Agenda and minutes

At this point, members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda.

Members were invited to declare, at this point in the meeting, any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda.

Councillor Ayre declared a personal non prejudicial interest in relation to Plans items 4a (6-18 Hull Road, York) and 4b (32 Lawrence Street, York) as Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last meeting of the Planning Committee held on 22 July 2010.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the last meeting of the Planning Committee held on 22 July 2010 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

It is at this point in the meeting that members of the public who have registered their wish to speak can do so. The deadline for registering is by 5.00pm on Wednesday 22 September 2010. Members of the public can speak on specific planning applications or on other agenda items or matters within the remit of the committee.

To register please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of this agenda.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This item invites Members to determine the following planning applications:

Members considered reports of the Assistant Director (Planning and Sustainable Development) relating to the following planning application, outlining the proposals and relevant planning considerations and setting out the views of the consultees and officers.

Outline application for the erection of student accommodation comprising of 282 bed spaces within 75 unit clusters in 5 blocks with associated landscaping and access after demolition of existing dairy (resubmission). [Fishergate Ward]

The Committee considered a major outline application, submitted by Uniliving Ltd, for the erection of student accommodation comprising of 282 bed spaces within 75 unit clusters in 5 blocks with associated landscaping and access after the demolition of the existing dairy (resubmission).

Officers circulated the following information in an update (full details of which are set out in the annex attached to the agenda):

• Two further letters of objection had been received from residents.
• Comments had been received from the Authority’s Sustainable Project’s Officer supporting the proposals subject to prior approval of a renewable energy strategy.
• No commitment to the Institute of Civil Engineers Demolition Protocol had been received from the applicant but he had now confirmed his commitment to the protocol.
• Additional archaeology comments had been received which sought the replacement of draft conditions 14 and 15 for one bespoke condition for the site.
• Amendment of draft condition 7 to also include details of the stack height.

Representations in support of the application were received from the applicant’s agent. He referred to extensive negotiations undertaken with Officers since refusal of the application in June, which had involved a new design approach and a reduction in bed spaces. He referred to the large amount of private student accommodation in the Hull Road/Fishergate Ward and pointed out that this development would release around 100 family dwellings onto the market. The environmental management plan and permanent on-site management presence would he confirmed reduce noise and anti social behaviour issues in a highly sustainable location.

Representations in objection were received from a local resident who referred to the rapid spread of the University campus and subsequent loss of family housing to students. He pointed out that local residents and Parish Councils felt that the University should provide student accommodation on campus.

The Local Member also pointed out that the University had failed to build sufficient accommodation on campus. He referred to residents concerns in relation to the earlier scheme and confirmed that he had no objections to the present application just a number of questions. These related to the green wall screening, parking and the strength of draft condition 24 which should include dark sky compliant lighting.

In answer to Members questions the applicant’s Architect confirmed that Uniliving had a similar occupancy management plan in operation in a development in Hull which had worked well in maintaining control of occupants.

Members went onto question a number of aspects of the scheme including;

• Details of the green wall screening;
• Confirmation that the development was not tied to a specific University;
• Letting of accommodation out of term time;
• Details of bus routes using the proposed new bus shelter;
• Confirmation that the site would have a 24 hour management presence;
• Confirmation that discussions with the Police Architectural Liaison Officer would be undertaken at the reserved matters stage;
• Open Space contribution and its use in the locality rather than at the University

Following further lengthy discussion it was 

RESOLVED:    i) That the application be approved subject to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14a

Erection of 6 no. blocks for student accommodation after demolition of existing car showroom (resubmission). [Fishergate Ward] [Site Visit]

Consideration was given to a major full application, received from Blacklion Ltd, for the erection of 6 no. blocks for student accommodation after the demolition of an existing car showroom (resubmission).

Officers circulated an update, which informed Members of the following (the full updated is attached to the online agenda):

• The actual number of units was 237 rather than 238
• English Heritage had no further comments in relation to the amended scheme
• 8 further letters of objection had been received covering a number of new points
• St Lawrence Church had withdrawn its objection to the scheme subject to a number of points
• York Civic Trust had continued concerns regarding the density, scale and massing and particularly the design of the buildings
• Further comments of the Environmental Health Officer including a request for the addition of a noise condition
• Highway request for amendment to draft condition 18 to relate to the provision of cycle parking
• Lifelong Learning and Leisure had confirmed that the commuted sum for off site open space would be a total of £76,432. They had also confirmed that there was a deficiency of sport provision within the area and that the money would be spent as part of the community accessible facilities at Heslington East.
• Following receipt of additional drainage information the Engineering Consultancy had requested the addition of a number of additional conditions and an informative note
• Details of the plan numbers for inclusion in draft condition 2.

Representations in support of the application were received from the Planning Consultant. He thanked Officers for their assistance with the application and pointed out that the site was in a central location making it ideal for student accommodation. He stated that the provision of accommodation in the city had not kept pace with student numbers and that the site would be covered by a management plan. He went onto refer to a number concerns raised during the site visit in relation to car parking and he reiterated that highways had raised no objections to the proposals.

Representations were received in objection from a local resident who pointed out that the plans displayed at the meeting were not the same as the plans he had purchased from the Authority when the application had been submitted.

The Planning Officer confirmed that, since the application had been submitted, a number of revisions had been made to the scheme on which residents had been reconsulted.   Officers detailed the major changes made to the scheme since it had originally been lodged.

The local resident went onto express concerns regarding the proposed height of the student accommodation blocks and to the gap left in fencing adjacent to Lawrence Lane and the site access. He also referred to drainage issues in an area where the drains were already overloaded.

Representations in objection were also received from an Osbaldwick resident who expressed concern at the pressure being put on Green Belt land for housing development. He referred to the high level of objections to the proposals for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14b

This report informs Members of the Council’s performance in relation to appeals determined by the Planning Inspectorate in the 3 month period up to 30 June 2010. It also provides a summary of the salient points from the appeals determined in that period and lists outstanding appeals as at 31 July 2010.

The Committee considered a report, which informed them of the Council’s performance in relation to appeals determined by the Planning Inspectorate in the 3-month period up to 30 June 2010. The report also provided a summary of the salient points from appeals determined in that period together with a list of outstanding appeals as at 31 July 2010.

Members expressed their thanks to the Planning Officers for efforts in this area.

RESOLVED:             That the reports content be noted.

REASON:                  So that members can continue to be updated on appeal decisions within the CYC area and informed of the planning issues surrounding each case for future reference in determining planning applications.