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 for absence.

2.

Disclosure of interests

Minutes:

Councillor Collett advised that her son owned a property in Hollingsworth Mews.

3.

Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 April 2019 to be submitted and signed.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 April 2019 were submitted and signed.

4.

19/00215/FUL - Land at Hollingsworth Mews Watford pdf icon PDF 546 KB

  • View the background to item 4.

Construction of a two storey block containing 6 flats with associated parking

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The committee received the report of the interim Head of Development Management, including the relevant planning history of the site and details of the responses to the application. 

 

The interim Head of Development Management explained that the application sought the construction of a two storey block containing six flats with associated parking.

 

The Chair invited Kenneth Peppett, a local resident and director of the Hollingsworth Mews management company, to speak to the committee.  Mr Peppett objected to the application on the grounds that it would overshadow existing residents in Hollingsworth Mews and Bramble Close, reducing daylight particularly during the winter months.  In addition, residents considered there was insufficient parking provision which would lead to overspill problems in surrounding areas. 

 

Mr Peppett also had some privacy concerns about the turning circle and proposed parking outside his property.

 

The Chair invited Eric Gadsden, the applicant, to speak to the committee.  Mr Gadsden explained the background to the Hollingsworth Mews development which would be completed with the current application. 

 

Addressing the concerns of the previous speaker, Mr Gadsden explained that the parking provision would be similar to the first stage of the development, i.e., one space per flat, but with two additional visitor spaces.  This was considered sufficient for one-bedroom flats.  Mr Gadsden disputed the extent of overspill parking problems in the area and the privacy concerns of existing residents.

 

Responding to a query from the Chair, the interim Head of Development Management confirmed that the proposed parking provision and privacy distances were considered acceptable.

 

The Chair invited comments from the committee.

 

Members of the committee acknowledged the disruption, anxiety and stress experienced by residents during developments, but advised that they needed to review applications against relevant planning considerations.  As stated in the officer’s report, despite residents’ concerns about parking, loss of light and privacy, there were no grounds to refuse the application.

 

The Chair moved the officer’s recommendation.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That conditional 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 hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved drawings:-

 

          Location plan; 19/3487/1; 19/3487/2; and 19/3487/3.

 

3.      No construction works above damp proof course level shall commence until details of the materials to be used for all the external finishes of the building, including walls, roofs, doors, windows and fascias, 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.      The tree protection measures contained within the Arboricultural Survey dated 02/05/2019 prepared by Merewood Arboricultural Services shall be implemented for the duration of the construction works, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

 

5.      No part of the development shall be occupied until full details of a hard and soft landscaping scheme has been submitted to and approved  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

19/00415/VAR - Caledonian House 39 - 55 St Albans Road pdf icon PDF 532 KB

  • View the background to item 5.

Variation of Condition 2 (approved drawings) and Condition 9 (green wall and green roof system) of planning permission 15/01532/FULM for removal of green wall on the rear elevation of the previously approved building (amended description)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The committee received the report of the interim Head of Development Management, including the relevant planning history of the site and details of the responses to the application. 

 

The interim Head of Development Management introduced the report.  She advised that the application sought a variation of Condition 2 (approved drawings) and Condition 9 (green wall and green roof system) of planning permission 15/01532/FULM for removal of green wall on the rear elevation of the previously approved building (amended description).

 

The Chair invited Adrian Buica, a local resident, to speak to the committee.  Mr Buica explained his concerns about the proposed patterned brick bonding, which he did not consider an adequate replacement for the green wall.  Referencing the inspector’s report of 13 April 2017, which was summarised in the officer’s report, Mr Buica argued that the developer should propose a more appropriate substitute to soften the appearance and restrict the impact on the outlook of neighbouring residential properties in Nascot Street.

 

Outlining his own reservations on the proposal, the Chair sought the views of the committee.

 

Committee members agreed with the concerns of local residents about the poor substitute provided by the proposed patterned brick bonding.  This was considered unimaginative and unsightly.  The original green wall had offset some of the harm of the development and was in keeping with the council’s ambition to provide quality developments for residents, which were also mindful of the environment.  Members cited examples of green walls, including elsewhere in the borough, which were safe and provided visual interest and environmental benefits.

 

Members of the committee proposed that a decision should be deferred to allow the developer time to reconsider its original green wall proposal or to devise alternative, visually attractive, options for the committee to consider.

 

The Chair moved the decision to defer the officer’s recommendation.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That planning permission be deferred to allow the developer time to reconsider its original green wall proposal or to devise alternative, visually attractive, options for the committee to consider.

