Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 6 March 2019 (to be laid on the table half an hour before the meeting).

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 March 2019 were confirmed and signed as a correct record of the meeting.

To receive apologies for absence.

Where a Member of the Committee is unable to attend a meeting, a substitute Member from the same Area Planning Committee may attend, speak and vote in their place for that meeting.

Members are advised that in order for a substitute to be arranged, a Member must give four clear working days notice of their apologies. For this meeting, the latest date apologies can be given for a substitute to be arranged is 10 April 2019).

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Brian Adams, Val Henry, Stephen Mulliner and John Ward.

There were no substitutes.

To receive from Members declarations of interests in relation to any items included on the Agenda for this meeting in accordance with the Waverley Code of Local Government Conduct.

There were no declarations of interests in relation to items on the agenda.

The Chairman to respond to any questions received from members of the public of which notice has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 10.

There were no questions from members of the public.

The Chairman to respond to any questions received from Members in accordance with Procedure Rule 11.

There were no questions from Members.

Planning Performance and the Government target on quality on planning decision making will now be a standard item on the Joint Planning Committee agenda. This was an agreed recommendation at Executive on 28 November 2017 and is part of the Development Management Service Improvement Plan.

The latest available statistics are to follow in the update sheet.

The Committee noted the latest performance against Government targets for speed and quality of planning decisions, for the period 1 April 2017 – 31 March 2019.

Proposal

Erection of 2 buildings comprising over 4,000 sq. m of floor space up to 4 storeys in height to provide student accommodation with associated landscaping and associated works together with a car park of 77 spaces

Recommendation

That, subject to consultation with the Secretary of State, conditions 1-20 and informatives 1-6, permission be GRANTED

Proposed development

Erection of 2 buildings comprising over 4,000 sq. m of floor space up to 4 storeys in height to provide student accommodation with associated landscaping and associated works together with a car park of 77 spaces.

Officers advised the Committee that simultaneous with the publication of the agenda, the consultation response from Natural England had been received in relation to the Appropriate Assessment carried out under the Habitats Regulations. Their formal consultation response suggested certain measures which would mitigate the adverse effects the development proposal might bring about and avoid those impacts in compliance with the Regulations. There had been insufficient time to complete consultations with the applicant regarding the acceptability of such mitigation, and therefore it had not been possible to complete the Appropriate Assessment.

Officers therefore now recommended that the Committee defer its consideration of the application to enable the Appropriate Assessment to be completed.

Decision

RESOLVED to DEFER consideration to enable an Appropriate Assessment under the Habitats Regulations to be completed.

Proposal

Details pursuant to Outline Permission granted under WA/2016/2207 for 73 dwellings comprising phase 1 of the development, together with associated car parking, landscaping and open space pursuant to conditions 1, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 22, 26, 40 and 41. A statement of conformity to the original Environmental Statement has been provided with this application

Recommendation

That, subject to conditions, permission be GRANTED

Proposed Development

Details pursuant to Outline Permission granted under WA/2016/2207 for 73 dwellings comprising phase 1 of the development, together with associated car parking, landscaping and open space pursuant to conditions 1, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 22, 26, 40 and 41. A statement of conformity to the original Environmental Statement has been provided with this application

Planning Officers introduced the report and explained that the proposal was a revision of the Reserved Matters application WA/2018/0682 for a 67 unit scheme approved on 30 November 2018. The current proposal was for 73 units, and the affordable housing provision had been reduced from 35% to 22% (16 units) as part of this phase, to be re-provided in later phases.

The Committee noted the recommended amendment to Condition 5, explained on the Update report; and that the parking provision was 173 space, not 167 as stated in the report. This was in excess of the guidelines on provision of car parking spaces.

The Committee was pleased to note that the agreement of provision of affordable housing required all the affordable housing for the overall development to be provided by the completion of 80% of market housing. It was felt that this would mitigate against the risk of affordable housing being concentrated in a few areas, rather than being spread across the development. The Committee was also pleased to see that the standard of accommodation to be provided met or exceeded national space standards for all units.

Some councillors had particular concerns about access for Emergency Vehicles, and it was agreed that an Informative be added in this respect. The Committee noted that a comment from the County Council Rights of Way Officer, and the Surrey Fire & Rescue Service would have been helpful.

Cllr Townsend had particular concerns about the ground levels and finished floor levels, with regard to the discharge of Condition 40 of the Outline Permission.

Cllr James proposed, and it was agreed, that Condition 18 be amended to include Use Class C, to remove permitted development rights to create habitable accommodation in the roof space of the units.

In conclusion, the Chairman put the revised recommendation to the Committee, to grant planning permission, subject to conditions 1 to 19 including the agreed amendments to Conditions 5 and 18; and Informatives 1 to 14, and additional Informative no. 15 regarding the Emergency Vehicle Access.

In favour          17

Against              0

Abstentions       2

Decision

RESOLVED that permission be GRANTED, subject to:

-  Conditions 1 – 19 including amendments to condition 5 (as detailed in the Update report) and condition 18 (to include use Class B and C); and

- Informatives 1 -14, and additional Informative no. 15 in relation to access for emergency vehicles.