Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests in respect of any item of business to be considered at the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made by Councillors in items on this Agenda.

The Committee is asked to confirm as a true record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Planning Committee held on the 16 March 2017 (attached) and authorise the Chairman to sign them.

The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Planning Committee held on 16 March 2017 were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the Committee noting that Councillor Tella Wormington was present as a member of the Planning Committee, not as a substitute for Councillor Neil Dallen.

Variation of Condition 11 (The development shall be used for residential student accommodation only and for no other purpose) of planning permission 14/01784/FUL to allow the occupation of 49 students and/or other persons, as Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) (Description amended 29.03.2017)

Description

Variation of Condition 11 (The development shall be used for residential student accommodation only and for no other purpose) of planning permission 14/01784/FUL to allow the occupation of 49 units by students and/or other persons, as Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) (Description amended 29.03.2017).

Decision

Planning permission is REFUSED for the following reasons:

(1)            In the absence of clear and robust evidence demonstrating that there is a need for the new accommodation the application would be contrary to Policy DM21 of the Development Management Policies Document - 2015

(2)            The proposed HMO use would result in a higher level of parking demand than that generated by student accommodation. The proposed parking is considered to be insufficient which would result in additional on-street parking pressures within Mill Road, to the detriment of the availability of on-street parking The proposed scheme would therefore be contrary to Policy DM37 of the Development Management Policies Document - 2015

The Committee noted a verbal representation from an objector.  Letters of representation had been published on the Council’s website and were available to the public and members of the Committee in advance of the meeting.

Proposed vehicular access and field gate (Amended drawings received 28.02.2017)

Description

Proposed vehicular access and field gate (Amended drawings received 28.02.2017).

Decision

Planning permission is REFUSED for the following reasons:

(1)            The proposed loss of grassed area and laying down of hardstanding would lead to an unacceptable erosion of the openness of the Green Belt contrary to Policy CS2 of the Core Strategy 2007

(2)            The proposed loss of hedgerow and erection of a metal gate and hard standing would be out of keeping with the rural character of this part of Burgh Heath Road and would lead to the urbanisation of the entrance to the site, detrimental to the rural character of the landscape and the visual amenities of the area. The proposal is therefore contrary to policies CS3 and CS5 of the Core Strategy 2007 and to Policies DM4, DM5, DM9 and DM10 of Development Management Policies 2015.

The Committee noted a verbal representation from an objector.  Letters of representation had been published on the Council’s website and were available to the public and members of the Committee in advance of the meeting.

Members are asked to put forward any applications which it is considered warrant a site visit.

The Committee reviewed and considered site visits and decided that a visit should be held at the appropriate time in connection with the followings applications:

·                 65 London Road, Ewell KT17 2BL – 16/00933/FUL

·                 18a Worple Road, Epsom KT18 5EF – 16/01421/FLH