Issue - meetings

Reserved matters application for approval of siting, design, external appearance and landscaping to provide student accommodation (providing 1,480 bed spaces) including the provision of two colleges and residential blocks within a central green space, the realignment of Lakeside Way following outline permissions 15/02923/OUT [Hull Road Ward]

[Note: Councillor Cullwick withdrew from the meeting during consideration of this item and took no part in the debate or decision thereon.]

Members considered a Major Reserved Matters Application from the University Of York And Graham Construction Limited to approve the siting, design, external appearance and landscaping to provide student accommodation (providing 1,480 bed spaces) including the provision of two colleges and residential blocks within a central green space, the realignment of Lakeside Way following outline permissions 15/02923/OUT.

In their update, Officers advised that one letter of objection has been received from a resident of School Lane, Heslington.  A summary of the objections raised by the resident was noted.  Members were further advised of variations to Conditions 1 and 2. A Construction Environmental Management Plan (Biodiversity) had been submitted and agreed by officers and it was recommended that Condition 1 (plan references) be amended to include this. Condition 2 had been reworded following the submission of additional information. Officers advised that the additional information had been assessed and the planning balance and the recommendation remained unchanged from the published report. 

In response to questions from Members, Officers confirmed that:

·        Measures had been taken to negotiate on public access around parts of Cluster 4 with the Applicant.

·        The University proposed that for the safety of students, it was proposed that access to both colleges would be through a central hub.

·        Lakeside Way, the central green area and the pathway at the top of the site would be publicly accessible.

·        With regard to the University guaranteeing accommodation to all first year and foundation year students (including overseas students), any remaining vacancies would be offered to returning students. The proposals will provide additional capacity for students to live on campus, rather than in private rented sector elsewhere in the City. The Council would want to see that accommodation was provided on campus as a first point of call.

·        There were no Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) and two oak trees would be removed. However, there was a substantial landscaping plan.

·        The buildings had been moved further back and there would be a loss of grassland because of the nature of the buildings. Students would not be able to access the grassland and could only access the lakeside edge via the boardwalk. The detailed landscaping scheme was detailed in Condition 4.

Alan Richards spoke in objection to the application on behalf of a number of Badger Hill residents.  He detailed the parking issues currently experienced by Badger Hill residents which had worsened over recent years. He noted that many vehicles were parked or badly parked by students and tutors, causing a safety risk. He suggested that this may be exacerbated by cars from the new campus being parked in Badger Hill. He asked the Council to work with residents and noted that the residents group would report illegally parked cars.

Mr Richards was asked and explained that:

·        In terms of liaison between the residents group and the University, two members of the residents  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50