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.

Declarations of Interest

Councillor Clive Smitheram, Other Interest: In the interests of openness and transparency, Councillor Clive Smitheram declared that he had received contact from members of the public in relation to all Items on the Agenda, and that he came to the meeting with a clear and open mind.

Councillor Clive Woodbridge, Other Interest: In the interests of openness and transparency, Councillor Clive Woodbridge declared that he had received correspondence in objection and support of the Ashley House, 7 Station Approach, and 6 The Grove Items. He stated that he came to the meeting with an open mind.

Councillor Monica Coleman, Other Interest: In the interests of openness and transparency, Councillor Monica Coleman declared that she had received correspondence relating to the Ashley House, 7 Station Approach, and 6 The Grove Items. She stated that she came to the meeting with an open mind.

Councillor Steven McCormick, Other Interest: In the interests of openness and transparency, Councillor Steven McCormick declared that he is a member of the Woodcote Epsom Residents Society and the Epsom Civic Society. He stated that he came to the meeting with a clear and open mind.

Ashley House Howell Hill Cheam Road Ewell SM2 7LQ

Councillor Colin Keane, Other Interest: In the interests of openness and transparency, Councillor Colin Keane declared that the Ashley House Item related to a property in his Ward, and that he had received a number of emails in regarding this application. Councillor Keane stated that he came to the meeting with a clear and open mind.

6 The Grove, Epsom, Surrey, KT17 4DQ

Councillor Neil Dallen, Other Interest: In the interests of openness and transparency, Councillor Neil Dallen declared that he had received numerous emails regarding the 6 The Grove Item. He also declared that he is a member of the Epsom Civic Society, and that he came to the meeting with an open mind.

The Committee is asked to confirm as a true record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Planning Committee held on the 3 September 2020 (to follow) and Special Meeting of the Planning Committee held on 23 September 2020 (to follow) and authorise the Chairman to sign them.

The Minute of the previous meeting of the Planning Committee held on 3 September were agreed as a true record and the Committee authorised the Chair to sign them.

Demolition of the existing building; erection of a three storey residential development comprising nine flats; provision of ten parking spaces, cycle and refuse storage facilities and new access onto Cheam Road.

Description

Demolition of the existing building; erection of a three storey residential development comprising nine flats; provision of ten parking spaces, cycle and refuse storage facilities and new access onto Cheam Road

Decision

The Committee noted a presentation from the Planning Officer.

The Committee was addressed by Ward Councillor, Christine Howells, who spoke in objection to the Application. The Committee also heard from an objector, and from the Applicant.

The following points were raised by the Committee:

Trees: Members spoke about the number of trees proposed to be planted along the boundary of the site. Members noted that newly planted trees can take a long time to take in the ground, and the possibility of re-planting any which were unsuccessful.

Character of building: Members spoke about the style and character of the proposed development, and noted how it had been well designed.

An additional condition was proposed by the Planning Officer. This condition was that:

(1)          No development shall take place until a detailed scheme of all the semi-mature tree planting along the rear and western flank boundary of the site has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The approved scheme shall be implemented in the first planting season and prior to the first occupation of the development or a phasing to be agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Any trees which, within a period of five years after planting, are removed, die or become seriously damaged or diseased in the opinion of the local planning authority, shall be replaced in the next available planting season with others of similar size, species and number, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority. The approved scheme of screen planting shall thereafter be retained.

An additional condition was proposed by Councillor Jan Mason, and seconded by Councillor Steven McCormick. This condition was that:

(2)          The development shall not be occupied until a Car Parking Management Plan setting out provisions for the management and use of the proposed parking has been submitted to and agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority. These details shall include a scheme for allocated parking and the management of spaces and shall be submitted for approval by the Local Planning Authority and only the approved details shall be implemented and retained as approved unless otherwise agreed.

The Committee resolved with 11 Members voting for, 1 Member voting against, and the Chair not voting that the condition be approved.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved unanimously that:

Planning Permission is GRANTED subject to the following:

Condition(s):

(1)          The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

Reason: To comply with Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by Section 51 (1) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

(2)          The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans:

AH P2 L PROPOSED SITE PLAN

AH P3 D  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Demolition of existing buildings on site and erection of a part 5, part 7 storey building providing 20 residential flats with associated cycle and refuse stores. (Amended scheme received 01.05.2020)

Description

Demolition of existing buildings on site and erection of a part 5, part 7 storey building providing 20 residential flats with associated cycle and refuse stores. (Amended scheme received 01.05.2020)

Decision

The Committee noted a presentation from the Planning Officer.

