To receive any announcements from the Chairman and any matters of communication.

The Chairman advised the meeting that the order of business for the planning applications would be Items 6, 7, 9 and 8.

The Chairman reminded Members of the Committee that they had to be present throughout the entire debate on an Item (including the officer’s introduction) in order that they could participate and vote upon it.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Development Management Committee held on 13 September 2017 (copy to follow).

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting of the Development Management Committee held on 13 September 2017 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To receive from Members any declarations of interest, including membership of any Parish/Town Council consulted upon during the planning application process and the way in which a Member cast his/her vote.

To consider the report of the Director of Regeneration and Business which provides a monthly update of planning enforcement cases where action has been taken.

The Chairman advised Members to raise any issues they might have with regard to planning enforcement cases with the Planning Enforcement and Appeals Team Leader.

Address:       Former Magistrates Court and Police Station, Hockliffe Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 3FF

Outline: Demolition of former magistrates court and police station buildings. Erection of a care home of up to 68 beds including day care facilities and associated hardstanding. Access to be taken from Hockliffe Road.

Applicant:     Central Bedfordshire Council

The Committee considered a report regarding Planning Application No. CB/17/03683/OUT, an outline application for the demolition of the former magistrates court and police station buildings, erection of a care home of up to 68 beds including day care facilities and associated hardstanding with access to be taken from Hockliffe Road at the former magistrates court and police station, Hockliffe Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 3FF.

In advance of consideration of the application the Committee’s attention was drawn to additional consultation/publicity responses, additional/amended conditions/reasons and additional informatives.

In advance of consideration of the application the Committee received representations from an objector to the application and from the applicant’s agent under the public participation scheme.

Clarification was sought from the objector regarding the position at which the possible overlooking of his property might occur, Members being aware that the development layout before them was indicative.  Clarification was also sought from the objector regarding a meeting on the proposals which he claimed had taken place in September 2017 but which he had not been advised of.  The Vice-Chairman advised that the meeting had been organised by Central Bedfordshire Council staff, fully publicised and open to the public.  However, the objector felt that in view of his immediate proximity to the site he should have been notified directly.

Clarification was sought from the applicant’s agent regarding his request that the recommended conditions be varied to delegate authority to the officers to allow demolition of the site concurrently with reserved matters once the conditions relating to heritage and archaeology had been met.  Members were aware that the existing conditions required that Reserved Matters were submitted and approved by the Council before demolition took place.  The agent explained that the variation was sought in order to allow the applicant to market a cleared site to prospective purchasers whereas the existing conditions required the applicant to design a care home and submit a Reserved Matters application before being able to market the site.  The requirement was viewed as unnecessary and wasteful given that it was almost certain that a care home operator would wish to design their own building and would therefore have to submit a Reserved Matters application of their own.  In response the planning officer explained that the recommended conditions had been so worded to guard against a large site in Leighton Buzzard town centre from being left vacant and open, possibly for an extended period of time, and a possible change in market conditions in which there was no longer a need for a care home.

The ward Member indicated his support for the application.  He referred to the various restrictions set out within the conditions and commented that they would give the objector some protection whilst adding that further details would be considered at a later stage.  The ward Member then emphasised that he would not wish to see any relaxation of the highways conditions given the protection they offered to local residents and that the objector should be given the opportunity to view  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

Address:       Land to the east of 38 to 42 Carters Way and to the south of 1 to 8 Carters Walk, Carters Way, Arlesey (nearest postcode SG15 6UQ)

Demolition of existing garages and development of 2 no. new dwellings with amenities and car parking.

Applicant:     Grand Union Housing Group

The Committee considered a report regarding Planning Application No. CB/17/03402/FULL for the demolition of existing garages and development of 2 no. new dwellings with amenities and car parking on land to the east of 38 to 42 Carters Way and to the south of 1 to 8 Carters Walk, Carters Way, Arlesey.

In advance of consideration of the application the Committee’s attention was drawn to an additional condition/reason as set out in the Late Sheet.

In advance of consideration of the application the Committee received a representation from Arlesey Town Council and a joint representation from two objectors under the public participation scheme.

A Member sought clarification on a point raised by both the Town Council and the objectors with regard to the current use of the 16 garages forming the two blocks which would be demolished should the application be approved.  In response the Town Council representative stated that he believed 12 of the 14 occupied garages were used for vehicles whilst the objectors stated that they were personally aware that at least seven of the garages contained vehicles.

The Chairman advised the meeting that the applicant had stated that it would not know what its garages were used for until the tenants were evicted.

The Committee considered the application and in summary discussed the following:

·         Concerns over the major exacerbation of existing parking problems and the substantial loss of green amenity land and a tree as a direct result of the demolition of the garage blocks and the construction of the two new dwellings.

·         That the construction of the new dwellings did not represent a significant contribution to the affordable housing stock, especially as a large number of affordable homes were to be built as a part of the Arlesey Cross development.

·         Comment by a Member that whilst he was not opposed to development of garage sites the garage blocks that were proposed for demolition were in good condition.  He was of the opinion that the application before the Committee was ill thought out and lacked sufficient information.

