Agenda item

Fort Pitt Ward

Construction of a two storey residential house with associated landscaping and car parking (demolition of existing garage).

Councillor Myton withdrew from the meeting to speak as a Ward Councillor.

Discussion:

The Chief Planning Officer outlined the application in detail for the construction of a two storey residential house with associated landscaping and car parking (demolition of existing garage).

With the agreement of the Committee, Councillor Myton addressed the Committee as Ward Councillor and raised the following concerns:

• He spoke on behalf of local residents, who were disappointed that this planning application had come to the Planning Committee.  They considered the information provided by the agent and applicant did not tell the full story.
• The neighbouring property, at 37 Central Park Gardens was also owned by the applicant and was originally a house with four bedrooms and 1 bathroom.  Local residents viewed the renovation, and it now had 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms and was a HMO, although not registered with the Council.  Residents were concerned that 37 Central Park Gardens and the proposed new property would become HMO’s.
• Concerns were expressed regarding the amount of sewage spilling out in neighbouring gardens.
• Every member of the Central Parks Gardens Residents Association, which backed onto that private road, had objected to this planning application.  They had no intention of allowing the developer / applicant access to the private road in order to build the two parking spaces.   This could result in increased parking at the front and there were already issues with parking in the local area.  
• Concern for emergency vehicles having access during the construction phase and the road being shut while deliveries took place.

The Committee discussed the planning application noting the points raised by the Ward Councillor. 

The Chief Planning Officer clarified that the two parking spaces to the rear, off a private road, would require consent from the landowners to undertake the work.  A condition could be included that prior to the commencement of the development, the developer would have to prove they had access to those parking spaces.  If the developers could not prove access or provide parking, then the development could not be built.  

The Chief Planning Officer acknowledged Members’ concern about the property next door being a HMO and would this property, in the future, be converted into a HMO.  He explained that condition 4 stated the dwelling “shall remain within Class C3 and no change of use should be carried out unless planning permission had been granted”. 

The Chief Planning Officer confirmed that an additional condition could be added to protect the trees during construction.

The Chief Planning Officer explained that sewage would be secured by building regulations and was not a planning consideration.  

Decision:      

Approved with conditions 1 to 12 as set out in the report, with an amendment to Condition 11 and an additional Condition 13.

Amended Condition 11:

Prior to commencement of any construction works full details of the parking area to the rear and arrangement to access the parking area shall be submitted

to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and prior to the first occupation of the dwelling hereby approved, the area shown on drawing number BDS-CPG-P02 Rev E received 19 February 2025 for 2 new parking spaces shall be formed from permeable surfacing materials or provided with drainage arrangements. 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 these parking spaces.

Reason: To ensure the parking is kept available to prevent hazardous on-street parking in accordance with Policies T1 and T13 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

Additional Condition 13:

All trees on site shall be retained and protection measures in accordance with BS:5837 Trees in relation to Construction shall be installed prior to any demolition or construction works occurring and shall be maintained on site until the completion of the development.

Reason: To ensure the existing trees on site are retained and not damaged in accordance with Policies BNE1 and BNE43 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.