Enlargement and conversion of roof space to provide 5 self-contained flats, with associated bin and cycle storage.

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 (AR) explained that the application proposed the enlargement and conversion of roof space to provide five self-contained flats, with associated bin and cycle storage.

Attention was drawn to the update sheet which noted four additional representations to the application, all from previous objectors.

The Chair invited Jeff Benveniste, a local resident, to speak against the application.  Mr Benveniste advised that revisions to the application increased the detrimental impact on residents.  There were three main grounds for concern: first the insufficiency of parking space; second the increase in traffic congestion; and third the inadequacy of bin storage.

Responding to a query from the Chair, the Principal Planning Officer confirmed that Hertfordshire Highways had not raised any concerns on the application in relation to capacity, safety and sustainability issues. 

In a further clarification, she advised that the conditions to the planning permission included a requirement to provide adequate bin storage to serve the existing and proposed flats (6 x 1100 litre bins and 3 x 240 litre bins), considerably exceeding current arrangements.  Amendments to the application had also sought to find suitable space and location for the bin storage, as well as a proper means of enclosure.

The Chair invited comments from the committee.  Members of the committee outlined the overwhelming drive for development from national government, particularly at sites such as this which were deemed highly sustainable in terms of access to local amenities and to public transport. 

Although acknowledging residents’ concerns about parking levels, this did not provide grounds for refusal.  Equally, since no objections had been raised by Hertfordshire Highways, the concerns of residents about increased traffic congestion in the local area could not be taken into account.

The Chair moved the officer’s recommendation.

RESOLVED –

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

Conditions

1.                  The development to which this permission relates shall be begun within a period of 3 years commencing on the date of this permission.

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

Site Location Plan 1:1250

18/3169/2 Existing site plan

18/3169/3 Rev B Proposed site plan

18/3169/4 Existing floor plans

18/3169/105 Rev B Proposed floor plans

18/3169/106 Existing elevations

18/3169/107 Proposed elevations

18/3169/8 Sections

3.         None of the new dwellings shall be occupied until details of the size, type, siting and finish of refuse and recycling storage enclosures for the flats has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The siting of the bin storage shall be in accordance with the approved plans. The stores approved under this condition shall be installed and made available for use prior to the occupation of any of the new dwellings and shall be retained at all times for refuse/recycling only and shall not be used for any other purpose.

4.         None of the new dwellings shall be occupied until details of the size, type, siting and finish of a cycle storage enclosure for the proposed flats has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The storage approved under this condition shall be installed and made available for use prior to the occupation of any part of the development and shall be retained at all times for cycle storage only and shall not be used for any other purpose.

5.         All the external surfaces of the development shall be finished in materials to match the colour, texture and style of the existing building. In the event of matching materials not being available, details of any alternative materials shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to the commencement of the development and the development shall only be carried out in accordance with any alternative details approved by this Condition.

Informatives

IN907 Consideration of proposal in a positive and proactive manner

IN909 Street naming and Numbering

IN910 Building Control

IN911 Party Wall

IN912 Hours of Construction

IN913 Community Infrastructure Levy Liability