Agenda item

River

 

Proposed development of 179 apartments on existing public car park site in 4 No. blocks, with ancillary leisure facilities, associated car parking and landscaping (including 40 No. parking spaces retained for public use).

 

Discussion:

 

The Head of Planning outlined the planning application and in doing so suggested that if the Committee was minded to approve the application, such approval be subject to an additional head to the proposed Section 106 agreement, amendments to proposed conditions 2, 18 and 20, the deletion of proposed condition 22 and its replacement with a new condition 22 and the addition of new conditions 23 – 27, details of which were set out on the supplementary agenda advice sheet.

 

In addition, he drew attention to an amendment to the proposal section of the report and further additional text to be added to the highways, Section 106 and other matters sections of the report, all of which were set out on the supplementary agenda advice sheet.

 

The Committee was informed that since publication of the agenda, a Highway Safety Audit had been received from the applicant on 29 March, therefore subject to the application being approved, the Head of Planning sought delegated authority to assess the Highway Safety Audit on the basis that if there were any concerns, the application would be resubmitted to the Committee for consideration.

 

In outlining the planning application, the Head of Planning informed the Committee that development of this site had been under discussion for several years and that the current proposed scheme had been significantly amended resulting in a reduction in the height of the proposed development.

 

Subject to approval, 25% affordable housing would be provided off site on adjacent land owned by MHS. However, if following discussions, this was not feasible, then the 25% affordable housing would be provided as part of the development resulting in adjustments to the internal layout of the accommodation and which may also result in some external changes.

 

The Committee discussed the application noting that whilst there was parking provision on site, this was limited to reflect the fact that this development was in a sustainable location close to public transport connections at both the bus station and the railway station.

 

The Committee also noted that this site was in a prominent location which would assist regeneration of the town centre but at the same time respected the adjacent Great Lines Heritage Park.

 

Decision:

 

Approved subject to:

 

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

 

i)          Provision of at least 25% affordable housing on the adjacent MHS site (subject to this site being submitted and granted planning permission) accessed from Queen Street or alternatively provided on site

 

ii)         Contribution of £237,195.47 towards education and the provision of nursery, primary and secondary school places.

 

iii)        Contribution of £52,053.20 towards heritage and museums for improvements to the Old Brook Pumping Station.

 

iv)        Contribution of £465,691.77 to enhance open space facilities within the vicinity of the development, including Great Lines Heritage Park, Town Hall Gardens and the Paddock.

 

v)         Contribution of £115,417.41 for the NHS to support the purchase of equipment and infrastructure for a new Healthy Living Centre in the Chatham Central locality.

 

vi)        Contribution of £30,143.60 towards improving facilities and equipment at Chatham Library

 

vii)       Contribution of £5,940.00 towards signage, information and surface improvements to Public Rights of Way in the vicinity of the site.

 

viii)      Contribution of £44,819.81 towards bird disturbance mitigation measures

 

ix)        Contribution of £31,584.55 towards waste services for the provision, improvement and promotion of waste and recycling services.

 

x)         Contribution of £14,294.94 towards Medway Youth Services programme delivery for young people in the Chatham area.

 

xi)        Contribution of £33,444.36 towards community facilities in the vicinity of the site.

 

xii)       Contribution of £7,500 towards improvements to public transport infrastructure.

 

b)        Conditions 1, 3 – 17, 19 and 21 as set out in the report for the reasons stated in the report, conditions 2, 18 and 20 amended, condition 22 replaced and new conditions 23 – 27 as set out below:

 

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

 

Drawing numbers: Site Location Plan  P1002 A, Existing Site Plan  P1005, Apartment Types 1  2203 - P1115 A, Apartment Types 2  2203 - P1116 A, Apartment Types 3  2203 - P1117 A, Proposed South West Elevation 2203 - 1201 B, Proposed East Elevation 2203 - 1202 B, Proposed South East Elevation 2203 - 1203 B, Proposed North West Elevation 2203 - 1204 B, Proposed Site Section A - A  2203 - P1210 B, Proposed Site Section B - B  2203 - P1211 B, Section Courtyard 1 Block A  2203 - P1212 A, Section Courtyard 1 Block B  2203 - P1213 A, Section Courtyard 2 Block B  2203 - P1214 A, Section Courtyard 2 Block C  2203 - P1215 A, Section Courtyard 3 Block C  2203 - P1216 A, Section Courtyard 3 Block D  2203 - P1217 A, Longitudinal Section  2203 - P1218, Proposed External Materials  2203 - P1220 A, Detailed Typical Elevation The Brook  2203 - P1222, Proposed Landscape Plan Courtyards  2203 - P1230, Proposed Landscape Plan The Brook  2203 - P1231, Proposed Landscape Plan Cross Street  2203 - P1232, Original Boundary Overlap  2203 - SK002, Car Park Access Vehicle Tracking  2203 - SK003, received 3rd November 2020.