The Committee was addressed by Ward Councillor, Peter Webb, who spoke in objection to the Application. The Committee also heard from an objector, and an Agent to the Applicant.

The following points were raised by the Committee:

Sustainability of location: Members spoke about the sustainability of the proposed development, and noted its close proximity to the train station and shopping parade.

Amenity: Members raised concerns regarding the lack of private amenity space for the proposed residential units.

Character and design of building: Members noted concerns regarding the design of the proposed development. Members noted the size, scale and style of the proposed development and spoke about whether it may be out of character of the surrounding area in terms of colouring and materials.

Housing mix: Members raised concerns regarding the lack of properties proposed to be offered as affordable housing.

Parking: Members raised concerns regarding the proposed development being a car-free scheme. The site is situated in close proximity to a number of public transport options including bus routes and the train station, but detailed no parking bays for residents, visitors or loading.

An additional reason for refusal was proposed by Councillor Neil Dallen, and seconded by Councillor Jan Mason. This reason was due to the proposed development not meeting the car parking standards as set out in Policy DM37.

Following consideration, it was resolved unanimously that:

The Application be REFUSED in accordance with Officer recommendation and an additional reason relating to parking.

These reasons are as follows:

(1)          The design of the development due to its scale and height would appear as a dominant and incongruous element in the streetscene and would harm the character and appearance of the surrounding area, contrary to Policy DM9 and DM10 of the Development Management Policies Document 2015.

(2)          The adverse impacts of the scheme would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the development including additional housing units when assessed against the policies in the National Planning Policy Framework taken as a whole. The proposal is contrary to the NPPF 2019, and Policies DM9, and DM10 of the Development Management Policies Document 2015.

(3)          In absence of a completed legal obligation under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended), the applicant has failed to comply with Policy CS9 (Affordable Housing and meeting Housing Needs) and para 64 of the NPPF 2019 in relation to the provision of two affordable on-site units.

(4)          The proposed development would not meet the parking standards as set out in Policy DM37 of the Development Management Policies Document 2015 resulting in harm on the amenities of surrounding residential occupiers' in terms of streetscene and availability of on-street parking. It would fail to comply with Policy CS16 of the Core Strategy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Erection of 7 x two bedrooms flats and 2 x three bedrooms flats and associated external works following demolition of the existing building.

Description

Erection of 7 x two bedrooms flats and 2 x three bedrooms flats and associated external works following demolition of the existing building.

Decision

The Committee noted a presentation from the Planning Development Officer.

The Committee was addressed by an objector to the Application.

The following points were raised by the Committee:

Size and scale of building: Members spoke about the size of the proposed residential unit and raised concerns regarding the impact on its neighbouring units.

Privacy to neighbouring residents: Members raised concerns regarding the proposed development and the loss in private amenity space that this may cause to the neighbouring housing units.

Presence of badgers: Members noted concerns regarding the presence of badgers around the location of the proposed development. The proposed site is not formed of any special conservation area and is not regarded as a heightened habitat site. It was noted that as a protected species, any badgers found to be living at the site would be accommodated on obtaining a Natural England License.

The Officers recommendation was to refuse the Application.

A number of additional conditions were suggested by the Planning Development Officer to be added in the event that the Planning Inspectorate was minded to allow the appeal and approve the Application. These were to read:

Condition(s):

(1)          To include security lighting which should be low level and downwards facing and not aimed to the rear of the garden.

(2)          To complete an updated survey of the location of badger sets. If a set was to be affected by the development an application should be made to Natural England.

(3)          To implement screening restricted planting and additional screening writing along the end of the site.

(4)          No development including any works of demolition or preparation works prior to building operations shall take place on site until a Construction Transport Management Plan has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The approved statement shall be adhered to throughout the construction period and shall include:

a)            Parking for vehicles of site personnel, operatives and visitors

b)            Loading and unloading of plant and materials

c)            Storage of plant and materials used in constructing the development

d)            Programme of works (including measures for traffic management)

e)            Provision of boundary security hoarding behind any visibility zones

f)             Wheel washing facilities

g)            Measures to control the emissions of dust and dirt during construction

h)            A scheme for the recycling/disposing of waste resulting from demolition and construction works

i)             Hours of operation.

Informative(s):

(1)          The applicant is reminded that it is their responsibility to enter into an agreement with the owners of the road.

These additional conditions were to be added to those already listed on the report in the event of the Application being approved.

Following consideration, it was resolved unanimously that:

The Planning Committee confirmed that the Application would be REFUSED and would be passed on to the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of State.

The Planning Service has received the following Appeal decisions from 11 August 2020 to 14 September 2020.

The Committee noted the appeal decisions from 11 August to 14 September 2020.