Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 15 August 2018 be confirmed.

Please note that, in accordance with the Members' Code of Conduct, when declaring interests members must disclose the existence and nature of the interest, and whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI) or personal and/or pecuniary.

Councillor Biff Bean wished to declare that he had been working with the community in his capacity as a resident regarding trees in the Hartsholme Ward relating to minute number 35 below.

The Assistant Director of Communities and Street Scene:

a)    Advised members of the reasons for proposed works to trees in City Council ownership and sought consent to progress the works identified as set out in Appendix A of the report.

b)    Explained that Ward Members had been notified of the proposed works.

RESOLVED that the works set out in the schedule at Appendix A attached to the report be approved.

The Planning Manager:

a)    Advised that the application sought permission for an artificial grass pitch to accommodate an 11 aside football pitch which would measure 106 metres in length and 70 metres in width.

b)    Reported that the pitch would be capable of accommodating a combination of youth football pitches, mini soccer pitches and training areas.

c)    Reported that the proposal also sought the installation of associated fencing to include 4.5 metre high ball stop fencing to the artificial grass pitch perimeter and a 3.5 metre acoustic fence.

d)    Advised members that the site was located on the existing grass sports pitches to the rear of Yarborough Leisure Centre and that residential developments adjoined the site from the properties on Anzio Crescent, with Lincoln Castle Academy and Yarborough Leisure Centre located to the south-east.

e)    Highlighted that the application was brought before the Planning Committee as the applicant was the City of Lincoln Council.

f)     Provided details of the policies pertaining to the application as follows:

·         National Planning Policy Framework;

·         Central Lincolnshire Local Plan;

·         LP23 – Local Green Space and other Important Open Space;

·         LP26 – Design and Amenity.

g)    Outlined the responses made to the consultation exercise, including a petition which included in excess of 200 signatures.

h)    Advised members of the main issues to be considered as part of the application, as follows:

·         Principle and Policy Context;

·         Visual Amenity;

·         Highways;

·         Sport England.

i)     Concluded that the proposed artificial grass pitch would be located on an area of grass which was currently used for informal playspace. The proposal formalised the space with an all-weather pitch and associated infrastructure which meant it could be used all year round. Appropriate measures had been taken to mitigate the impact on adjacent neighbours and it was considered that the use was appropriate given the surrounding context of existing sports uses.

Jinny Niven, nearby resident, spoke against the application and made the following points:

·         the noise impact assessment was not carried out whilst games were being played during the football season when the noise was at its loudest;

·         operation of this site for up to 98 hours a week would significantly increase the time that residents experienced increased noise levels, together with poor language and behaviour that was often heard by current use of the existing facility;

·         the noise impact assessment was not carried out within 150 metres of homes around the pitch and not on a Sunday morning when usage was at its highest;

·         the noise impact assessment was undertaken at ground level rather than at first floor height;

·         the application was within a residential area;

·         residents with hearing aids would be significantly impacted due to amplified noise;

·         increased levels of noise could result in people’s dogs reacting to the disturbance, resulting in a further noise problem for residents;

·         a few hours of usage per day could be tolerated by residents, but usage of up to 98 hours per week on the site could not be tolerated;

·         the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan stated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36a

The Planning Manager:

a)    Advised that the application sought permission for an artificial grass pitch to accommodate an 11 aside football pitch which would measure 106 metres in length and 70 metres in width.

b)    Reported that the pitch would be capable of accommodating a combination of youth football pitches, mini soccer pitches and training areas.

c)    Reported that the proposal also sought the installation of associated fencing to include 4.5 metre high ball stop fencing to the artificial grass pitch perimeter and a 3.5 metre acoustic fence.

d)    Advised members that the site was located on an area of grassed playing field and that residential properties adjoined the site to the north, south and east.

e)    Reported that a former airstrip ran along the north western boundary of the site.

f)     Highlighted that the application was brought before the Planning Committee as the applicant was the City of Lincoln Council.

g)    Provided details of the policies pertaining to the application as follows:

·         National Planning Policy Framework;

·         Central Lincolnshire Local Plan;

·         LP23 – Local Green Space and other Important Open Space;

·         LP26 – Design and Amenity.

h)    Outlined the responses made to the consultation exercise.

i)     Advised members of the main issues to be considered as part of the application, as follows:

·         Impact on Neighbours;

·         Visual Amenity.

j)     Concluded that the proposed artificial grass pitch would be located on an area of grass which was currently used for informal playspace. The proposal formalised the space with an all-weather pitch and associated infrastructure which meant it could be used all year round. Appropriate measures had been taken to mitigate the impact on adjacent neighbours and it was considered that the use was appropriate given the surrounding context of existing sports uses.

