Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Town Hall

Contact: Ishbel Morren  Email: legalanddemocratic@watford.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence/Committee membership

Minutes:

There were no apologies.

2.

Disclosure of interests (if any)

Minutes:

There were none.

3.

Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 May 2017 to be submitted and signed.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 May 2017 were submitted and signed.

4.

17/00443/FUL 28, Beechpark Way pdf icon PDF 101 KB

Report of the Head of Development Management to consider the erection of a new detached dwelling house

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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 Development Management Team Leader introduced the report explaining that the application was for the erection of a new detached dwelling house of a similar scale and design to the existing housing on the road.  Access would be from a short spur off Beechpark Way.  There would be two parking spaces provided on the driveway in front of the house.

 

It was noted that some photographs had been submitted by local residents objecting to the application.  These had been circulated to committee members prior to the meeting.

 

The Chair invited Mr David Bowsher, a local resident, to speak against the application.  Speaking on behalf of local residents, Mr Bowsher drew the committee’s attention to the parking concerns of those living around the access spur to the proposed development.

 

Acknowledging that there was a growing trend for households to have several vehicles, Mr Bowsher explained that these additional vehicles were often parked on the road, restricting access and visibility on the highway.  The situation was exacerbated by visitors and trades people to properties.  Residents were concerned about the highway safety implications of adding a further household to this site.

 

In response to a query from the Chair, the Development Management Team Leader confirmed that concerns about highway safety were considered carefully in the planning process.  However, Beechpark Way was a cul de sac and had no through traffic.  The road was sufficiently wide to accommodate on-street parking without obstructing the flow of traffic.  There was good visibility and no parking restrictions.  All houses had integral garages and driveways providing on-site parking.

 

Thanking the speaker, the Chair invited comments from the committee.

 

The committee expressed sympathy with residents’ frustration about current parking arrangements in Beechpark Way.  Parking was a problem for many residents across the borough.  However, it was noted that Hertfordshire County Council as Highway Authority had not raised any objections to the development.  The proposed parking provision was also in line with the council’s own policies. 

 

Committee members observed that the proposed house would be very similar in scale and design to the existing house in the site and to the houses on Beechpark Way.  Therefore, it would not harm the character and appearance of the area.

 

There were no grounds to refuse planning permission.

 

Moving the officer’s recommendation, the Chair reiterated the committee’s view that parking was an irritation for many residents in the town.  He advised that parking control measures, which lay outside planning control, might provide a solution to current concerns.  This process could be assisted by local ward councillors.

 

RESOLVED –

 

that planning permission be granted 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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

17/00091/OUT The Tech Site, Woodshots Meadow, Hatters Lane pdf icon PDF 235 KB

Report of the Head of Development Management to consider an outline application for the demolition of the existing buildings and erection of four new office buildings, ancillary staff amenity building, and car parking (with access to be determined) (Duplicate application to Three Rivers District Council).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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 Development Management Team Leader explained that this item was an outline application for the demolition of the existing buildings and erection of four new office buildings, ancillary staff amenity building, and car parking (with access to be determined).  This was a duplicate application to Three Rivers District Council.

 

Before inviting comments from the committee, the Chair emphasised the value of undertaking site visits prior to committee discussions.  He strongly encouraged members of the committee to attend future visits, which would be accompanied by a planning officer.  The visits would be particularly important ahead of committee discussions on any major or controversial schemes.

 

As a result of his own visit to the proposed Tech Site, the Chair advised the need for good car park design.  Although matters of appearance had been reserved for subsequent approval, he urged that elevations of the buildings facing the river be given equal consideration to the appearance of the two other outward facing elevations.  The Chair added that the design treatment of the car park should be of high quality in itself and not rely solely on planting to screen its appearance from the road.

 

Members of the committee welcomed the employment opportunities represented by the proposed development, which would also improve the quality of available office floor space in the town.

 

Some members of the committee expressed concerns about the impact of the proposed development on local traffic levels.  It was noted that the surrounding road network was constrained and that mitigation measures around two key junctions, which were the subject of a Section 278 Agreement (Highways Act), would be put in place to address these concerns.  However, committee members agreed that the mitigation measures, and the pressure on parking ratios within the site, would need to be monitored closely.

 

In response to concerns about the extent of environmental, ecological and archaeological appraisals undertaken on the site, the Development Management Team Leader confirmed that the relevant authorities within Hertfordshire County Council had been consulted and comments submitted. 

 

Councillor Sharpe proposed that an informative note be added to provide guidance to the developer in regard to the design of the main elevations of the proposed multi-storey car park.  It was agreed that this action should be delegated to officers to complete outside the meeting.

 

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, outline planning permission be granted subject to the conditions listed below:

 

Section 106 Heads of Terms (Provisional)

 

i)          To secure a financial payment to Hertfordshire County Council of £20,000 towards off-site highway mitigation works at the Ascot Road/Morrison’s Access roundabout, as detailed on drawing no. 16037-01-208 (Markides Associates).

 

ii)         To secure a financial payment to Hertfordshire County  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

 

rating button