·         A second Member’s comment that, whilst he supported the refusal of the application because of the loss of amenity land, the Council had, in the past, approved the demolition of garage blocks and the construction of car parking bays involving the loss of such green space.  He was also aware that such garages were often used for storage purposes by both individuals and small businesses.  The Member therefore viewed the possibility of future demolition of the garage blocks as dependant to a degree on the applicant’s submission of a scheme sufficiently imaginative to offset the loss of amenity.

It was proposed and seconded that the application be refused on the grounds of loss of existing parking provision leading to the exacerbation of existing parking problems, the loss of amenity land and a tree in order to provide the new parking spaces and that the proposed dwellings did not provide a significant contribution to the affordable housing stock.

On being put  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

Address:       2 Jordan Close, Henlow, SG16 6PH

First floor extension over existing garage and single/two storey extension to rear of garage.

Applicant:     Mr Wenham

The Committee considered a report regarding Planning Application No. CB/17/03624/FULL for a first floor extension over existing garage and single/two storey extension to rear of garage at 2 Jordan Close, Henlow, SG16 6PH.

In advance of consideration of the application the Committee’s attention was drawn to additional comments, clarification of submitted plans and an amended condition.

In advance of consideration of the application the Committee received a representation from an objector to the application under the public participation scheme.

The objector drew the Committee’s attention to an apparent error in the location plan because it included some of the objector’s own land within the indicated application site.  In response a planning officer stated that a planning application could include any area of land not within the applicant’s control subject to the correct notice being served on the land owner and this had been done.  However, he also referred specifically to the shared access within the application site as the issue which had given rise to the applicant’s action.  Given this he stated that there was no planning issue for the Committee to consider.

The Committee considered the application and no issues were raised.

On being put to the vote 8 Members voted for approval, 0 voted against and 1 abstained.

RESOLVED

that Planning Application No. CB/17/03624/FULL relating to 2 Jordan Close, Henlow, SG16 6PH approved as set out in the Schedule attached to these minutes.

Address:       65 High Street, Ridgmont, Bedford, MK43 0TX

Demolition of existing wooden storage barn, relocation of 3 existing wooden stables and construction of new dwelling within existing paddock and plot behind no.65 High Street, Ridgmont.

Applicant:     Mr & Mrs Lambeth

The Committee considered a report regarding Planning Application No. CB/17/03684/FULL for the demolition of an existing wooden storage barn, relocation of 3 existing wooden stables and construction of a new dwelling within the existing paddock and plot behind no. 65 High Street, Ridgmont, Bedford, MK43 0TX.

In advance of consideration of the application the Committee’s attention was drawn to additional/amended conditions and reasons.

It was noted that a Parish Council representative, who had registered to speak under the public participation scheme, had been unable to attend because of another appointment.

In advance of consideration of the application the Committee received a representation from the applicant’s agent under the public participation scheme.  A Member sought clarification regarding the suitability of the existing access to the site of the proposed new dwelling given it’s narrow width, the need for a vehicle to carefully manoeuver into the access and the possibility of it being obscured, for example, by the hedge in no. 63 High Street  should it be allowed to grow out.  In response the agent stated that the actions of the neighbour were outside the applicant’s control whilst the risk of an incident when a vehicle was entering the access was minor given that the road was within a 20 mph zone with little, predominantly residential, traffic.

A ward Member read out a statement on behalf of the occupants of 61 High Street who objected to the application but who had been unable to attend in person due to a prior commitment. 

The above ward Member then set out her case in objection to the application.  She stated that there had been an error on the supplied map and there was no Green Belt boundary immediately to the front of the proposed dwelling as indicated as the entire village lay within the Green Belt.  She also referred to the recent Green Belt review and its description of Ridgmont as having a sense of openness as a result of the village being mainly of ribbon development and usually only one building deep.

The ward Member referred to the village partly laying within a conservation area and the related description within the Council’s conservation document of its special characteristics and attractive features including Listed Buildings and open spaces with particular reference to the Listed Building at no. 61. 

The ward Member next described the size and position of the existing barn and stable in relation to the back of no. 61 and the relative position of the proposed new dwelling.  She emphasised that, whilst the existing barn lay on the boundary with the back garden of no.61 and the stable was some 5 meters from the  boundary, the new dwelling would be only one and a half meters from the boundary.  In addition whilst the existing barn lay on the boundary open, rural views could be had to either side from the rear garden of no.61.  In contrast the proposed dwelling would lay almost the full length along the rear boundaries of nos. 61  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79.

To receive and note, prior to considering the planning applications contained in the schedules above, any additional information detailed in the Late Sheet to be circulated on 10 October 2017.

In advance of consideration of the planning applications attached to the agenda the Committee received a Late Sheet advising it of additional consultation/publicity responses, comments and proposed additional/amended conditions.  A copy of the Late Sheet is attached as an appendix to these minutes.

Under the provisions of the Members Planning Code of Good Practice, Members are requested to note that the next Development Management Committee will be held on 8 November 2017 and the Site Inspections will be undertaken on 6 November 2017.

NOTED

that the next meeting of the Development Management Committee will be held on 8 November 2017.

RESOLVED

that all Members and substitute Members along with the relevant ward representatives be invited to conduct site inspections on 6 November 2017.