Simon Colburn, representing the applicant, spoke in favour of the application and made the following points:

·         in reference to the 98 hours per week operating hours, it was noted that in reality the facility would not attract anything like that amount of demand;

·         lighting would be turned off at 10pm and no league matches would be played at that time of the night, meaning that there was no risk of matches overrunning;

·         despite being allowed to operate until 10pm, the majority of clubs would not opt to use the facility at this time of night;

·         management plans would be in place to ensure responsible use of the facility;

·         anchor clubs using the facility would be signed up to the Football Association Charter and there would therefore be an impetus for those clubs to ensure that the facility was used sensibly;

·         a communications strategy and management plan was in place and contact details would be provided for people to be able to contact the facility’s management should any issues arise.

Members discussed the content of the report in further detail.

A member had spoken to residents regarding this proposal who had raised concerns in respect of lighting, litter and people urinating in public places. There was also uncertainty in the community  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36b

(Councillor Kath Brothwell was not present at the meeting for this item).

The Principal Planning Officer:

a)    Advised that planning permission was sought for the demolition of existing buildings and development of the site for purpose built student accommodation with commercial floor space, car parking, cycle storage and associated landscaping.

b)    Described the location of the application site which was within the western corner of the wider redevelopment site encompassing the St. Marks Retail Park and Shopping Centre.

c)    Reported that the site was currently occupied by the Homebase, Lidl Outlet and Topps Tiles units and part of the BHS unit and surface parking area in the foreground of these units.

d)    Highlighted that prior approval had already been granted for the demolition of the units.

e)    Highlighted that the outline planning application for this part of the site included a portion of the 150 residential units approved across the development site and up to 1,100 student units, with some commercial uses at ground floor to the northern perimeter.

f)     Reported that the application was for the erection of ten blocks of student accommodation, varying in height from four to ten storeys in height, for a total of 1,372 bed spaces in clusters with shared living spaces.

g)    Reported that the main vehicular access for the site would be from the current service yard access at Firth Road, which joined Tritton Road at the traffic light controlled intersection with Beevor Street. The access would lead into the site for servicing purposes but would be primarily for the collection of refuse from storage areas adjacent and the drop off point for students.

h)    Reported that between the blocks would be a series of spaces with seating, landscaping and cycle stores, which would ultimately permit public access from outside the site through to the remainder of the St Marks development.

i)     Provided details of the policies pertaining to the application, as follows:

·         Policy LP1: A Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development;

·         Policy LP2: The Spatial Strategy and Settlement Hierarchy;

·         Policy LP3: Level and Distribution of Growth;

·         Policy LP5: Delivering Prosperity and Jobs;

·         Policy LP6: Retail and Town Centres in Central Lincolnshire;

·         Policy LP7: A Sustainable Visitor Economy;

·         Policy LP9: Health and Wellbeing;

·         Policy LP13: Accessibility and Transport;

·         Policy LP14: Managing Water Resources and Flood Risk;

·         Policy LP16: Development on Land Affected by Contamination;

·         Policy LP17: Landscape, Townscape and Views;

·         Policy LP21: Biodiversity and Geodiversity;

·         Policy LP24: Creation of New Open Space, Sports and Recreation Facilities;

·         Policy LP25: The Historic Environment;

·         Policy LP26: Design and Amenity;

·         Policy LP29: Protecting Lincoln’s Setting and Character;

·         Policy LP31: Lincoln’s Economy;

·         Policy LP33: Lincoln’s City Centre Primary Shopping Area and Central Mixed Use Area;

·         Policy LP36: Access and Movement within the Lincoln Area;

·         Policy LP37: Sub-division and multi-occupation of dwellings within Lincoln;

·         National Planning Policy Framework.

j)     Outlined the responses made to the consultation exercise;

k)    Reported that a full Environmental Impact Assessment had been carried out.

l)     Advised members of the main issues to be considered  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36c