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.

The following declarations were made in relation to items of business at the meeting:

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

15 Beech Road, Epsom, Surrey, KT17 4NH

Councillor Clive Smitheram, Other Interest: In the interests of openness and transparency, Councillor Clive Smitheram declared that he had received a number of emails in objection to the Beech Road Application. He stated that he came to the meeting with an open mind.

Woodcote Grove, Ashley Road, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 5BW, 19/00999/FUL

Councillor Clive Woodbridge, Other Interest: In the interests of openness and transparency, Councillor Clive Woodbridge declared on behalf of all Members of the Committee that all Members had received a number of messages from an objector to the Application, as well as from the Applicant. Councillor Woodbridge stated he came to the meeting without any predetermination.

Proposed ground and first floor rear extension, ground and first floor side extension and internal alterations.

Description

Proposed ground and first floor rear extension, ground and first floor side extension and internal alterations.

Decision

The Committee noted a presentation from the Planning Officer.

The Committee was addressed by Ward Councillor, Julie Morris, who spoke in objection to the Application. The Committee also heard from an objector, and a supporter to the Application, as well as the Applicant.

The following points were raised by the Committee:

a)            Presence of bats: Members noted concerns regarding the presence of bats around the location of the proposed development. It was noted that there had not been substantial evidence of bats being present, but that as a protected species work would not be undertaken to harm their habitat should they be found to be living at the site.

b)            Access: Members noted concerns regarding access to the proposed development in terms of both access into the property and traffic management along the road. It was noted that a Traffic Management Plan may be enforced by Environmental Health should it be deemed appropriate.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved with 8 Members voting for, 3 Members voting against, 1 Member abstaining and the Chairman not voting that:

The Application be APPROVED 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(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:

Drawing No 04 Rev D – Proposed Plans

Drawing No 05 Rev D – Proposed Elevations

Reason: For the avoidance of doubt and to ensure that the development is carried out in accordance with the approved plans to comply with Policy CS5 of the Core Strategy (2007).

(3)          Prior to the occupation 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 Policies DM9 and DM10 of the Development Management Policies 2015.

(4)          Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (or any Order revoking or re-enacting this Order) no windows or other openings (other than those hereby approved) shall be formed in the side walls of the extensions hereby approved without the prior written consent of the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: To protect the amenities and privacy of the occupiers of the adjoining residential properties in accordance with Policy DM10 (Design Requirements for New Developments including House Extensions) of the LDF Development Management Policies Document Adopted October 2015.

(5)          The roof of the extension  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Demolition of existing office buildings and redevelopment of Application Site to provide 98 apartments/dwellings, including conversion of the Grade II* Listed Woodcote Grove and Grade II Listed Stable Block, with parking, access, landscaping and other associated works

Description

Demolition of existing office buildings and redevelopment of Application Site to provide 98 apartments/dwellings, including conversion of the Grade II* Listed Woodcote Grove and Grade II Listed Stable Block, with parking, access, landscaping and other associated works.

Decision

The Committee noted a presentation from the Planning Development Officer.

The Committee was addressed by Councillor Liz Frost, Ward Member, 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:

a)            Parking facilities: Members noted the number of proposed car parking spaces, and raised concerns regarding the impact this may have on the local area. Members also noted possible ways in which overflow parking may be managed, and that parking spaces would be allocated to residential units.

b)            Housing density: Members noted concerns regarding the high density of the proposed residential development and the impact that it would have upon the local area. It was noted that the proposed development would play a positive role in fulfilling the borough’s housing need.

c)            Amenity space: Members spoke about the private and shared amenity space for the proposed flats. It was noted that not all of the proposed housing units would meet the standard of amenity space, as it would not be suitable to attach balconies onto a Grade II Listed Building. It was noted that a management plan could be set up to maintain the proposed children’s play area for the use of all residents.

