Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 12 September 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.

No declarations of interest were received.

The Planning Manager:

a.    advised that planning permission was sought for the erection of a seven storey building to incorporate 114 bed spaces of student accommodation on a Sui Generis basis, alongside a commercial unit at ground floor level along Clasketgate, following demolition of an existing building (Revised Plans)

b.    described the application site situated on the north west corner of the junction of Clasketgate with Flaxengate, currently comprising of a three storey white rendered building, formerly the office of Pygott and Crone Estate Agency, and associated car parking to the rear, located within Conservation Area No. 1 'Cathedral and City Centre'

c.    highlighted that an application for the erection of a 63-bedroom hotel with a restaurant to its roof was approved for the site by the Members of the Planning Committee in May 2018 including the demolition of the existing Pygott and Crone Estate Agency; the current proposals would therefore offer an alternative use to these proposals

d.    reported that in addition to the direct site history, work had commenced on the site immediately to the north of the application site which had planning permission for a five storey building for students with a total of 118 bed spaces

e.    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 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      

6. outlined the responses made to the consultation exercise

7. referred to the update sheet which contained a Computer Generated Image (CGI) Technical Statement submitted by the applicant, addressing a consultation response contained also within the Update Sheet suggesting that the CGI’s submitted in support of the application were inaccurate

8. advised members of the main issues relevant to the consideration of the application are as follows:

9. concluded that:

The Planning Team Leader:

a.    advised that planning permission was sought for the erection of a single storey extension to the front elevation at 1 St Annes Road, to facilitate the conversion of existing offices most recently in use by the NHS into 9no. residential units

b.    described the application site located on a corner plot with St Anne’s Close to the south and St Anne’s Road to the east, in a residential area with the hospital located to the east

c.    provided details of the policies pertaining to the application as follows:

·         National Planning Policy Framework

·         Central Lincolnshire Local Plan   

o   LP25: The Historic Environment

o   LP26: Design and Amenity     

o   LP37: Subdivision of Properties in Lincoln   

4. outlined the responses made to the consultation exercise

5. referred to the update sheet which contained a revised plan to show the trees to be retained, trees to be removed and locations for replacement planting, the details of which would be secured by condition

6. advised members of the main issues relevant to the consideration of the application as follows:

7. concluded that:

Kevin Coupland addressed Planning Committee as agent on behalf of the Applicant in support of the development, covering the following main points:

·         There had been some confusion over the future of the trees and the number to be retained as part of this development.

·         The site was not in a Conservation Area.

·         None of the trees had a Tree Preservation Order.

·         Advice had been sought from a specialist Arboricultural Officer.

·         A revised tree plan had been issued on the update sheet to show the trees to be retained, removed and replaced.

·         Six new trees would be planted.

·         It was hoped members would now be able to give their support to the scheme as there were no objections to the build itself.

Members discussed the content of the report in further detail, offering support in general to the scheme.

RESOLVED that: planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

·         Development is carried out within 3 years

·         Development be carried out in accordance with the approved plans

·         Scheme of replacement tree planting

·         Details to demonstrate tree roots can be protected during the construction phase

·         Electric vehicle charging points

·         Hours of working

·         Samples of proposed materials

The Planning Team Leader:

a.    advised that planning permission was sought for the erection of a three storey building to accommodate nine self-contained flats on land between 25-41 Gaunt Street (revised plans: repositioned building and windows)

b.    highlighted that the development would front Gaunt Street, presenting a 2½ storey staggered elevation, with a three storey accommodation wing to the rear forming a ‘T’ shaped building

c.    reported that the development would be managed by the applicant, LEAP (Lincolnshire Employment Accommodation Project), a local charity and social landlord

d.    advised that in addition to the application receiving more than four objections, the site was owned by the City Council and therefore was being presented to Members of the Planning Committee for consideration and determination

e.    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 LP10   Meeting Accommodation Needs

·         Policy LP26   Design and Amenity

·         National Planning Policy Framework      

6. outlined the responses made to the consultation exercise

7. referred to the update sheet which contained additional consultation responses and images received, together with a revised officer recommendation in relation to the planning application

8. advised members of the main issues relevant to the consideration of the application as follows:

9. concluded that:

Bill Taylor addressed Planning Committee in objection to the proposed development, covering the following main points:

·         He agreed in principle to development of the site.

·         His objections centred on the need for a more sympathetic choice for the siting and design for the project.

·         The proposed development was disproportionate to the existing 1½ storey building to the east, which he represented.

·         There would be a direct impact on the residents of 1-4 Woodburn Place and 23 Gaunt Street from the proposed development due to outlook from the roof windows on the 1^st and 2^nd storey.

·         The rooms behind the roof windows of numbers 1-4 Woodburn Place were the main living areas for the residents of these properties.

·         The rear off shoot of the new building would cause a light restriction to the occupants of 1-4 Woodburn Place.

·         The proposed 3 storey building would affect sunlight/daylight into the existing properties to the east at 1-4 Woodburn  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

The Planning Team Leader:

a.    advised that planning permission was sought for the erection of seven garages within an existing council owned car park on land adjacent to 107-115 Gaunt Street

b.    described the location of the car park comprising a total of 14 spaces towards the end of Gaunt Street with the car park of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses to the north, the three storey Gaunt Street flats to the south and the River Witham to the west

c.    reported that the proposed garages were intended to contribute towards the provision that would be lost as a result of the proposed re-development of the council owned garage site between 25-41 Gaunt Street, presented to Planning Committee as the previous item on tonight’s agenda

d.    advised that the application was presented to Members of the Planning Committee due to the City Council being the applicant

e.    provided details of the policies pertaining to the application as follows:

·         Policy LP26   Design and Amenity

·         National Planning Policy Framework

f.     outlined the responses made to the consultation exercise

g.    advised members of the main issues relevant to the consideration of the application as follows:

·         Principle and highways

·         Visual and residential amenity

·         Flood risk and drainage

h.    concluded that:

·         The principle of the proposal was acceptable considering the existing car park use and the structure would not have a harmful impact on either visual or residential amenity.

·         The proposal was also to the satisfaction of the Lincolnshire County Council as Highway and Lead Local Flood Authority.

·         The application was therefore in accordance with the requirements of Central Lincolnshire Local Plan Policy LP26 and guidance within the National Planning Policy Framework.

Members discussed the content of the report in further detail.

Members suggested that it would be better to mark out the car parking spaces on the land rather than build garages, also that good quality housing would be better use of the space.

Other members highlighted that the Council had a duty to provide garages for council tenants and that the space had never been fully utilised for parking of cars previously. It was noted that some tenants wanted to keep their garages to use as additional storeroom space

RESOLVED that planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

• Time limit of the permission;
• Development in accordance with approved plans;
• Land contamination; and
• Construction of the development (delivery times and working hours).