Agenda item

The Planning Team Leader:

 

a.    described the application site located on the north side of Skellingthorpe Road within Hartsholme Ward of the city, currently occupied by the former Monson Arms Public House, situated in the north-western side of the site, having two existing accesses from Skellingthorpe Road

 

b.    advised that planning permission was sought to demolish the public house and close up the south-west vehicular access point, to facilitate the erection of a 3-storey mixed use development comprising of 1no. convenience store, 2no. retail units of flexible use class A1, A2 and A5, and residential apartments above including 1no. studio apartment, 3no. one-bedroom apartments, 6no. two-bedroom apartments, associated external works including hard and soft landscaping works, 43no. car parking spaces, a service yard and a bin store

 

c.    described a number of trees located along the boundary with Skellingthorpe Road that were protected by virtue of a Tree Preservation Order, whilst the north eastern boundaries of the site abutted the adjacent school

 

d.    reported that the application had been submitted concurrently with an Outline application for a residential scheme at 239-241 Skellingthorpe Road (2018/1008/OUT), where an existing Co-op and other shop units would be demolished in order to accommodate the proposed residential scheme

 

e.    advised that Councillor Hills had requested the application be brought before Planning Committee

 

f.     reported that the buildings status on the Register of Assets of Community Value since 27 March 2015 had expired, which allowed an initial period of 6 weeks for the community to come forward with a bid for the Public House

 

g.    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 LP6: Retail and Town Centres in Central Lincolnshire

·         Policy LP9: Health and Wellbeing

·         Policy LP10: Meeting Accommodation Needs

·         Policy LP12: Infrastructure to Support Growth

·         Policy LP13: Accessibility and Transport

·         Policy LP15: Community Facilities

·         Policy LP26: Design and Amenity

·         National Planning Policy Framework

           

h.    outlined the responses made to the consultation exercise

 

i.      referred to the update sheet which contained a further comment received in respect of the proposed development

 

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

 

·         The Principle of the Development in Terms of Planning Policy

·         Status of the Site as an Asset of Community Value

·         Impact on Visual Amenity

·         Impact on Residential Amenity

·         Impact on Protected Trees

·         Other Matters

 

k.    concluded that:

 

·         The principle of the use of the site was considered to be acceptable. The development would relate well to the site and surroundings in relation to siting, height, scale, massing and design.

·         The proposals would not cause undue harm to the amenities which occupiers of neighbouring properties may reasonably expect to enjoy.

·         Tree protection measures were considered acceptable and technical matters relating to highways, contamination and drainage were to the satisfaction of relevant consultees.

·         The proposals would therefore be in accordance with the requirements of Central Lincolnshire Local Plan Policies LP1, LP2, LP6, LP9, LP10, LP12, LP13, LP15 and LP26, as well as guidance within the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

Mr Matthew Wilkinson addressed Planning Committee in support of the planning application on behalf of the applicant, Lincolnshire Co-operative Society, covering the following main points:

 

·         He thanked members of Planning Committee for allowing him the opportunity to speak.

·         He was employed by Lincolnshire Co-operative Society as Development Manager.

·         Lincolnshire Co-operative Society was a successful trader in Lincoln and the surrounding area.

·         Its ethos was to bring target ideas, resources and energies together working with local charities.

·         The Co-op were proactive in looking after their community environment.

·         This planning application for a new Co-op store replaced the current one at 239-2421 Skellingthorpe Road which would then be used for residential development.

·         The proposed scheme accorded with Central Lincolnshire Local Planning Policies and the National Planning Policy Framework.

·         There would be provision made for ten apartments above the shop units.

·         Forty three car parking spaces would be provided.

·         This would be a modern build.

·         The new Co-op would provide ‘on the go’ food, fresh meat, fish and prepared meals together with all the usual saleable goods expected in a convenience store.

·         Eight new employment positions would be created.

·         Local contractors would be used for the build.

·         This development proposed a larger store than the existing Co-op providing a sustainable neighbourhood centre.

·         The development would include two additional commercial units, one of which would be a fast food outlet.

·         He urged Planning Committee to grant planning permission for this development. It would be an asset to the local community.

 

Members discussed the content of the report in further detail, making comments as follows:

 

·         The proposed development represented an improvement to the existing store/asset to the community.

·         Investment to this area of the city was welcomed.

·         The proposed development resulted in the loss of another public house, however, its entry on the register as an Asset of Community Value had received no interest from local people.

·         It was a shame that the Co-op were reluctant to provide a post office in the new store. This would add support to their values of looking after the local community.

·         Hopefully existing staff losing their jobs at the One Stop store would be employed at the new Co-op store.

·         The existing public house had become an eye sore.

·         The provision of residential accommodation above the new store was welcomed.

·         A new pedestrian crossing to assist access to the new store for the residents of Hartsholme Estate on the south side of Skellingthorpe Road would be preferred.

·         There had always been a wish that existing services would be replicated in the new store.

·         There would be no additional traffic in the area as a result of the proposed development.

 

Members noted that the Monson Arms Public House would remain on the register as an Asset of Community Value until 2020 and queried whether the site would also remain undeveloped until after this time?

 

The Planning Team Leader advised that the property had been advertised for 6 weeks as an Asset of Community Value to allow the community to come forward with a bid for the Public House prior to its purchase by the current applicant. It had remained on the register for 5 years. It was the remit of the Planning Authority to determine the degree of weight to be apportioned to the public house being on the register, however, it was considered that this was out-weighed by the benefits of the proposal.

 

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

 

• Time limit of the permission
• Development in accordance with the approved plans
• Samples of materials to be submitted
• Details of electric vehicle charging points
• Noise impact assessment in relation to the external plant
• Lighting scheme to be submitted
• Fume extraction for any A5 use
• Details of stopping up of access
• Construction to proceed in accordance with Arboricultural recommendations in terms of tree protection
• Development to proceed in accordance with the surface water calculations
• Reporting of unexpected contamination
• Time restrictions on commercial deliveries, waste collection and construction