Councillor Neil Dallen proposed a refusal. This was seconded by Councillor Previn Jagutpal. The reason for this refusal was based on concerns regarding parking facilities, density and harm to the conservation area.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved with 5 Members voting for and 8 Members voting against that:

The refusal was NOT ACCEPTED.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved with 8 Members voting for and 5 Members voting against that:

Planning permission is PERMITTED subject to the following:

Part A:

Subject to a legal agreement being completed and signed by 23.12.2020 to secure the following Heads of Terms:

·                     Provision of eight affordable units, at the tenure mix of seven shared ownership and one social rented unit

·                     Secure £15,950, as a payment in lieu of on-site affordable housing

·                     A S106 monitoring fee in respect of monitoring implementation of the obligations in the S106 agreement of £2000 to be paid upon to the Council upon commencement of the development

·                     Implementation of a review mechanism for the submission of a revised Viability Statement

·                     Should trees become irreparably damaged, a financial retainer is held, equivalent to the CAVAT value of the threatened trees, to be determined by the Local Planning Authority (LPA), with the value to be paid into the LPA’s green infrastructure funds, to compensate the local community

·                     Applicant to prepare and enter into a Landscape Ecological Management Plan

·                     A financial monitoring fee to be paid within three months of the site being 50 percent occupied of £4,600 towards future auditing of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Development of 98 apartments/dwellings, including conversion of the Grade II* Listed Woodcote Grove and Grade II Listed Stable Block, with parking, access, landscaping and other associated works, following the demolition of the existing reprographics centre and conference centre (Listed Building Consent)

Description

Development of 98 apartments/dwellings, including conversion of the Grade II* Listed Woodcote Grove and Grade II Listed Stable Block, with parking, access, landscaping and other associated works, following the demolition of the existing reprographics centre and conference centre (Listed Building Consent).

Decision

The Committee noted a presentation from the Planning Development Officer.

Following consideration, the Committee resolve unanimously that:

The Application for Listed Building Consent be SUPPORTED and referred to the Secretary of State subject to the following:

Part A: Refer to Secretary of State with a recommendation to grant Listed Building Consent, subject to proposed conditions

Part B: Following confirmation from the Secretary of State that the matter is not to be called in, delegation be given to the Head of Planning to determine the application securing:

Condition(s):

(1)          The works hereby granted shall be commenced before the expiration of three years from the date of this consent.

Reason: To comply with Section 18 (1) (a) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended by Section 52 (4) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2005.

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

LOC – Site Location Plan – Rev B – dated 19.05.2019

BLOC – Proposed Block Plan – Rev A – dated 31.07.2019

001 - Existing Site Plan – dated 26.07.2019

002 - Existing Coach House – Rev B – dated 30.07.2019

003 - Existing Conference Centre – Rev A – dated 26.07.2019

004 - Existing Woodcote Grove – Plans – Rev A – dated 26.07.2019

005 - Existing Woodcote Grove – Elevations – Rev A – dated 26.07.2019

006 - Existing Atkins Office Building – Ground Floor Plan – Rev A – dated 26.07.2019

007 - Existing Atkins Office Building – Typical Floor Plan – Rev A – dated 26.07.2019

008 - Existing Atkins Office Building – Elevations - Rev A – dated 26.07.2019

009 - Existing Atkins Office Building - Elevations - Rev A – dated 26.07.19

010 - Existing Reprographics Centre – Floor Plans and Elevations - Rev A – dated 26.07.2019

011 – Proposed Site Plan – Rev R – dated 28.07.2020

020 – Block A - Floor Plans – Rev D – dated 18.12.2019

021 – Block A – Elevations – Rev D- dated 27.03.2020

022 – Block B - Floor Plans & Elevations – Rev B – dated 30.07.2019

023 – Block C and D – Ground Floor Plan – Rev B – dated 31.07.2019

024 – Block C and D – First Floor Plan – Rev B – dated 31.07.2019

025 – Block C – Elevations – Rev B - dated 31.07.2019

026 - Block D – Elevations – Rev B - dated 31.07.2019

027 - Block E - Floor Plans – Rev C – dated 30.10.2019

028 - Block E – Elevations – Rev B – dated 31.07.2019

029 - Block F - Lower Ground Floor Plan – Rev F – dated 30.07.2020

030 - Block  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.