Agenda item

The Planning Team Leader:

a.    advised that planning permission was sought for five dwellings including a row of three and a pair of semi-detached dwellings, all to be two main storeys each with a bedroom above in the roof space

b.    described the position of the land to the rear of 1A, 1B and IC Boultham Park Road with access into the site through an existing access road between 1 A and 1C Boultham Park Road

c.    referred to the area of the site surrounded by residential properties having four properties to the north within the site of the Naval Club, Gresley Drive to the east with the eastern end of the site positioned between No 8 and 18 Gresley Drive

d.    reported on a difference in level from the application site to the site to the north, as there was from south and east, meaning that the land sat lower than neighbouring sites in terms of land levels

e.    advised that outline consent was granted in 2018 for three dwellings although the current scheme sought full planning permission for the five proposed dwellings

f.     reported the location of the site within Flood Zone 3

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

·         Policy LP1: A Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development

·         Policy LP14: Managing Water Resources and Flood Risk

·         Policy LP26: Design and Amenity

·         National Planning Policy Framework      

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

·         Planning Policy

·         Residential Amenity

·         Visual Amenity

·         Flood Risk

·         Highways, Access and Parking

·         Other Matters

i.      outlined the responses made to the consultation exercise

j.      referred to the Update Sheet circulated to members which contained a block plan showing trees to be retained as part of the planning application

k.    concluded that :

·         The principle of the use of the site for residential purposes was considered to be acceptable in this location.

·         The development would relate well to the site and surroundings in relation to siting, height, scale, massing and design.

·         The proposals would also not cause undue harm to the amenities which occupiers of neighbouring properties may reasonably expect to enjoy and met the requirements NPPF in terms of Flood Risk.

·         The application was therefore in accordance with the requirements of Central Lincolnshire Local Plan Policies, as well as guidance within the National Planning Policy Framework.

Members discussed the content of the report in further detail. The following comments/questions emerged:

·         Concerns were raised in respect of the need for residents to present their refuse bins to Boultham Park Road on the day of collection which would require to be moved on the same day to avoid a hazard to pedestrians/push chairs/mobility scooters etc.

·         An appeal was made to the applicant for low lighting to be installed to protect residents’ safety, particularly as the properties were accessed via a private driveway. Lincolnshire Police may have raised concerns had they realised there was no external lighting proposed for the scheme.

·         It was requested that protection measures be installed to the wall either side of the access to the proposed development to protect the properties to the left and right of the entrance and to reduce risk of collisions.

·         Members asked whether the private driveway itself would be permeable to prevent flooding in light of the fact it would not be an adopted highway.

·         Concerns were raised regarding access of emergency vehicles. Could clarification be given by officers as to what other methods would be used to meet the functional requirements of the regulations in relation to a fire emergency if the access was not wide enough for a fire engine to enter the site?

·         It was hoped there would be passing places along the access road to avoid traffic hold-ups.

The Planning Team Leader offered the following points of clarification to members:

·         It would be reiterated to the applicant to inform the new residents of the properties not to put their refuse bins out too early and to move them on the same day according to Public Protection and Anti-Social Behaviour legislation in place for the city.

·         Access to the properties by fire vehicles would need to comply with building regulations in this regard. The land had been formerly used as a caravan site and as such accessed by wide vehicles before. Should the road be of insufficient width to accommodate a fire engine Building regulations required that a fire hydrant and dedicated pipe be run into the site at the applicant’s expense to offer sufficient water pressure to attend to a fire. Fire Officers were also able to pressurise the water themselves if it was not of sufficient pressure.

·         Lighting did not form part of the planning application, however, low level lighting along the access road would be beneficial and he hoped the applicant would take this request on board. It was possible should members be so inclined to formulate a reasonable lighting condition to be imposed on the grant of planning permission before the dwellings were occupied.

Councillor Tweddle, Chair, emphasised in the event that waste bins were left out on the public highway that residents should raise with the Council as an Environmental Health issue.

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

·                     Time limit of the permission

·                     Development in accordance with approved plans

·                     Samples of materials to be submitted

·                     Contamination land standard conditions

·                     Landscaping to be submitted

·                     Electric vehicle charging points to be submitted

·                     Construction and delivery hours to be controlled

·                     Permitted development to be removed

·                     Flood mitigation to be incorporated

·                     Land levels and finished floor levels to be as the drawings

·                     Provision of external lighting prior to occupation of dwellings.