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Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Tariq Aniemeka-Bailey
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Items
No. Item

9/23

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 88 KB

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 27 April 2023 as an accurate record.

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings held on 27 April 2023 be signed as a correct record

 

10/23

Disclosure of Interest

Members are invited to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) and other registrable and non-registrable interests they may have in relation to any item(s) of business on today’s agenda.

Minutes:

There were no disclosures of a pecuniary interest not already registered.

 

11/23

Urgent Business (if any) pdf icon PDF 88 KB

To receive notice of any business not on the agenda which in the opinion of the Chair, by reason of special circumstances, be considered as a matter of urgency.

Minutes:

The Committee was asked to consider discuss one item of Urgent Business, Political Balance Review and Appointments.

 

RESOLVED TO:

 

1.     Review the representation of different political groups on the Planning SubCommittee.

2.     Agree the allocation of seats on the Planning Sub-Committee, by applying the political balance rules, to the Conservative and Labour groups.

3.     Appoint to the Planning Sub-Committee, in accordance with the wishes of the relevant political group, the 6 Members and 6 substitutes.

4.     Note that the Planning Sub-Committee will appoint a Chair, Deputy-Chair (who will deputise in the absence of the Chair) and Vice-Chair when it next meets consistent with the arrangements agreed at the Annual Council Meeting for this Committee.

 

12/23

Development presentations pdf icon PDF 108 KB

To receive the following presentations on a proposed development:

 

 

13/23

22/01580/PRE - Royal Russell School, Coombe Lane, Croydon, CR9 5BX pdf icon PDF 192 KB

Demolition of the existing Junior School and replacement on the same site

with a new Junior School, associated outdoor areas and landscaping.

 

Ward: South Croydon

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Demolition of the existing Junior School and replacement on the same site with a new Junior School, associated outdoor areas and landscaping.

 

Ward: South Croydon

 

Neil Cufley, Howard Pye and Helen Kent attended to give a presentation and respond to Members’ questions and issues raised for further consideration prior to submission of a planning application.

 

The main issues raised at this meeting were as follows:

 

Principle of the Scale of the Development along the green belt

 

  • There was a belief that the proposal was special circumstance to build along the green belt as the school was an important education establishment in the area and the development would improve the facilities of the school and there would be more children educated locally.
  • The local plan stated that the investment in school expansion should be supported.
  • The viability of the school could be threatened if the expansion to the junior school was denied.
  • There were concerns about a potential issue with traffic management given the proximity of the tram stop to the school entrance.
  • Members felt as though the proposed development would provide a significant increase in the building’s dimensions.
  • There was a belief that the developers should look to mitigate the environmental impact of the construction work carried out on the stie.
  • The proposed development should add the green belt and the plan to increase the biodiversity in the area was encouraged.
  • Members acknowledged that the school would open their grounds to the wider public once the development had been completed and asked for clarification on the activities that the school intended to host on their site.

 

Location, development and massing

 

  • Members were pleased with the massing of the proposed development, and they approved of the additional trees that would be introduced near the entrance of the site.

 

Design, appearance and materiality of the building

 

  • Members stated that they would prefer a more traditional design of red brick for school buildings.
  • Members proposed the recycling of rainwater and asked the developers to make better use of their flat roof space.
  • Members felt as though it was important to reflect the design of the main school building in the junior school design.
  • However, it was also noted that trying to mimic the design of another building would be tough to execute and having the building be a complimentary colour to the main school building would be a clever alternative.
  • There was some concern over the wood within the design of the building, the use of wood for the connection between the buildings was appreciated however the contrast between the wood and the colour of the building would not be as complimentary in future as the colour of the wood may change slightly.
  • Members expressed concern at the lack of window space in the proposed development.
  • Members felt that the design was quite bland and stated that a stronger colour would bring more life to the development.
  • There was a belief that the pink tone of the building was too light and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13/23

14/23

Planning applications for decision pdf icon PDF 81 KB

To consider the accompanying reports by the Director of Planning & Strategic Transport:

15/23

22/04130/FUL - 34A, 34B And Rear Of 34 Arkwright Road, CR2 0LL pdf icon PDF 401 KB

Demolition of existing dwellinghouses at 34a and 34b Arkwright Road and the construction of 9 dwellinghouses 3-4 storeys in height together with associated parking, access and landscaping.

 

Ward: Sanderstead

Recommendation: Grant permission

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Demolition of existing dwellinghouses at 34a and 34b Arkwright Road and the construction of 9 dwellinghouses 3-4 storeys in height together with associated parking, access and landscaping.

 

Ward: Sanderstead

 

The officer presented details of the planning application and in response to members’ questions explained that:

 

  • The properties on site would be dual rather than triple aspect.
  • There had been a number of amendments to the application since it was last presented to the committee. There were minor amendments to relocate the cycle and the waste storage and there were also amendments to increase the distance between the detached and the terraced dwellings.
  • Linear biodiversity included natural structures such as hedges.
  • Highways officers have not detected any potential issues for larger refuse vehicles when accessing and egressing the site.
  • Under building regulations all properties had to be M41, however if officers applied a condition, then when a developer applied for their building regulations, they would have to meet a higher standard within those regulations. Officers have pushed for a provision for units on the site to be M43 or M43 adaptable.
  • Building control officers, either from the council or an improved inspector, would provide guidance on how the developer to create and M42 o M43 unit on the site.
  • A management plan could be introduced to the areas with hedging and planting to prevent encroachment into the access path.
  • The introduction of no parking signs and road markings to indicate no parking would prevent obstruction of the turning circle.
  • Three trees at the front of the access road will be felled and another two further along the path.
  • The access road was not designed for two vehicles to pass each other; however, the entrance was wide enough to allow a vehicle to wait as another passed by.
  • The condition of the preoccupation, wildlife sensitive lighting design scheme could be extended to the pathway.

 

Patroulla Lorke spoke in objection to the application, James McConnell spoke in support of the application and the ward Member Councillor Helen Redfern addressed the Committee with her view on the application. After the speakers had finished, the committee began the deliberation, during which they raised the following points:

 

  • There was a concern about the number of people walking along the access road with no designated pathway area.
  • Neighbouring properties would be overlooked by the proposed development.
  • The proposed development was an improvement on the development form the previous application which was considered too bulky.
  • The proposed development was unlikely to create a sense of community in future.
  • There would be a number of windows overlooking the properties at 78 and 80 Ridge Langley impacting negatively on privacy.
  • The development was too large for the size of the plot.
  • The access road could not be widened sufficiently to service a development of this size.
  • There were concerns about the number of parking spaces on the site especially given the PTAL rating of the area.
  • The proposed development was too high and dense for the site.

 

The substantive motion  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15/23

16/23

Items referred by Planning Sub-Committee

To consider any item(s) referred by a previous meeting of the Planning Sub-Committee to this Committee for consideration and determination:

 

There are none.

Minutes:

There were none.

17/23

Other planning matters pdf icon PDF 104 KB

To consider the accompanying report by the Director of Planning & Strategic Transport:

 

 

Minutes:

There were none.

18/23

Weekly Planning Decisions pdf icon PDF 355 KB

Attached is the list of Delegated and Planning Committee/SubCommittee decisions taken between 18 April 2023 and 5 May 2023.

Minutes:

RESOLVED to note the weekly Planning decisions as contained within the report.