Agenda item

(Councillor Longbottom resumed her seat at Planning Committee for the remainder of the meeting).

The Planning Team Leader:

a)    reported that planning permission was sought for the erection of a three storey building to accommodate 15 apartments with parking and associated landscaping

b)    highlighted that the application was proposed on land previously occupied by the commercial building trading as Jack Machin Motorcycles at 128-130 Carholme Road, now demolished under prior approval (2019/0620/PAD), on the southern side of the road on the corner with Derwent Street

c)    stated that outline permission had previously been approved on the site (2017/0236/OUT) for 14 apartments, which set out the acceptability of the principal of development on this site along with some outline development parameters

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

·         National Planning Policy Framework

·         Central Lincolnshire Local Plan: Policy LP26 – Design and Amenity

e)    advised members of the main issues to be considered as part of the application to assess the proposal with regard to:

·         Principle of the development

·         Visual amenity and proposed design

·         Residential amenity

·         Technical matters

o Flood Risk

o Land contamination

o S106

f)     outlined the responses made to the consultation exercise

g)    concluded that:

·         The proposed application had been assessed against policies set out in the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan as well as the overarching themes of the National Planning Policy Framework.

·         The scheme had undergone a number of design changes since its original submission and officers were now satisfied that the proposals reflected the character of the area with a modern interpretation.

·         The impacts on neighbours had been assessed and officers were satisfied that there were no adverse impacts on the amenity currently enjoyed by residents.

·         Technical matters had been addressed and could be secured by condition or through the signing of the S106 agreement.

Members commented in relation to the proposed scheme as follows:

·         It was heartening to see an application for residential development to exclude occupation by students.

·         Additional residential accommodation was always welcomed for the City.

·         The Civic Trust had described the proposed design of the development as appalling.

·         It was disappointing that the applicant had not taken heed of advice from Lincolnshire Police to address issues of both unrestricted pedestrian and vehicular access to the site.

·         Concerns were raised regarding the height, design and footprint of the proposed building which sat forward 3 metres beyond other premises right up to the footpath.

Members asked how the outline planning permission previously granted for 14 apartments would affect the Planning Authority’s position should planning permission be refused today.

The Planning Team Leader advised that  outline planning permission had been granted with indicative drawings, therefore it did not give approval of the building itself.

A motion was proposed that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions outlined within the officer’s report.

The motion did not receive the support of a seconder and fell.

A further motion was proposed, seconded, put to the vote and:

RESOLVED that planning permission be refused.

Reasons:

Due to siting, design, height and massing which had an unduly harmful impact on the visual amenity of the area contrary to Policy LP 26: Design and Amenity.