There was one change of membership for this meeting: Councillor Joynes replaced Councillor Turmaine.

Councillor Sharpe advised the Committee that whilst there had been much focus within his ward regarding agenda item 4, he had been careful not to become involved in any detailed discussions on this issue.

The minutes of the Development Management Committee held on 29 October 2015 to be submitted and signed.

Copies of the minutes of this meeting are usually available seven working days following the meeting.

All minutes are available on the Council’s website.

The minutes of the meeting held on 29 October 2015 were submitted and signed.

Consultation from Hertsmere Borough Council on a development adjoining the Borough, includes demolition of 37 Bucks Avenue and an equestrian facility and the redevelopment of the site to include 34 dwellings (including 12 affordable dwellings).

The Committee received the report of the Major Cases and Enforcement Manager, including the relevant planning history of the site.

The Major Cases and Enforcement Manager introduced the item, explaining that it related to a consultation received from Hertsmere Borough Council on a planning application for the redevelopment of the Bucks Meadow Riding School at 37, Bucks Avenue.  The proposal involved the demolition of all existing buildings on the site and the erection of 34 dwellings.  All of the proposed dwellings and associated development (roads, car parking, footpaths, environmental improvements, etc.) were located within Hertsmere Borough.  The consultation from Hertsmere sought the Council’s views on this, and the main issues of relevance for the Committee were set out in paragraph 7.1 of the officer’s report.  It was not the remit of the Committee to determine the application itself.

A separate planning application submitted to Watford, relating to the proposed access arrangements and associated traffic impacts, would be determined at a future committee meeting.

The Chair invited Kim Baxter from the Oxhey Village Environment Group to speak to the Committee in objection to the proposed development. 

Ms Baxter commented that residents had been unhappy about the outcome of local consultations on the proposed development.  They had taken advice from a planning lawyer and a traffic consultant.

Residents were not opposed to development on the former riding school site, however objected to the current proposal on the grounds that it was contrary to the policies contained in the National Planning Policy Framework and the Watford Local Plan.

In particular, residents considered that the proposed development was too cramped, that the design was incongruous and would have a detrimental impact on the Green Belt and on the amenity of neighbouring residents.  The development represented a significant increase in building volume and was disproportionate in scale, mass and height.  The open aspect currently enjoyed by residents would be lost.

There were also issues about parking provision and vehicular access to the site.

The Chair then invited Iain Taylor of Fusion Residential, the agent for the development, to speak to the Committee in support of the application.

Mr Taylor drew the Committee’s attention to the eight principle considerations highlighted in the officer’s report.  Each had been addressed fully.

He argued that the proposed development would be on developed land (conforming with policy HS1 concerning windfall housing sites) and represented the same volume and footprint as the existing buildings.  The closure of the riding facility had been accepted by Sport England in its assessment.

The design and layout would not impact on the character of the area and included provision for affordable housing, which was needed locally.

Local residents would benefit from the opening up of 11 hectares of land, including a village green with pond, as well as a recreation area and orchard.

The proposed parking provision exceeded requirements.

Thanking both speakers for their contributions, the Chair then invited Councillor Counter, Oxhey Ward Councillor, to speak to the Committee.

Councillor Counter reiterated the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

Proposed construction of 12 industrial units contained within four separate buildings, together with the formation of a new vehicular access linked to the new access road.

The Committee received the report of the Senior Planning Officer, including the relevant planning history of the site and details of responses to the application.

The Senior Planning Officer introduced the report.  He explained that full planning permission was sought for the construction of four buildings containing twelve industrial units and associated parking and landscaping.  The application also included the formation of a new vehicular access linked to the road serving the Health Campus, which was currently under construction. The scheme sought to create a wildlife area to be located in the area adjacent to the River Colne

The Chair opened the debate to Committee members.

Councillor Bell questioned the flood risk to the proposed industrial area, which had been the subject of comments in the officer’s report. 

The Senior Planning Officer explained that Hertfordshire County Council, as the Lead Local Flood Authority, had initially raised concerns about surface water drainage.  These concerns had since been alleviated in the light of further information and a condition on surface water drainage had been added to the report.

The Chair then moved the officer recommendation.

RESOLVED –

that planning permission be granted, subject to the completion of a deed of variation to the planning obligation completed under application 14/00511/OUTM  under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) to ensure that the provisions of this agreement apply equally to the current planning application and subject to the following conditions:

1.         The development to which this permission relates shall be begun within a period of three years commencing on the date of this permission.

2.         The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved drawings: 1567-TP3-LP-01; 1567-TP3-01 Rev F – amended plan received 26.10.15; 1567-TP3-02 Rev C; 1567-TP3-03 Rev D – amended plan received 06.10.15; 1567-TP3-04 Rev E – amended plan received 16.10.15; 1567-TP3-05 Rev B; 1567-TP3-06 Rev A – amended plan received 13.10.15; 1567-TP3-07 Rev A – amended plan received 10.11.15; 1567-TP3-08; 1567-TP3-09; 351-PA-03 C – amended plan received 10.11.15; 351-PA-05 F – amended plan received 10.11.15; 351-PA-08 B – amended plan received 10.11.15; 351-PA-060 C – amended plan received 10.11.15; 351-PA-061 E – amended plan received 10.11.15; 351-PA-062 E – amended plan received 10.11.15; 351-PA-070 C – amended plan received 10.11.15; 351-PA-071 E – amended plan received 10.11.15; 351-PA-101 F – amended plan received 10.11.15; 351-PA-102 F – amended plan received 10.11.15; 351-PA-DW01(1) B; 351-PA-DW01(2) B; 351-PA-DW01(3) B; 351-PA-DW02 B; 351-PA-DTP01(1) C – amended plan received 10.11.15; 351-PA-DTP01(2) A.

3.         Construction of the development hereby permitted shall not take place before 8am or after 6pm Mondays to Fridays, before 8am or after 1pm on Saturdays and not at all on Sundays and Public Holidays.

4.         No development shall commence until a Construction Environmental Management Plan has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. This Plan shall include (but not exclusively) details of the operation of the Considerate Contractors Scheme; a contact procedure for complaints; the routing of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.