Agenda item

The Planning Team Leader:

a.    described the location of the site at 61 St Catherines, a semi-detached property located on the western side of a primarily residential street within the Conservation Area (No. 4) of the same name, having a gravelled area to the rear for parking

b.    advised that the application proposed to change the use of the property from a 9 bedroom house in multiple occupation to 5 self-contained flats; planning permission was granted in 2015 (2015/0735/F) to change the use of the property to a 9 bedroom HMO

c.    reported that the proposal was for 4no. one bedroom flats and 1no. two bedroom flats requiring minor internal and external alterations to the property

d.    highlighted that prior to its use as a HMO the property had been used as a care home for the elderly from 1988 until 2015

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

·         National Planning Policy Framework      

·         Central Lincolnshire Local Plan

o   Policy LP25 The Historic Environment

o   Policy LP26 Design and Amenity

f.     outlined the responses made to the consultation exercise

g.    referred to the update sheet which contained a landscaping plan showing the layout of five off-street parking spaces associated with the application property

8. advised members of the main issues to be considered as part of the application as follows

9. concluded that

Mr Robert Dickinson, local resident, addressed Planning Committee in objection to the proposals, covering the following main points:

·         He wished to modify his objection to this scheme in the light of changes to the provision of off-street car parking to 5 spaces instead of 3 as this was a positive contribution to ease car parking arrangements in the street.

·         There were very serious parking infringements on St Catherines.

·         Notices relating to the planning application had not been posted in the street.

·         On behalf of the Residents Association he requested greater transparency and consultation with residents in respect of future planning applications.

Mr Browne addressed Planning Committee in support of the proposals on behalf of the agent, covering the following main areas:

·         The off-street car parking spaces were shown on the update sheet.

·         He had owned the property for 37 years.

·         The change of use from a 9 bedroom house in multiple occupation to 5 self-contained flats would result in less impact on the area due to a reduction in the number of residents.

·         This was a high quality development offering a high standard of accommodation for its residents.

The Planning Manager offered the following points of clarification to members:

·         The planning authority had a legal requirement to consult with anyone living next to the boundary of an application site, although it did always try to consult more widely.

·         He was happy to include the residents association as a consultee on local planning applications if the relevant representative contacted him.

Members discussed the content of the report in further detail, welcoming the provision of 5 off-street car parking spaces and the change of use of the property to flats to help relieve the concentration of HMO’s in the area

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

• Development to be carried out within 3 years
• Development to be carried out in accordance with the plans