Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Town Hall

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

Items
No. Item

74.

Apologies for absence/committee membership

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence.

75.

Disclosure of interests

Minutes:

Councillor Turmaine advised that he had had a conversation with a representative from the applicant for item 4, 17/01543/FULM Land to the south of Thomas Sawyer Way, but had no further association with the company.

 

It was noted that some members of the committee had participated in a site visit to land adjoining 136 Langley Road (17/01291/FUL).  The architect for the application had been present.

76.

Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 February 2018 to be submitted and signed.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 February 2018 were submitted and signed.

77.

17/01543/FULM Land to the south of Thomas Sawyer Way comprising the Waterside area and forming part of the Watford Riverwell development pdf icon PDF 178 KB

Development of a 253 unit residential care community for people above 55 years of age and with communal facilities

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 full planning permission was sought for the redevelopment of the site to provide a 253 unit residential care community with associated communal facilities. The proposal also sought to provide a new path to link Stripling Way with the wider development site.

 

In an update to the committee report, changes were proposed to conditions 2 and 3.  These would accommodate an amended site plan and remove an access road from requirement in condition 2.  A further condition needed to be added to state that no development should commence until a scheme to protect access to the MLX construction route and to protect the railway line had been agreed.  In addition, the conditions should be amended to enable phasing of the development.

 

The Chair invited Benedict Krauze from Mayfield Watford to speak for the application.  Mr Krauze set out the vision for the development which would provide 253 apartments specifically designed to accommodate the needs of older people (55 years of age and older).  He noted that an average occupant would be 79 years old and would be resident for between eight and ten years.

 

Mr Krauze explained that Mayfield was a care operator, not a developer, and the new development was intended to become part of the town.  Staff training and local engagement were important to ensure that it became a busy, active hub to the benefit of the local community.  In addition to the 75-85 jobs created, there would be wider economic benefits to the town and surrounding area with the release of family homes to the local market.  It was anticipated that the first apartments would be available in just over two years’ time.

 

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

 

Committee members welcomed the proposal which would bring a range of benefits to the town, including the release of family homes to the local housing market.  The design was well considered and the use compatible with the original health campus objectives.  There was a clear need for this type of accommodation in Watford.

 

Some members of the committee questioned the suitability of a 10 storey building for elderly occupation.  Concerns were also raised about the adequacy of parking provision, particularly in the light of plans to encourage engagement with the local community by hosting regular meetings to provide advice and guidance on issues affecting older people.

 

There followed some discussion about the desirability of giving local preference in the allocation of apartments, but this was not deemed feasible and could anyway not be achieved using the planning process.

 

The Chair moved the officer’s recommendation, subject to the changes and additions to the conditions outlined by the Head of Development Management.

 

RESOLVED –

 

that planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

 

1.         The development to which  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

78.

17/01291/FUL Land Adjoining 136 Langley Road pdf icon PDF 115 KB

Demolition of existing single storey brick garage and erection of one new dwelling

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 (HN) introduced the report.  He explained that full planning permission was sought for the demolition of the existing garage and the erection of a new 4 bedroom dwelling house, parking spaces, a layby and amenity space.

 

The Chair invited Barry Shedden, a local resident, to speak to the committee in opposition to the application.  Mr Shedden explained that local people considered the scheme did not comply with the council’s Residential Design Guide, particularly in regard to separation distances and overlooking.  In addition, there were questions about the accuracy of the application drawings, which omitted building and extension work carried out on the original property.

 

Neighbouring residents were concerned that the development would be visually dominant and would have an overbearing appearance.  This would be exacerbated by the extensive loss of trees from the site.  They also criticised the design of the development which was out of character with the area, and the proposed access and parking arrangements.

 

Mr Shedden provided the committee with some photographs to support his arguments.

 

The Chair invited Rob Marsh-Feiley, Hollins Architects, to speak for the scheme.  Mr Marsh-Feiley addressed the reasons for refusal of the previous application on this site and explained the changes which had been made to overcome the objections.  He explained that particular consideration had been given to local character appraisals, concerns about overlooking and the overshadowing of surrounding properties, safe access and egress and design initiatives to maximise the energy efficiency of the development.

