Issue - meetings

Demolition of existing building and construction of a new part 5 and part 6 storey building containing 20 residential units and associated development

The Committee received a presentation from the Principal Planning Officer. The Principal Planning Officer noted during the presentation that a number of slides were missing. To allow for the Committee to receive accurate and up-to-date information, the Chair adjourned the meeting at 20:48 in order for Officers to resolve the issue. The meeting resumed at 20:54, the Officers having updated the presentation to include the missing slides.

The Agent spoke in support of the application.

Description:

Demolition of existing building and construction of a new part 5 and part 6 storey building containing 20 residential units and associated development.

Officer Recommendation:

Part A: To grant Planning Permission, subject to a S106 agreement being completed within six months of the date of the decision, under Heads of Terms, and subject to Planning Conditions and Informatives.

Part B: To authorise the Head of Place to refuse the application in the event that the Section 106 Legal Agreement referred to in Part A is not completed within six months of the date of the resolution by the Planning Committee.

Decision:

Following consideration, Councillor Neil Dallen proposed that the application be refused for the following reasons:

a)            As a result of its overall height, design and density, the proposed development would fail to integrate with the character and appearance of the area, to the detriment of the existing town character and therefore, in accordance with paragraph 134 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2021), should be refused.  The proposal would be contrary to Policies CS1 and CS5 of the Epsom and Ewell Core Strategy (2007),  Policies DM9, DM10 and DM13 of the Epsom and Ewell Development Management Policies (2015) and Policy E7 of the Plan E Area Action Plan (2011).

b)            The proposal would result in the loss of a good quality Conservation Area building that makes a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the Epsom Town Centre Conservation Area, for which no suitable replacement has been made.  The proposal would therefore cause less than significant harm to the heritage asset that would not be outweighed by the public benefits of the scheme.  The proposal would therefore fail to accord with Section 72 of the Listed Buildings and Conservation Area Act 1990, paragraph 202 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2021), Policy DM8 of the of the Epsom and Ewell Development Management Policies (2015) and the relevant paragraphs of the NPPF 2021.

c)            The proposal results in the reduction of a shared cycleway/footway and encourage manoeuvring of vehicles across a pedestrian and cyclist zone. The proposals would therefore interfere with the space designated to pedestrians and cyclists, and could cause danger and inconvenience to how non-motor highway users manoeuvre along Station Approach. This would lead to conditions prejudicial to highway safety contrary to the objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework (2021), policy DM 35 of the Epsom and Ewell Borough Council Development Management Policies, objective 3 of the Surrey Transport Plan 2022 - 2032 'To provide well-connected communities that encourage  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5