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.

Former Police Station, Church Road, Epsom, KT17 4PS

Councillor Neil Dallen, Other Interest: Councillor Neil Dallen declared that he knew one of the objectors who had registered to speak in objection to the application, and explained he was aware that they were a resident within his Ward. He confirmed that it was not a pecuniary interest and that he maintained an open mind.

The Committee is asked to confirm as a true record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on the 5 October 2023 (attached) 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 5th October 2023, and authorised the Chair to sign them.

Construction of a three to five-storey building plus basement for use as a care home (Use Class C2) with up to 81 bedrooms and associated communal spaces and services, together with associated car and cycle parking, refuse storage and ancillary works.

The Committee received a presentation on the application from the Principal Planning Officer.

Description:

Construction of a three to five-storey building plus basement for use as a care home (Use Class C2) with up to 81 bedrooms and associated communal spaces and services, together with associated car and cycle parking, refuse storage and ancillary works.

Officer Recommendation:

Approval, subject to conditions, informatives and s106 legal agreement

Decision:

Following consideration, the Committee voted (3 for, 6 against, and the Chair not voting), against the Officer recommendation, and the motion was lost.

Councillor Neil Dallen proposed that the application be deferred to a future meeting of the Committee for the following reason:

In order to allow time to request information from the applicant with respect to the likely use of the accommodation, and therefore the number of staff and visitors, so that a realistic car park requirement could be identified and met.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Bernie Muir.

The Committee voted (5 for, 3 against, 1 abstaining, and the Chair not voting) to DEFER the application.

Demolition of the existing police station (Use Class E) and ambulance station (Sui Generis) and erection of a new residential, nursing and dementia care home for the frail elderly (Use Class C2) comprising ancillary communal facilities and dementia care, basement parking, reconfigured vehicular access onto Church Street, landscaping and all other associated works.

The Committee received a presentation on the application from the Planning Development and Enforcement Manager.

Description:

Demolition of the existing police station (Use Class E) and ambulance station (Sui Generis) and erection of a new residential, nursing and dementia care home for the frail elderly (Use Class C2) comprising ancillary communal facilities and dementia care, basement parking, reconfigured vehicular access onto Church Street, landscaping and all other associated works.

Officer Recommendation:

Approval, subject to conditions and informatives.

Public Speaking:

Two Objectors spoke in objection to the application.

The Applicant and their Agent spoke in support of the application.

Decision:

Following consideration, Councillor Phil Neale proposed that the application be deferred to a future meeting of the Committee, for the following reason:

The provided evidence that flooding would not occur as a result of the development was insufficient and not provided by a recognised flood risk authority – a deferral would allow time for the applicant to source and provide information with respect to the flood risk from a recognised flood risk authority, and for a further flood risk assessment to be carried out by the Council.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Neil Dallen.

The Committee voted (6 for, 2 against, 1 abstaining, and the Chair not voting) to DEFER the application.

Summary of all Planning Appeal Decisions between June and September 2023.

The Committee received and noted a quarterly report summarising all of the planning appeal decisions received by the planning service between June and September 2023.