Agenda item

The Planning Team Leader:

1. described the application site, located on the corner of High Street and Gaunt Street, Lincoln

2. advised that planning permission sought permission to convert the existing ancillary office and storage space, including the erection of a two storey glazed staircase and single storey extension to the rear elevation to facilitate the change of use to 10 residential flats. The existing retail unit would be retained on the High Street.

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

·         Policy LP1 A Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development

·         Policy LP25 The Historic Environment

·         Policy LP33 Lincoln’s City Centre Primary Shopping Area and Central Mixed Use Area

4. advised Planning Committee of the main issues to be considered as part of the application to assess the proposal with regards to:

·         Accordance with National and Local Planning Policy

·         Impact on Amenity of Neighbouring Uses and Future Occupiers of the Premises

·         Impact on Visual Amenity and the Character and Appearance of the Conservation Area

·         Highway Safety, Access and Parking

5. outlined the responses made to the consultation exercise

6. concluded that:

The Committee discussed the content of the report in further detail.

The following questions emerged:

·         Asked if there was a condition required to protect the arch.

·         Further asked how the arch would be protected.

·         Asked for clarification on how many parking spaces would be provided.

·         Further asked how the bins would be emptied if the parking spaces were full.

·         Asked if charging points for electric cars had been included in the application.

·         Commented on the Victorian history of the building and asked if the grates on the front of the building would be affected.

·         Referred to the objectors comments regarding overlooking and asked for assurance that this had been considered.

The Planning Team Leader responded to the questions as follows:

·         The protection of the arch had been included in the application. The arch was within a flat  and so would not  be available for public viewing. One side of the arch would be revealed and would be a feature, the back side of the wall would be battened and plaster boarded, it would be ventilated so there would be no humidity issues. Officers had consulted with Historic England and they were satisfied with the proposal. The was also a responsibility on the occupier of the flat not the damage the arch, if this was to happen they could be prosecuted.

·         There were 3 parking spaces proposed, the bins would be communal and so it would be managed.

·         A condition could be added to included charging points for vehicles if committee were minded to.

·         The frontage of the building would not be altered except for the signage.

·         There were concerns with the previous proposal created overlooking, that element of the application had been removed and officers were happy with the current proposal as overlooking was minimal.

Councillor Hewson commented in support of the application, it was  good to see that the Council had worked with the developer to bring application through. Concerns from residents have been listened to and were addressed. He commented that he was  pleased to see that a retail unit had been retained . The application brought living accommodation to the City, where the residents could walk into the city centre and there were good bus routes so would suit residents that did not have a car . Overall it was a good use of an old attractive building.

Councillor Longbottom proposed that a condition be added to include electric charging points for cars, this was seconded by Councillor Hewson and agreed unanimously.

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

1.    Development to commence within three years

2.    Development in strict accordance with the approved drawings

3.    Details/sample of materials prior to commencement of works

4.    Reporting of unexpected contamination.

5.    Electric charging points for vehicles be provided.