Agenda and minutes

At this point in the meeting, Members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest or other registerable interest they might have in respect of business on this agenda, if they have not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests.

Members were asked to declare, at this point in the meeting, any personal interests, not included on the Register of Interests, or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests they may have in respect of business on the agenda. None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last meeting of the Planning Committee held on 7 April 2022.

Resolved:  That subject to the addition of Cllrs Melly and Ayre to the list of apologies, the minutes of the last meeting held on 7 April 2022 be approved and then signed by the chair as a correct record.

[Cllr Lomas joined the meeting at 4.32pm]

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. Members of the public may speak on agenda items or on matters within the remit of the committee.

Please note that our registration deadlines have changed to 2 working days before the meeting, in order to facilitate the management of public participation at remote meetings.  The deadline for registering at this meeting is 5:00pm on Tuesday 3 May 2022.

To register to speak please visit www.york.gov.uk/AttendCouncilMeetings to fill in an online registration form.  If you have any questions about the registration form or the meeting, please contact Democratic Services.  Contact details can be found at the foot of this agenda.

Webcasting of Public Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be webcast, including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The meeting can be viewed live and on demand at www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme on general matters within the remit of the Planning Committee.

This item invites Members to determine the following planning applications:

Members considered a schedule of reports of the Head of Planning and Development Services, relating to the following planning applications, outlining the proposals and relevant policy considerations and setting out the views of consultees and officers.

Demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment of the site for purpose-built student accommodation with up to 303 bedrooms, associated communal facilities, car parking and landscaping (resubmission) [Guildhall Ward]

Members considered a major full application from Gavin Douglas for the Demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment of the site for purpose-built student accommodation with up to 303 bedrooms, associated communal facilities, car parking and landscaping (resubmission) at Alton Cars York Ltd, 3 James Street, York.

The Case Officer gave a presentation on the application detailing the site layout, elevations, floor plans, top floor plan, massing modelling and a photomontage of the scheme. He then gave a committee update noting comments from Highway Network Management and the Flood Risk Management Team who had requested an amendment to Condition 5 and variation to Condition 18 to include seating in the landscaping scheme.

Public Speakers

The Applicant, Gavin Douglas, spoke in support of the application. He responded to the reasons for the refusal of the previous application which included a reduced building footprint and increased soft landscaping. He noted the offer of land for adoption for a shared cycle and footway. He explained that the room sizes had exceeded requirements. He asked Members to consider revisions to the scheme.

In response to Member questions, Gavin Douglas explained that:

The offer of the land for adoption was on the eastern side of the landscaping on James Street and they would also pay for it.

The shared cycle and footway would be 3.5m and there would be consultation of highways officers on it.

The waste management would be managed through a private operator. The waste would be sited as far away from properties as possible. There would be a waste management plan.

The apartments had segregation units for recycling.

The means of discharging to the public sewer was explained.

Regarding amendments on the western side of the site, there was one window on the upper floors on Dunlin House and  the west elevation would overlook the communal grounds used either for car parking or as amenity space at Dunlin/Heron House. The windows would be angled away and the building was 22.5m away from the north and 25m away from the south of Dunlin House.

The windows overlooking the courtyard were semi private.

Should the application be approved the appeal for previous refusal of the application would be withdrawn.

Regarding the communal space, the cluster bedrooms had a shared kitchen and dining space, on the ground floor there was a gym, laundry, cinema and breakout space (which was bookable online).

The external space was not covered and there was a dedicated route from the cycle store through the external space.

The applicant was willing to look into e-bike use with Tier.

Members then asked Officers further questions which they responded that:

Condition 18 could be amended for the landscaping to be for the lifetime of the scheme.

Regarding the feasibility of the adoption of the land, the Applicant would adopt the land as a highway and the council would undertake the work under a S278 agreement.

The application should be determined on its own merits.

There would be a reference to the frequency of waste  ...  view the full minutes text for item 85.