PL23 Rev E, 6522-PL24 Rev B, 6522-PL25 Rev D, 6522-PL26 Rev A, 6522-PL27, 6522-PL28 Rev C, 6522-PL40, 6522-PL50.

 

Reason: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

 

7.No commercial goods shall be loaded, unloaded, stored or otherwise handled and no vehicles shall arrive or depart, within the application site outside the hours 06:00 to 21:00 Monday to Sunday including Bank Holidays.

 

     Reason: To safeguard conditions amenity in accordance with Policy BNE2 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

 

8. The commercial use hereby permitted shall only operate between the hours of 06:00 to 23:00 Monday to Sunday including Bank Holidays.

 

Reason: To safeguard conditions amenity in accordance with Policy BNE2 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

           

9. No part of the development shall be occupied until a Parking Management Plan (including cycle parking) has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The Parking Management Plan shall contain details of how the car parking and cycle parking spaces within the development are to be managed and preserved for use by future residents and their visitors with particular reference to disabled residents and any visitors who would ordinarily be entitled to a visitor parking space. The Parking Management Plan shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details prior to the first occupation of the development and shall thereafter be retained.

 

Reason: To ensure satisfactory off-street parking in accordance with Policy T13 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

 

10. No dwelling shall be occupied until the cycle parking provision (including the six individual lockers) shown on the approved ground floor plans have been fully implemented.  All such cycle storage shall thereafter be retained.

 

Reason: To ensure the provision and permanent retention of bicycle spaces in accordance with Policy T4 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

           

23. No development shall take place until an Air Quality Emissions Mitigation Statement has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The Statement shall be prepared in accordance with the Medway Air Quality Planning Guidance (April 2016), and shall specify the measures that will be implemented as part of the development to mitigate the air quality impacts identified in the approved Addendum Technical Note, reference A3241/AQ/TW, dated 24 September 2018. The total monetary value of the mitigation to be provided shall be demonstrated to be equivalent to, or greater than, the total damage cost values calculated as part of the approved Addendum Technical Note. The development shall be implemented, and thereafter maintained, entirely in accordance with the measures set out in the approved Mitigation Statement.

 

Reason: To protect (and where possible enhance) air quality in the immediate area.

           

24. Not to construct to Practical Completion any dwelling until the Council has approved the Car Club Scheme. The approved Car Club Scheme shall be implemented prior to occupation and shall include a minimum of two cars to be delivered prior to occupation of 50% of the dwellings within the scheme, information on the location of the car club parking spaces and any discounts to be provided to residents including at least one year’s free membership to the car club and 25 miles free driving credit. The Car Club scheme shall also include information on how the use of the Car Club will be monitored including the submission of annual monitoring reports for two years. If these monitoring reports indicate the need for further Car Club vehicles then the Developer will fund the provision of a maximum of two additional vehicles.

 

Reason: To ensure that prospective residents have access to available cars if required.

 

25. A Condition on Waste Management with the specific wording to be agreed outside of the meeting.