Agenda item

The Planning Team Leader:

a.    described the application property as Lincoln Crematorium, located on the south-east edge of the City of Lincoln, to the north side of Washingborough Road, outlining that the City Crematorium occupied an area of approximately 4.7 hectres.

b.    advised that the application was to be considered by the Planning Committee on the basis that the service was owned and run by the City of Lincoln Council.

c.    reported that planning permission was sought for a proposed renovation and extension of the existing chapel and book of remembrance building, including over cladding the existing building and replacement of existing windows and doors with associated additional 81 car parking and landscaping, as part of phase one.

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

·         National Planning Policy Framework;

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

·         Policy LP12 – Infrastructure to Support Growth;

·         Policy LP15 – Community Facilities;

·         Policy LP17 – Landscape, Townscape and Views;

·         Policy LP22 – Green Wedges;

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

·         Policy LP26 – Design and Amenity.

e.    outlined the responses made to the consultation exercise.

f.     referred to the update sheet, which provided updated consultee responses.

g.    advised members of the main issues to be considered as part of the application to assess the proposed with regard to:

·         accordance with National and Local Planning Policy;

·         impact on amenity of neighbouring uses;

·         impact on visual amenity;

·         highway safety, access, parking and surface water drainage;

·         impact on trees, landscaping and ecology.

h.    concluded that this was a good proposal that allowed for significant internal upgrading of the Crematorium and did so in a manner that also significantly improved the exterior of the building and the grounds, with there being no adverse effects.

Mr Andy McDowell addressed the Planning Committee in support of the application, covering the following main points:

·         the primary focus of the design of the scheme was to reorganise spaces, aesthetics and landscape, enhancing the user experience;

·         the design and proposed materials as part of the application sought to connect with the heritage of the city, taking into account common features of iconic buildings such as the Castle and Cathedral. Locally sourced Lincolnshire limestone was therefore proposed as a prominent feature as part of the design, with oak providing softer and warmer tones;

·         the application included provision of a new cremator and updated staffing facilities, with the extension required by way of accommodating new equipment associated with this. The chimney would remain in the same position on the existing building, but would be significantly reduced in height;

·         the car park was currently not fit for purpose with the application seeking to address existing under provision of adequate car parking;

·         existing trees would be retained as landscape features;

·         the proposal included a system that was designed to make use of energy generated from cremators, harnessing the heat which could then be used to heat the rest of the site;

·         the scheme had been designed as long-lasting and of high quality in acknowledgement of the City Crematorium as the premium offering in the county.

Mr McDowell described how the different elements of the proposal would work from the perspective of people using the facility, explaining how the various spaces would be used and how they complemented each other. 

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

·         improvements to car parking and the refurbishment of the site in general were welcomed. Consideration should be given, however, to the increased use of electric vehicles and the facilities such vehicles may require in the future;

·         harnessing the heat generated from cremators was a very good use of the energy;

·         the plans were good, particularly the consideration that had been given to use of the space before and after ceremonies occurred;

·         the use of local materials was welcomed.

In response to the points raised by members, it was noted that electric vehicle charging points had been looked into as part of developing the application, however, the average length of stay on site for service users was approximately 40 minutes which, based on current technology, would not be a sufficient amount of time by way of charging electric vehicles. It was acknowledged, however, that technology was constantly improving but at this time officers did not consider it reasonable to insist on the inclusion of such provision as part of the application.

A question was raised as to when works would commence and how they would take place alongside the services of the Crematorium. It was noted that this was not something that could be taken into due consideration through the planning process.

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

·         development to commence within three years;

·         development in strict accordance with the approved drawings;

·         new landscaping undertaken during next available planting season.