There was a change of membership for this committee.  Councillor Pattinson replaced Councillor Sharpe.

Councillor Johnson reported that he was the Portfolio Holder for Housing and had been involved in preliminary discussions regarding application 19/00413/FULM Land At Epsom Road, but he had not expressed a formal view on the proposals.

The minutes of the meeting held on 31 July 2019 to be submitted and signed.

The minutes of the meeting held on 31 July 2019 were submitted and signed.

Retrospective application for the change of use of the outbuilding to gym, childrens' entertainment and leisure room with shower room and WC facilities

The committee received the report of the Interim Head of Development Management, including the relevant planning history of the site.

The Principal Planning Officer (AR) explained that this was a retrospective application for the change of use of the outbuilding to a gym and childrens' entertainment and leisure room with shower and WC facilities.

The Chair invited Park Ward Councillor Jessica Stiff to speak against the application.  Councillor Stiff outlined neighbours’ frustration that this application was once again before the committee, seeking retrospective planning permission as a result of changes to its proposed use.  Neighbours had concerns that the outbuilding could be used inappropriately in the future, possibly as a dwelling or school, and sought reassurance from the council that steps would be taken to prevent this.  A similar outbuilding near to the application address had recently been refused planning permission.

The Principal Planning Officer advised that this application sought to regularise the use of the outbuilding and secure it as incidental to the dwellinghouse.  This would be achieved using a s106 agreement, a legal agreement between the homeowner and the council which would continue for the life of the building.  Neighbours should advise the council if there was any improper use in the future.

Committee members were sympathetic to neighbours’ concerns about the intended use of the outbuilding and the potential for disturbance.  Following clarification from the Interim Head of Development Management, it was accepted that noise disturbance was an environment health consideration.

The Chair moved the officer’s recommendation.

RESOLVED –

That planning permission be granted subject to a s106 agreement to secure the heads of terms and subject to the conditions listed below:

Section 106 Heads of Terms

(a)        To use the outbuilding comprising the development only for purposes incidental to the dwellinghouse on the land and at no time for primary living accommodation or as a separate self-contained dwelling.

Conditions

1.         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: Site Location Plan 1:1250, CPA-125/8 and CPA-125/9.

Informatives

IN907 – Positive and proactive statement

IN914 - S106 Agreement

Phase two of residential development comprising 86 no. new one, two and three bed homes with associated landscaping, parking and public realm improvements alongside diversion and reconnection of an existing cycle route

The committee received the report of the Interim Head of Development Management, including the relevant planning history of the site.

The Principal Planning Officer (AC) introduced the report confirming that the applicant was Hart Homes, rather than Watford Community Housing as stated in the committee report.  He explained that the application was phase two of a residential development comprising 86 new one, two and three bed homes (23 affordable) with associated landscaping, parking and public realm improvements alongside diversion and reconnection of an existing cycle route.

It was noted that committee members had undertaken a site visit prior to the meeting.

In response to a query, the Principal Planning Officer outlined the steps that would be taken to protect the active badger sett on the site.  These were in accordance with the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. 

Although the Interim Head of Development Management advised that the development was fully policy compliant, with affordable housing located throughout all the blocks, some committee members sought reassurance that the size and tenure mix of the affordable housing provision had been maximised in the application.  Additional concerns were raised about the height of the proposed development and its potential impact on the character of the surrounding area.

The chair invited Councillor Bell to propose a motion to refuse.

Councillor Bell proposed that the application be refused on the grounds that due to its height and impact on the local environment it would change the character of the area and would adversely affect the amenity of local residents.

On being put to the committee, the motion was LOST.

The Chair moved the officer’s recommendation.

RESOLVED –

Section 106 Heads of Terms

i)                    To secure 23 flats as affordable housing comprising 4 x Social Rented (2 x 3 bed and 2 x 2 bed), 15 x Affordable Rented (4 x 3 bed and 11 x 2 bed) and 4 x Shared Ownership (4 x 2 bed)

ii)                  A financial contribution of £6,000 to Hertfordshire County Council for monitoring of the Travel Plan for the site.

iii)                To secure the provision of fire hydrants as required by the County Council to serve the development.

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:

       0463 PL 100

0463 PL 101

       0463 PL 102

0463 PL 103

0463 PL 104

0463 PL 105

0463 PL 106

0463 PL 107

0463 PL 150

0463 PL 151

0463 PL 200

0463 PL 201

0463 PL 202

0463 PL 700

480.04 (x 2 sheets)

Building Services Description for Planning Submission 2019

Design and Access Statement

Flood Risk Assess. & Surface Water Drainage Strategy - 133315-R1(0)-FRA

Transport Assessment

Travel Plan

Energy and Sustainability Statement

Noise Assessment Report 297358-01(01)

Stage 1: Tree Constrains, for residential development.

