Agenda item

Outline planning application for the erection of new part 3/part 4 storey purpose built block of flats comprising up to 4 flats. Reserved matters are access, appearance, landscaping and layout.

Ward: Fairfield

Recommendation: Grant permission

Outline planning application for the erection of new part 3/part 4 storey purpose built block of flats comprising up to 4 flats. Reserved matters are access, appearance, landscaping and layout.

Ward: Fairfield

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

·                 The proposed development was car free, with exception of one disabled and one regular parking space, that were for residential units being created subject to separate planning permission for the roof extension that was currently being built. There were no planning requirements for the two previously approved prior approval applications developments to have car parking spaces, they were considered to be compliant with policy which encouraged car free developments in highly sustainable locations.

·                 The existing consent for the roof extension required two residential parking spaces to be provided, one of which needed to be disabled.

·                 In order to remove the proposed parking spaces on the application, the applicant would most likely have to vary their application for the roof extension.

·                 There were four reserve matters that the developer had to submit to officers if outline planning permission was granted, these matters could be submitted as part of one application or four separate applications.

·                 The four reserve matters were access, appearance, layout and landscaping.

·                 If members were concerned about any aspect of the reserve matters, then they could request that the application came back to Committee for their consideration, if officers were minded to approve those reserved matters.

·                 As the proposed development would be occupying a car park, there would be less traffic movement on the site. This was not considered to be a principle matter at this stage, and would be considered further once those details became available at reserved matters stage.

James Pyke and Councillor Ria Patel spoke in objection to the application. After the speakers had finished, the sub-committee began the deliberation, during which they raised the following points:

·                 There were concerns regarding the feasibility of finding a suitable layout at the mass and scale of the proposed development on the site.

·                 Many of the flats were already compromised as they did not currently meet space standards.

·                 The site was believed to be compromised.

·                 The applicant had made the proposed development smaller than the previous application.

·                 There was concern about the layout and the potential impact that this would have on residents’ privacy.

·                 The site was deemed to be unsuitable for the proposed scale of the development.

·                 The overlooking of the neighbouring buildings was not appreciated.

·                 The proposal of 4 flats and 2 parking spaces on the site meant that the mass and scale of the development were unsuitable.

The substantive motion to GRANT the application based on the officer’s recommendation was proposed by Councillor Parker. This was seconded by Councillor Fish.

The motion to grant the application subject to the condition that all the reserve matters were brought back to the Sub Committee at a later date, was taken to a vote and carried with three Members voting in favour, three Members voting against and the Chair used his casting vote to vote in favour of the applications.

The Committee RESOLVED to GRANT the application for the development at Stoneham House, 17 Scarbrook Road, Croydon, CR0 1SQ , subject to the condition that all the reserve matters were brought back to the Sub Committee at a later date.