 

The Chair invited Nascot Ward Councillor Mark Watkin to speak to the committee.  Councillor Watkin explained that local residents did not object in principle to the development of this site, but were concerned about its close proximity to neighbouring properties and the resultant loss of privacy.  He questioned whether the distances stated in the drawings was accurate and suggested that the unconventional design, with its flat roof, was out of character with the surrounding area.

 

Addressing questions about the separation distances, the Head of Development Management confirmed that all measurements had been taken from a scale plan.

 

In a clarification, the Head of Development Management advised that the flat roof would reduce the bulk and scale of the building, which, due to local topography, would only appear as one and a half storeys.  In addition, he suggested that neighbours’ concerns about overlooking from the balconies, could be overcome using privacy screens.

 

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

Committee members acknowledged that schemes of this type were now positively encouraged by government.  This changed the context for assessment and it was necessary to consider the degree of potential harm.  Although the design was different from surrounding properties, committee members considered that it was not out of keeping with the character of the area.  It was noted that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78.

79.

18/00009/FULM Watford Enterprise Centre 25 Greenhill Crescent pdf icon PDF 136 KB

Demolition and rebuilding of business units 1-5 (Block A).Extension to increase height of existing business units 6-21 (Blocks B, C, D, E).

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 Principal Planning Officer introduced the report explaining that the application proposed the demolition and rebuilding of business units 1-5 (Block A) and an extension to increase the height of existing business units 6-21 (Blocks B, C, D, E).

 

Attention was drawn to the update sheet which included a clarification and an additional condition.

 

There were no speakers.  After some clarification from the Principal Planning Officer about conditions attached to noise disturbance from plant and equipment and to the tree and landscaping scheme, the Chair moved the officer’s recommendation.

 

RESOLVED –

 

that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions listed below:

 

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 shall be carried out in accordance with the following drawings, unless otherwise approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The following drawings are hereby approved:

 

GHC-P001-S2-P1

Site Location Plan

GHC-P002-S2-P0

Existing Site Plan

GHC-P003-S2-P0

Existing Ground Floor Plan

GHC-P004-S2-P0

Proposed Site Plan

GHC-P100-S2-P0

Proposed Ground Floor Plan

GHC-P101-S2-P0

Proposed Mezzanine Floor Plan

GHC-P102-S2-P0

Proposed Roof Floor Plan

GHC-P103-S2-P0

Proposed Plans of Unit 12

GHC-P104-S2-P0

Proposed Plans of Unit 4

GHC-P200-S2-P0

Proposed Elevations 1-4

GHC-P201-S2-P0

Proposed Elevations 5-8

GHC-P202-S2-P0

Proposed Elevations Block A

GHC-P600-S2-P0

Design And Access Statement

 

3.         No works shall commence until a detailed scheme for the provision of mains water services to serve the development, including, where necessary, fire hydrants, has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. No occupation of the development shall take place until the approved mains water scheme has been provided in full.

 

4.         No work shall commence until a detailed tree and landscaping scheme for the site, including details of trees to the retained, trees to be removed and replacement planting, has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The approved landscaping scheme shall be carried out not later than the first available planting and seeding season after completion of 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.

           

5.         All the external surfaces of the development shall be finished in the materials specified in the application and as follows:

 

-          Brickwork: Red brick to match existing

-          Windows: Polyester powder coated Aluminium RAL 9005 (Signal Black)

-          Cladding to walls and mono-pitch roof: Polyester powder coated Aluminium. Profile 34/1000 trapezoidal box. Colour RAL 7012 (Basalt Grey)

-          Rainwater Pipes: Square sections, Polyester powder coated. Colour RAL 7012 (Basalt Grey)

-          Doors Steel Fire doors Colour RAL 9005 (Signal Black)

-          Roller Shutter:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79.

 

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