It was noted that there were two vacancies on Development Management Committee for this meeting.

There were none.

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 April 2016 were submitted and signed.

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 introduced the item, explaining that the application proposed the demolition of the existing building and the erection of 4 houses and 34 apartments with associated parking, amenity space and landscaping.

Attention was drawn to the update report, which included some clarifications, additional comments, and changes to the conditions and informatives.  This had been supplemented with some late comments from the Urban Design and Conservation Manager.

It was reported that the committee had undertaken a site visit prior to the meeting.

The Chair invited Catherine Maxwell to speak in objection to the application.  Professor Maxwell explained that she was speaking on behalf of local residents, including those in Salters Gardens and Prince Michael of Kent Court, who were not opposed to development of the site, but sought changes to the proposed scheme.

Residents considered that the application was an overdevelopment of the site in height and scale, threatening the privacy and outlook of surrounding properties and contrary to policy UD1 of the Watford Local Plan Core Strategy. 

This part of Stratford Road was a peaceful area, providing many retirement dwellings for elderly and vulnerable people.  The development would increase traffic and footfall, and impact on highway safety.  Residents questioned the conclusions of the transport statement submitted with the application.

Additional concerns were expressed about the loss of trees and green screening, which were a key part of the quality of life experienced by local residents.

The Chair then asked Alan Ward to speak in support of the application.  Mr Ward explained that Chase New Homes had consulted extensively with council officers and residents during the pre-application stage.  This had resulted in a large number of changes to the original plans.

Mr Ward argued that the scale of the proposed scheme was not out of character with surrounding buildings.  Care had been taken in the design near to the development’s boundaries to take into account concerns about privacy and overlooking. He noted that the latest comments from the Urban Design and Conservation Manager were supportive of the proposed scheme. 

Addressing residents’ concerns about tree loss, Mr Ward drew the committee’s attention to the replanting proposals in the application.

Thanking the speakers, the Chair invited Councillor Hofman, Nascot Ward Councillor, to speak to the committee.  Councillor Hofman commented that there had been limited consultation with the local community about the loss of the NHS facility, which had occupied the site previously.  Fundamentally, residents considered the proposed scheme to be an overdevelopment, sited too close to Salters Gardens.

Councillor Hofman expressed some frustration at the late circulation of comments from the Urban Design and Conservation Manager, particularly since her previous remarks had been very persuasive against compromising the nearby conservation area and adjacent almshouses.

The Chair then invited Councillor J Johnson, Nascot Ward Councillor, to speak to the committee.  Councillor Johnson  ...  view the full minutes text for item 90.

Noting that this was the last meeting of the current cycle, the Chair expressed his thanks to all members of the Development Management Committee for their useful contributions to discussions over the past year.