Agenda and minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 17 November 2022; Thursday, 1 December 2022; Thursday, 26 January 2023 and Thursday, 9 February 2023 as accurate records.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 17 November and 1 December 2022, and 26 January and 9 February 2023 be signed as correct records.

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.

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

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.

There was none.

To receive the following presentations on a proposed development:

There are none.

There were none.

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

The application under consideration was 22/02285/FUL – 2 Welcomes Road, Kenley, CR8 5HD.

Demolition of existing bungalow and outbuildings and erection of a three-storey building containing 6 x 2-bedroom flats and 2 x 4-bedroom semi-detached houses (total 8 dwellings), with associated parking and landscaping.

Ward: Kenley

Recommendation: Grant permission

Ward: Kenley

This application was for the Demolition of existing bungalow and outbuildings and erection of a three-storey building containing 6 x 2-bedroom flats and 2 x 4-bedroom semi-detached houses (total 8 dwellings), with associated parking and landscaping.

Officers presented the application and in response to questions from members, explained that:

·       There was a space of 19.9 metres between the two buildings in the proposed development;

·       The height of the existing building on the land was 6.2 metres, and if the application were approved the new building would be 11.3 metres high;

·       There would be one access point rather than the two that currently existed, and that this would be a four metre wide path for cars, 1.2 metres of which would be paved with different material for pedestrians to walk on;

·       Landscaping could be dealt with under conditions; and,

·       The obscure-glazed windows were all placed in secondary use rooms, and that window openings were also restricted.

Members heard two representations against the application and one from the applicant. The objectors raised the following points:

·       That the proposal was to put too many buildings on one site;

·       That the design was dull and dominating over the road and not in keeping with the area;

·       That they felt it was excessive and over-developed; and,

·       That car parking issues would arise because there was not enough provided for by the application.

Following the presentations, officers clarified that regarding cumulative impact of developing land in this way, it would be contrary to the opinion of the Planning Inspector to reject on this basis, and the council would need to defend the decision not to follow the Planning Inspector’s guidance. Officers also clarified that the parking provision was above that allocated by the London Plan.

After consideration of the officer's report, Councillor Elily Ponnuthurai MOVED the recommendations as contained in the report. This was SECONDED by Councillor Humayun Kabir and put to the vote. The committee RESOLVED, with 5 votes in favour and 5 votes against, with the Chair using their casting vote against, and so the motion fell.

A second motion for REFUSAL, on the grounds of the development being out of character, and poor quality, design and appearance, and that the footprint and layout of the buildings was too large, was proposed by Councillor Ian Parker, seconded by the Chair, and the committee RESOLVED, with 5 votes in favour, five votes against, and the Chair using their casting vote to refuse development at 2 Welcomes Road.

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.

There were none.

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

Attached is a list of Delegated and Planning Committee/Sub Committee decisions taken between 30 January 2023 and 24 February 2023.

There were none.