6.

19/00246/VAR - 765 St Albans Road pdf icon PDF 398 KB

  • View the background to item 6.

Variation of Condition 3 (Approved drawings) and removal of Condition 1 (UKPN Land Ownership) of planning permission 18/01339/FULM for the demolition of a showroom and offices and the construction of a building comprising 18 x 2 bedroom 4 person flats including provision for 6 affordable housing units

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The committee received the report of the Interim 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 sought a variation of Condition 3 (Approved drawings) and removal of Condition 1 (UKPN Land Ownership) of planning permission 18/01339/FULM for the demolition of a showroom and offices and the construction of a building comprising 18 x 2 bedroom 4 person flats including provision for 6 affordable housing units.

 

There were no speakers and the Chair moved the officer’s recommendation.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That, pursuant to the completion of a unilateral undertaking under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) to secure the following planning obligation, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions listed below:

 

i)          The provision of 6 flats as affordable housing comprising 1 flat for social rent, 4 flats for affordable rent and 1 flat for shared ownership or other intermediate tenure.         

 

Conditions

 

1.         The development to which this permission relates shall be begun before 10 January 2022.

                       

2.         The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved drawings:-

                       

            Site location plan

            2667/RPA/1

            2667/PA/8C, 9B, 10B, 11A, 12B,

            2667/PA/4B, 5C, 6A, 7B

 

 3.        No development (excluding demolition works) shall commence until details and samples of the materials to be used for all the external finishes of the building, including walls, roofs, doors, windows and privacy screens to the roof terraces 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 demolition of the existing buildings or construction of the development shall commence until a detailed scheme to deal with the risks associated with the potential contamination of the site has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The scheme shall include:

           

i)          a preliminary risk assessment which has identified: all previous uses; potential contaminants associated with those uses; a conceptual model of the site indicating sources, pathways and receptors; and potentially unacceptable risks arising from contamination at the site;

 

ii)         a site investigation scheme, based on (i) to provide information for a detailed assessment of the risk to all receptors that may be affected, including those off site;

 

iii)        the results of the site investigation and risk assessment referred to in (ii) above and, based on these, an options appraisal and remediation strategy giving full details of the remediation measures required and how they are to be undertaken;

 

iv)        a verification plan providing details of the data that will be collected in order to demonstrate that the works set out in the remediation strategy in (iii) are complete and identifying any requirements for longer-term monitoring of pollutant linkages, maintenance and arrangements for contingency action.

 

            No changes to these components shall be undertaken without the written approval of the Local Planning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

19/00374/VAR - 85 Chalk Hill pdf icon PDF 407 KB

  • View the background to item 7.

Variation of Condition 2 (Approved drawings) of planning permission 17/00862/FULM for amendments to the layout and elevations of the previously approved scheme

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The committee received the report of the Interim Head of Development Management, including the relevant planning history of the site and details of the responses to the application. 

 

The Interim Head of Development Management introduced the report.  She advised that the application sought a variation of Condition 2 (Approved drawings) of planning permission 17/00862/FULM for amendments to the layout and elevations of the previously approved scheme.

 

There were no speakers and the Chair moved the officer’s recommendation, subject also to a change to the date in condition 1.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That planning permission be granted subject to the completion of a deed of variation to secure the planning obligations contained in the s.106 agreement dated 21 March 2019 and the conditions listed below.

 

1.         The development to which this permission relates shall be begun before 21 March 2022.

           

2.         The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved drawings:-

           

            MRPP2; 5407/A100 Rev S; 5407/A101 Rev N; 5407/A108 Rev G; TS16-148R\1; TS16-148R\2; TS16-148R\3; TS16-148R\4; TS16-148R\5.

 

3.         No construction works above damp proof course level shall commence until details of the materials to be used for all the external finishes of the buildings, including walls, roofs, doors, windows, fascias and balustrades, 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 construction works above damp proof course level shall commence until detailed drawings of the window and door reveals, brick detailing and capping to the external walls, 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 details.

 

5.         No part of the development shall be occupied until full details of a soft landscaping scheme have 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 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.

 

6.         No part of the development shall be occupied until full details of a hard landscaping scheme, including: details of the surfacing of the vehicular access, car park, pathways and amenity areas; details of all site boundary treatments, and all fencing or enclosures within the site, have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and the works have been carried out in accordance with the approved details, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

 

7.         No part of the development shall be occupied until details of the siting, size and design of refuse and recycling storage facilities have been submitted to and approved in writing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

 

rating button