Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Town Hall

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

Items
No. Item

13.

Apologies for absence/Committee membership

Minutes:

There were three changes to the committee for this meeting: Councillor Ahsan Khan replaced Councillor Turmaine, Councillor Asif Khan replaced Councillor Bell and Councillor Parker replaced Councillor Sharpe.

14.

Disclosure of interests (if any)

Minutes:

There were none.

15.

Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 July 2017 to be submitted and signed.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 July 2017 were submitted and signed.

16.

17/00558/FULM 64 and 73-77, Clarendon Road pdf icon PDF 154 KB

Redevelopment of site comprising removal of protected trees, construction of new 12 storey office building, high level footbridge link, hard and soft landscaping, basement car parking, new access arrangements and highways improvements

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 Head of Development Management introduced the report explaining that the application was for the redevelopment of the site, comprising the removal of protected trees, construction of a new 12 storey office building, high-level footbridge link, hard and soft landscaping, basement car parking, new access arrangements and highway improvements.

 

Attention was drawn to the update sheet which included an amendment to the Section 106 agreement.

 

The Chair invited Phil Marsden from Savills to speak for the application.  Mr Marsden explained that he was a planning consultant speaking on behalf of the applicant, TJX.  The company was seeking to consolidate its current offices to establish a compact campus, including a new landmark European headquarters building opposite Watford Junction Station.  The application included a footbridge link over Clarendon Road to number 64, Clarendon Road which was already in the ownership of the applicant.

 

TJX was seeking an ambitious expansion of its business, which would see a doubling of its workforce to 3,000 employees in the town over the next 5-10 years.  Mr Marsden suggested that this would make a significant contribution to Watford Borough Council’s Core Strategy requirement to provide at least 7,000 new jobs by 2031.

 

The applicant had worked closely with the Council during the pre-application phase, making a number of changes to the proposed building.  The result was a high quality, iconic design, which, with its improvements to the public realm, would provide a blueprint for Clarendon Road.

 

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

 

The committee welcomed the application, which represented a significant investment in the town’s economy, would generate a large number of new jobs both directly and indirectly, and increase the amount of quality floor space in one of Watford’s main employment areas.

 

Committee members considered the design to be iconic and reminiscent of landmark buildings to be found in London.  It was suitable for this prominent site.

 

Although the committee regretted the loss of the last two remaining Victorian villas on Clarendon Road, it was noted that these were now in a poor state of repair.  In addition, committee members felt that the benefits of the proposed scheme outweighed the loss of these buildings, which had been agreed in principle by the committee in January 2017.

 

Some members of the committee questioned the displacement parking effect on surrounding roads, despite the provision of underground parking facilities in the new building.  There was some discussion about the applicant’s travel plan and the need for this to be closely monitored by Hertfordshire County Council to ensure that it delivered sustainable modes of travel to the site for employees and visitors.

 

The committee questioned the impacts on surrounding properties, particularly to residential properties on Verulam Passage and on Westland Road.  In clarification, the Head of Development Management considered the loss of daylight/sunlight, outlook, privacy and noise.  He explained  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

17.

17/00478/FUL 77 and 77a, Eastbury Road pdf icon PDF 93 KB

Erection of two storey extensions to 77 and 77a Eastbury Road and conversion to 2 x 3 bedroom and 2 x 2 bedroom flats.  Erection of detached building comprising 2 x 2 bedroom flats.  New parking provision of 6 spaces plus associated garden areas and landscaping

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 Head of Development Management explained that the application was for the erection of two storey extensions to 77 and 77a Eastbury Road and conversion to flats. In addition, it was proposed to erect a detached building comprising 2 flats.  The development would include new parking provision plus associated garden areas and landscaping.

 

There were no speakers and the Chair invited comments from the committee.

 

Members of the committee expressed reservations about the design of the proposed extensions, which were considered bulky and unattractive.  However, it was acknowledged that the design complied fully with the guidelines in the Residential Design Guide and did not provide grounds for refusal.

 

The committee also noted the pressures on parking in the local area, which would be exacerbated by the development despite the provision of six parking spaces.

 

The Chair moved the officer’s recommendation.

 

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 following approved drawings:-

                       

            900/16/03, 04, 05, 06

 

3.         No development shall commence until details of the materials to be used for the external walls and the roof have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be carried out only in accordance with the approved materials.

 

4.         No dwelling hereby approved shall be occupied until the following works have been carried out in full:

 

i)          The construction of the 6 car parking spaces and associated crossovers as shown on drawing no. 900/16/05;

ii)         The construction of the 3 cycle/bin stores as shown on drawing nos. 900/16/05 and 900/16/10;

iii)        The formation of the private garden areas, including all fencing and paved areas, as shown on the approved Landscape Scheme drawing dated 28th March 2017.

 

5.         The soft landscaping scheme, as shown on the approved Landscape Scheme drawing dated 28th March 2017, shall be carried out in the first available planting season following the completion off the development. Any trees or plants whether new or existing which within a period of five years die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species, or in accordance with details approved by the Local Planning Authority.

                       

Informatives

 

1.         You are advised of the need to comply with the provisions of The Control of Pollution Act 1974, The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, The Clean Air Act 1993 and The Environmental Protection Act 1990.

 

            In order to minimise impact of noise, any works associated with the development which are audible at the site boundary should be restricted to the following hours:

 

·         Monday to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

18.

17/00486/FUL 9, Station Road pdf icon PDF 96 KB

Change of use of first floor commercial space from a mixed use comprising A1, A2, B1(a), D1 or coffee shop (serving hot and cold drinks, sandwiches and other light refreshments, and reheated/warmed food such as soup and paninis) to the approved mixed use and Class A4 use (drinking establishments)

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 Head of Development Management introduced the report explaining that the application was for a change of use of first floor commercial space to allow it to be used as a coffee shop and a wine bar.  This will allow the same range of uses at first floor as has recently been approved at ground floor (ref. 16/01582/COU).

 

In the absence of any speakers or comments from the committee, the Chair moved the officer’s recommendation.

 

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.         Notwithstanding the provisions of Schedule 2, Part 3 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, as amended, the commercial floor space shall only be used for  purposes within Use Classes A1, A2, A4, B1(a) and D1 of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987, as amended, or as a coffee shop (serving hot and cold drinks, sandwiches and other light refreshments, and reheated/warmed food such as soup and paninis, for consumption on or off the premises) and for no other purpose;

 

3.         No primary cooking of unprepared food shall be carried on within the premises. Only reheated food that has been prepared elsewhere or cold food shall be served within the premises.

 

4.         No live music or live performances of any kind shall take place at ground or first floor within the commercial unit.

 

5.         All windows to the first floor commercial floor space shall be fixed shut at all times.

 

6.         No amplified music shall be played at ground or first floor level within the commercial unit unless it is played through a single sound limiter device that has been approved by the Local Planning Authority. The music sound level shall not exceed 83dB LAmax one metre from any speaker. The sound limiter device shall be located in a separate and remote lockable cabinet from the volume control fitted to any musical amplification system and set at a level approved by the Local Planning Authority. The operational panel of the sound limiter device shall be secured to the satisfaction of the Local Planning Authority. The sound limiter device shall not be altered without the prior written approval of the Local Planning Authority.

 

Informative

 

1.         In dealing with this application, Watford Borough Council has considered the proposal in a positive and proactive manner having regard to the policies of the development plan as well as paragraphs 186 and 187 of the National Planning Policy Framework and other material considerations, and in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2010, as amended. The Council also undertook discussions with the applicant’s agent during the application process.

 

rating button