Issue - meetings

Demolition of the existing building and the construction of a self-storage facility (Use Class B8) and flexible office space (Use Class E(g)(i)), together with vehicle parking and landscaping.

The Committee received a presentation on the application from the Principal Planning Officer. The Officer wished to highlight an error in the text of paragraph 28.16 of the report, explaining that the word ‘not’ should be removed in order for the paragraph to read as follows:

28.16  Overall, the adverse effects in respect of this development would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in the Framework taken as a whole, or where specific policies in the Framework indicate that development should be restricted. 

She explained that this would be consistent with paragraph 3.16 of the report.

Description:

Demolition of the existing building and the construction of a self-storage facility (Use Class B8) and flexible office space (Use Class E(g)(i)), together with vehicle parking and landscaping.

Officer Recommendation:

To agree that the Planning Inspectorate be informed that the Local Planning Authority would have refused permission.

Decision:

Councillor Clive Woodbridge proposed that the wording of the reason for refusal ‘(1) Harm to the Character of the Area’, be updated to include reference to Policy E15 of Epsom Town Centre Area Action Plan 2011 with respect to the Committee’s concerns regarding the application’s impact on the future development of the utility site as part of the Draft Local Plan, and to the fact that the development would frustrate the Council’s plans for the Town Centre area.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Phil Neale.

The Committee voted (6 for, 1 against, 1 abstention, and the Chair not voting) in favour of the proposal.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

Agree that the Planning Inspectorate be informed that the Local Planning Authority would have REFUSED permission for the following reasons:

Reasons:

(1)          Harm to the Character of the Area: As a result of its overall layout, scale, massing, design and materials, the proposed development would represent an overdevelopment that would fail to respect the predominate pattern of development in the locality and would appear as an overly dominating and incongruous addition that would fail to respond architecturally to surrounding built form. The proposal would therefore fail to integrate with the prevailing character and appearance of the area, contrary to paragraph 130 of the NPPF 2021, Policies CS1 and CS5 of the Epsom and Ewell Core Strategy 2007, Policy E15 of Epsom Town Centre Area Action Plan 2011 and Policies DM9 and DM10 of the Epsom and Ewell Development Management Policies 2015.

(2)          Harm to Existing Trees: It has not been sufficiently demonstrated that the proposal development, as a result of its layout and scale, would not significantly reduce the stature and environmental benefits of TPO trees T4 (Ash) and T5 (Sycamore), as well as G6 (2 no. Sycamore) by preventing their future crown growth, to the detriment of their future wellbeing. 

Furthermore, the layout and scale of the proposed development prevents any meaningful landscaping on the site, particularly to the rear, to the detriment of the emerging verdancy of the area. It  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12