Issue - meetings

The Principal Planning Officer (AR) delivered her report.

            The Chair then invited Mr Jim Richards of Nissen Richards Studio to address the committee. 

            Mr Richards explained how Nissen Richards had engaged in the process with the council and also the Design Review Panel.  He praised the process which had gone through two iterations and felt that this had improved the final scheme. 

The Chair thanked Mr Richards and opened the matter to the committee for discussion. 

Comment was made that the scheme before the committee was an improvement and in particular the reduction in height and the improved design, were welcomed.  Members expressed their profound disappointment about the lack of affordable housing and/or commuted sum. 

Clarification was sought on some issues, and the Principal Planning Officer assisted the members by informing them that the pedestrian access from Wellstones had been improved with an internal glass lobby. 

The Principal Planning Officer also assisted the committee regarding their concerns about the light levels in particular rooms in the scheme.  She explained that some of the long kitchens had low light levels but the living areas had sufficient light, with dual aspect windows or balconies.  Where the balconies caused a drop in light levels, this was made up by the other window.   

The committee continued to express their strong disapproval of the lack of affordable housing and also expressed their frustration with the rules on viability.  The Principal Planning Officer pointed out that viability had been robustly tested and there was a late stage review in place, should the costings change. 

The Chair then moved 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, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions listed in the Section 106 Heads of Terms and the conditions listed in Section 8 of the officer’s report.

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

Section 106 Heads of Terms

i)                    To secure a financial payment to the Council of £2,000 towards the variation of the Borough of Watford (Watford Central Area and West Watford Area) (Controlled Parking Zones) (Consolidation) Order 2010 to exclude the site from the controlled parking zone, thereby preventing residents’ parking permits being issued to the future occupiers of this site.

ii)                  To secure a review mechanism of the viability of the development to be undertaken towards the end of the project (at 75% of flat sales) when actual build costs and sales values of the flats are known. This shall allow a financial payment to be made towards affordable housing provision where the viability of the development can be shown to have improved to provide a financial surplus.

Conditions

1.      Time Limit

The development to which this permission relates shall be begun within a period of three  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19