 

And the following revised plans: Site Block Plan 2203 - P1003 C, Ground Floor Plan 2203 - P1100 D, First Floor Plan 2203 - P1101 D, Second Floor Plan 2203 - P1102 D, Third Floor Plan 2203 - P1103 D, Fourth Floor Plan 2203 - P1104 C, Fifth Floor Plan 2203 - P1105 C, Sixth Floor Plan 2203 - P1106 C, Seventh Floor Plan 2203 - P1107 C, Proposed Roof Plan 2203 - P1150 D, received 9th March 2020.

 

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

 

18        No development above ground floor slab level shall take place until a scheme of acoustic protection against road traffic noise has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The scheme shall include full details of acoustic protection sufficient to ensure internal noise levels (LAeq,T) no greater than 30dB in bedrooms and 35dB in living rooms with windows closed and a maximum noise level (LAmax) of no more than 45dB(A) with windows closed.  Where the internal noise levels will be exceeded with windows open, the scheme shall incorporate appropriate acoustically screened mechanical ventilation. All works to each flat block, which form part of the approved scheme, shall be completed before any unit in that flat block is occupied and shall thereafter be maintained in accordance with the approved details.

 

Reason: In the interests of residential amenity and to accord with Policy BNE2 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

 

20        No development above ground floor slab level shall take place until a scheme of acoustic protection against noise and vibration from the ground floor uses, as well as car park areas, has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The scheme must demonstrate that the internal noise levels within the residential units will conform to the indoor ambient noise levels for dwellings identified by BS8233 2014: Guidance on Sound Insulation and Noise Reduction for Buildings, and that levels of vibration do not exceed any applicable guideline levels. All works to each flat block which form part of the approved scheme shall be completed before any unit within that flat block is occupied and shall thereafter be maintained in accordance with the approved details.

 

Reason: In the interests of residential amenity and to accord with Policy BNE2 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

 

22        No development above ground floor slab level shall take place until full details of the following highway improvements have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority:

 

Arrangements as outlined in drawing (drawings 19095 - TR001and 19095 - 010)

 

The approved details shall thereafter be implemented in full prior to first occupation of any part of the development.

 

Reason: To ensure the development preserves conditions of highway safety, pedestrian safety and the free flow of traffic, in accordance with Policies T1, T2 and T3 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

 

23        No part of the development shall be occupied, until the area shown on the submitted layout as vehicle parking space has been provided, surfaced and drained in accordance with details submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  Thereafter it shall be kept available for such use and no permanent development, whether or not permitted by the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (or any order amending, revoking or re-enacting that Order) shall be carried out on the land so shown or in such a position as to preclude vehicular access to this reserved parking space.

 

Reason: Development without provision of adequate accommodation for the parking of vehicles is likely to lead to hazardous on-street parking and in accordance with Policy T13 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

 

24        No part of the development shall be occupied until a Parking Management Plan has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The Parking Management Plan shall contain details of how public car park will be maintained and how residents & their visitors will be deterred from parking on street. The Parking Management Plan shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details prior to the first occupation of any residential unit and shall thereafter be retained.

 

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

 

25        No part of the development shall be occupied until details of cycle storage facilities with the inclusion individual lockers have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The cycle storage facilities for each block shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details and provided prior to first occupation of the block that they relate to and shall thereafter be maintained.

 

Reason: To ensure satisfactory cycle storage in accordance with Policy T4 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

 

26        No part of the development shall be occupied, until details of the provision of the electric vehicle charging points (15% active and 75% passive) has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  Details shall include the location, charging type (power output and charging speed), associated infrastructure and timetable for installation.  The development shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details prior to first occupation of the development and shall thereafter be maintained.

 

Reason: In the interests of sustainability in accordance with paragraph 110E of the NPPF.

 

27        No development above slab level shall take place until measures to address energy efficiency and climate change have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be undertaken in accordance with the approved details and prior to first occupation of each block a verification report prepared by a suitably qualified professional shall be submitted to the Local Planning Authority confirming that all the agreed measures for that block have been undertaken and will thereafter be maintained on site.

 

Reason: In the interests of sustainability and to positively address concerns regarding Climate Change in accordance with the NPPF.

 

c)         The Head of Planning be granted delegated authority to assess the Highway Safety Audit on the basis that if there are any concerns, the application will be resubmitted to the Committee for consideration.