Stage 1 Road Safety Audit

Badger Monitoring Survey

Affordable Housing Statement

Affordable Housing Configuration  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

Variation of Condition 2 of planning permission 18/00323/FULM, for the demolition of the existing dwelling and outbuildings and redevelopment into 10 apartments

The committee received the report of the Interim Head of Development Management, including the relevant planning history of the site.

The Development Management Team Leader introduced the report, explaining that the application sought a variation of Condition 2 of planning permission 18/00323/FULM, for the demolition of the existing dwelling and outbuildings and redevelopment into 10 apartments (Class C3) with associated car parking, landscaping improvements, new accesses onto Oxhey Road and Hollybush Close and other associated external alterations, to change the two second floor one bed, two person flats into 2 two bed, three person flats.

The Chair moved the officer’s recommendation.

RESOLVED –

That planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

1.         The development shall commence before 7^th September 2021.

2.         The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance

with the following approved drawings:

PL_001; PL_002 Rev 01; PL_010; PL_011; PL_012; PL_020; PL_021; PL_022; PL_023; PL_024; PL_025; PL_026; PL_027; PL_050_180611; PL_051_180611; PL_100_180611; PL_101_180611; PL_401_180611; PL_402_180611; PL_403_180611; and PL_501_180611.

PL_102_190611; PL_103_190611; PL_201_190611; PL_202_190611; PL_203_190611; PL_204_190611; PL_205_190611; PL_301_190611; PL_302_190611;

3.         The development shall be constructed in accordance with the proposed land levels as shown on drawing P_001A, as approved under ref. 19/00149/DISCON.

4.         The proposed development and arboricultural works shall be carried out in accordance with the Arboricultural Method Statement (ref. AD/OXHY-1/WBC/738, received 25/2/2019) and Tree Protection Plan (drawing no. 738/1/01 Rev A) by Draffin Associates, as approved under ref. 19/00149/DISCON.

5.         The development shall be carried out in accordance with the external materials detailed in the document ‘Proposed External Finishes Revision 02, January 2019’ by Luminar Developments Limited, as approved under ref. 19/00149/DISCON.

6.         No construction works above damp proof course level shall commence until detailed drawings of the window and door reveals, brick detailing, zinc cladding 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.

7.         The surface water drainage scheme for the site shall be implemented in accordance with the Technical Note by Elliotwood (Ref. EWR001 dated 28.01.2019), as approved under ref. 19/00149/DISCON, prior to occupation of the development.

8.         The development shall be carried out in accordance with the Energy & Sustainability Statement by eb7 Limited dated 25 January 2019, as approved under ref. 19/00149/DISCON.

9.         No construction works above damp proof course level shall commence until a scheme for active and passive electric charging points for on-site vehicles has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The electric charging infrastructure and charging points shall be installed in accordance with the approved scheme prior to the first occupation of the development.

10.      No part of the development shall be occupied until the hard

landscaping scheme detailed on drawing no. 738/2/01 B by Draffin Associates, as approved under ref. 19/00149/DISCON, has been constructed. The soft landscaping scheme detailed drawing no. 738/2/01 B and in the Summary Tree and Landscape Statement by Draffin Associates, as approved under ref.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

Erection of 4 no. Light Industrial units (Class B1c), associated car and cycle parking and access

The committee received the report of the Interim Head of Development Management, including the relevant planning history of the site.

The Development Management Team Leader introduced the report, explaining that the application was for the erection of four light industrial units (Class B1c), associated car and cycle parking and access.

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 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:

DFW/PL/400, 401

DFW/EX/100, 200

DFW/PL/100, 101, 200, 201, 202

3.       No development approved by this planning permission shall commence until a remediation strategy to deal with the risks associated with contamination of the site has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority. This strategy will include the following components:

1)       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.

2)       A site investigation scheme, based on (1) to provide information for a detailed assessment of the risk to all receptors that may be affected, including those off site.

3)       The results of the site investigation and the detailed risk assessment referred to in (2) 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.

4)       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 (3) are complete and identifying any requirements for longer-term monitoring of pollutant linkages, maintenance and arrangements for contingency action.

          Any changes to these components require the written consent of the local planning authority. The scheme shall be implemented as approved.

4.       No development shall commence until a monitoring and maintenance plan in respect of contamination, including a timetable of monitoring and submission of reports to the Local Planning Authority, has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority. Reports as specified in the approved plan, including details of any necessary contingency action arising from the monitoring, shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority.

5.       No development shall commence until a scheme for managing any borehole installed for the investigation of soils, groundwater or geotechnical purposes has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The scheme shall provide details of how redundant boreholes are to be decommissioned and how any boreholes that need to be retained, post-development, for monitoring purposes will be secured, protected and inspected. The scheme as approved shall be implemented prior to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.