Issue - meetings

Demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment of site to create 15 residential units with associated works

The committee received the report of the Head of Development Management, including the relevant planning history of the site and details of the responses to the application. 

The Principal Planning Officer (SH) introduced the report.  He explained that the application proposed the demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment of the site to create 15 residential units with associated works.  The site was an irregular shaped parcel of land.  It was a challenging site to bring forward for development.  However, careful design had innovatively responded to the site.  The car free proposal was suitable due to the sustainable location. 

The Chair invited Mr Alun Evans, the agent, to speak for the application.   Mr Evans stated that the site was unique as it was almost invisible from the highway.  The existing buildings had reached the end of their life and there was no economic benefit in their continued use.  The character of the area was becoming more established as residential.  The proposal had been submitted in early June and had been reviewed in detail by planning officers.  The scheme was car free which was of material benefit to highway safety.  The scheme was designed to account for considerable level changes across the site and minimise impact on the locally listed buildings.  With regards to affordable housing, the scheme had been reviewed by an independent advisor who had concluded that due to the build costs in the scheme it was unviable to provide any financial contribution at this stage.  The developer was taking on a risk to bring forward the scheme and it would take 18 months to construct the buildings. 

The Chair thanked the speaker and invited comments from the committee.

Committee members considered that it was an attractive modern scheme, however, the extensive use of unprotected timber had not weathered well in other developments in the town due to the level of pollution.  The developer was encouraged to steer away from using timber and replace it with something that would weather well.

With regards to being a car free development the committee commented that although the development was close to Bushey station it was often difficult to get onto the crowded trains and there were already parking problems in Oxhey Village.  There was also disappointment at the lack of affordable housing as there was a need for this in Watford; members expressed a wish to view the viability report.

The Chair moved the officer’s recommendation.

RESOLVED –

that, pursuant to a planning obligation under s.106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 having been completed to secure the following Heads of Terms, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions listed below:

Section 106 Heads of Terms

i)          To secure a review mechanism of the viability of the scheme for a contribution up to a maximum total contribution of £600,916 towards the provision of affordable housing in the Borough of Watford, subject to the review demonstrating the improved viability of the development.

Conditions

1.         The development to which  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44