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.

23/00110/FUL 107-111 East Street, Epsom, Surrey, KT17 1EJ

Councillor Neil Dallen, Other Interest: Councillor Neil Dallen stated that he personally knew the residents of a property in close proximity to the location of the application in question. He stated that he did not consider it to be a prejudicial interest and confirmed that he had come to the meeting with a clear and open mind.

The Committee is asked to confirm as a true record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 9 March 2023 and the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Committee held on 23 March 2023, and to authorise the Chair to sign them.

The Committee confirmed as a true record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 9 March 2023 and authorised the Chair to sign them.

In the interest of clarity, Councillor Steven McCormick proposed an amendment to the minutes of the Special Meeting of the Committee held on 23 March 2023, as follows:

The original paragraph:

Councillor Steven McCormick proposed that the application be refused. Councillor Jan Mason seconded the proposal.

The amended paragraph, as proposed by Councillor Steven McCormick:

Councillor Steven McCormick proposed that the application be refused and briefly cited the initial reasons for refusal of CS1, CS5, DM9, DM10, and NPPF paragraphs 149 and 174. Councillor Jan Mason seconded the proposal.

The Committee agreed to the amendment and confirmed that the minutes were a true record of the meeting. The Committee authorised the Chair to sign the minutes, following the agreed amendment.

Demolition of the existing buildings and construction of a two-storey building with part basement/lower ground floor, with roof accommodation, comprising 16 self-contained dwellings (Use Class C3), together with associated car and cycle parking, refuse storage, hard and soft landscaping and associated works

The Committee received a presentation from the Principal Planning Officer. The Principal Planning Officer asked that the Committee note the updates to the paragraphs, recommendation and conditions of the report, as set out in the agenda supplement (Item 6: supplementary Information - Update Report). She informed the Committee that Officers also recommended that the wording of condition 18 (Existing Access) be updated, following discussion with Surrey County Council Highways, in order to ensure that the development would not be first occupied until the existing vehicular access on the site onto East Street had been permanently closed, and any kerbed verge footway fully reinstated, subject to a design to be agreed with the County Highway Authority.

The Agent spoke in support of the application.

Description:

Demolition of the existing buildings and construction of a two-storey building with part basement/lower ground floor, with roof accommodation, comprising 16 self-contained dwellings (Use Class C3), together with associated car and cycle parking, refuse storage, hard and soft landscaping and associated works

Officer Recommendation:

To authorise the Head of Place to grant Planning Permission, subject to Planning Conditions, and subject to a S106 Agreement of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) being completed and signed by 08 September 2023 to secure Heads of Terms.

Decision:

In the interest of the privacy of residents, Councillor Neil Dallen proposed that the recommendation be amended to add a condition requiring that all communal windows on the north-eastern elevation (facing towards 113 East Street) must be fitted with obscure glazing. The proposal was seconded by Councillor Jan Mason.

The Committee agreed (6 for, 3 Abstaining, and the Chair not voting) to add the condition to the recommendation.

In the interest of the safety of disabled and sight-impaired pedestrians, Councillor Neil Dallen proposed that the recommendation be amended to add a condition requiring tactile paving to be laid where the pavements meet the road into the Development Site. The proposal was seconded by Councillor Jan Mason.

The Committee unanimously agreed to add the condition to the recommendation.

In the interest of ensuring parking availability for residents, Councillor Jan Mason proposed that the recommendation be amended to add a condition requiring that each flat be allocated a parking space. The proposal was seconded by Councillor Steven McCormick.

The Committee agreed (6 for, 1 Against, 2 Abstaining, and the Chair not voting) to add the condition to the recommendation.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

Authorise the head of place to grant planning permission, subject to the Planning Conditions stipulated below, and subject to a S106 Agreement of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) being completed and signed by 08 September 2023 to secure the following Heads of Terms:

·                     A Viability Review Mechanism, which is triggered if works on-site have not reached construction of the first-floor slab within 20 months of Planning Permission being granted.

·                     Monitoring fee

·                     Legal costs

Conditions:

(1)          Timescale: The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Erection of a two storey dwelling following demolition of existing bungalow.

The Committee received a presentation from the Principal Planning Officer.

An Objector spoke in objection to the application

The Applicant spoke in support of the application.

Description:

Erection of a two storey dwelling following demolition of existing bungalow.

Officer Recommendation:

To grant Planning Permission, subject to Planning Conditions.

Decision:

Following consideration, the Committee resolved (7 for, 1 against, 1 abstaining, and the Chair not voting) to:

GRANT planning permission, subject to the following conditions:

Conditions:

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

Reason: To comply with Section 91(1) 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 and reports:

Site Location Plan at 1:1250

Drawing Number 19DA-PE-001/Rev 1

Drawing Number 19DA-SP-001/Rev 1

Drawing Number 19DA-ss-001/Rev 1

Drawing Number DA-FP-001/Rev 0

Reason: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning as required by Policy CS5 of the Core Strategy (2007).

(3)          Prior to the commencement of development hereby approved, details and samples of the external materials to be used for the development shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

Reason: To secure a satisfactory appearance in the interests of the visual amenities and character of the locality in accordance with Policy CS5 of the Core Strategy (2007) and Policy DM10 of the Development Management Policies (2015).

(4)          Prior to the commencement of development hereby approved, full details, of both hard and soft landscape proposals, including a schedule of landscape maintenance for a minimum period of 5 years, have been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The approved landscape scheme (with the exception of planting, seeding and turfing) shall be implemented prior to the occupation of the development hereby approved and thereafter retained.

Reason: To ensure the provision, establishment and maintenance of an appropriate landscape scheme in the interests of the visual amenities of the locality in accordance with Policy CS5 of the Core Strategy (2007) and Policies DM5 and DM9 of the Development Management Policies 2015.

(5)          The development hereby approved shall not be first occupied until details of the siting and scale of bird boxes and bat boxes, log piles, hedgehog permeability and other enhancements are submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority.  The bird boxes and bat boxes shall be installed in accordance with the agreed details prior to the first occupation of the proposed development.

Reason: To preserve and enhance biodiversity and habitats in accordance with Policy CS3 of the Core Strategy 2007 and Policy DM4 of the Development Management Policies 2015.

(6)          No development shall take place until a strategy of surface water drainage for the site using a Sustainable Drainage System  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

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.

-     Updates to Paragraphs, Recommendation and Conditions for Agenda Item 3: 23/00110/FUL 107-111 East Street, Epsom, Surrey, KT17 1EJ

-       Additional Third Party Representations made in relation to Agenda Item 4: 23/00079/FUL Penecroft, 19 Downs Avenue, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 5HQ

-       Potential Applications for Consideration at forthcoming Planning Committee meetings

-       Quarterly Development Management Performance Update

The Committee received and noted the report listing potential applications for consideration at forthcoming Planning Committee meetings, and providing a Quarterly Development Management Performance update.