Agenda and minutes

The following sites were inspected before the meeting.

At this point in the meeting, members were invited to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda. No interests were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the West & City Centre Area Planning Sub-Committee held on Thursday 9 February 2012.

RESOLVED:       That the minutes of the last meeting of the West and City Centre Area Planning Sub Committee held on 9 February 2012 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 5pm the working day before the meeting in this case 5pm on Wednesday 14 March. 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 under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme on general issues within the remit of the Sub-Committee.

To determine the following planning applications related to the West and City Centre Area.

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

Erection of 12no. two and three storey dwellings with garage block. [Dringhouses and Woodthorpe Ward] [Site Visit]

Members considered a major full application (13 weeks) by JH Bryan and Union Pension Trustees Ltd for the erection of 12 two and three storey dwellings with a garage block.

Officer advised the committee that revised plans had now been received detailing the dropped crossing at the Jervis Road access to the satisfaction of Highways Officers. They also advised that the Safer York Partnership welcomed the changes detailed in the revised plans with respect to the gated access,  the removal of the bin collection assembly area, the provision of boundary fencing and gates and the provision of secure covered cycle storage sheds advising that they should help to ensure that this development provided a safe and secure environment for any future residents.

Officers advised that a neighbour living at 2 Jervis Road strongly objected to the revised plans which have dormer windows to the rear on the basis of loss of privacy to his back garden and loss of light to his bathroom window. 

With regard to paragraph 4.9 of the report, regarding the restrictive covenant, officers advised this should state “The Council sold off the current Turf Tavern site in 1954 with a restrictive covenant that the site had to be used as a pub. The Council have agreed to release the restrictive covenant on the basis that the owner obtains permission for not less than 8 houses together with two affordable units, which would be transferred to a RSL and available for affordable rent”.

Officers responded to issues regarding the parking at the rear of the site and the use of permeable paving which had been raised at the site visit. Officer’s stated the applicant had confirmed that permeable paving would be used if the Code for Sustainable Homes assessment required it, and pointed out that the development would result in a reduction of about 28% of the amount of hard surfacing currently on the site.

Members raised concerns about the maintenance of the shared parking area. Officers advised that an estate management committee would be set up, with 12 shareholders which equated to the number of units, who would have shared responsibility for the management of this area.

Representations were received from the agent in support of the application. He advised Members that there was a high demand for low cost housing, which this development would satisfy. He confirmed that he was aware of 18 people wanting to buy these properties, 11 of whom currently lived in the immediate vicinity. He provided clarification on how the management committee would operate.

Members noted that the covenant was not a matter for the committee to consider but acknowledged that some residents had felt aggrieved by the way in which the covenant had been lifted as they felt the process had excluded them from having their opinions heard. Members acknowledged that the amenity space for each property was very small when you took into account  storage for bicycles and bins and noted the lack of privacy in back  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52a

Change of use from offices with flat above to a 10 bedroom house in multiple occupation. [Guildhall Ward] [Site Visit]

Members considered a full application by Mr Adam Bennett for the change of use from offices with flat above to a 10 bedroom house in multiple occupation.

Officers advised that three additional objections had been received including comments from the owner and occupier of the property at the rear, 12 High Newbiggin Street and from another interested party raising the following issues:-

·        Noise from use affecting neighbours; impact on adjacent patio from smoking and noise from residents, boiler; noise from internal doors

·        Excess rubbish from 10 residents in patio area

·        No parking provision

·        Loss of individual  house to student accommodation; over supply of student accommodation in city

·        Insufficient amenity space

·        Retrospective works require listed building consent

Officers also circulated a list showing the variety of uses of properties along Lord Mayor’s Walk for Members’ information.

They advised that condition 6 be amended to include details of the external air supply unit and grills.

Members queried the means of escape from the top floor. Officers advised that the fire safety procedure was within the remit of building control not planning but noted that the applicant had provided information on the fire detection system which was in place.

Representations were received from the agent in support of the application. He assured Members that the works had been carried out to a good standard. He confirmed there was adequate provision for cycle storage and waste storage at the rear of the site and agreed to address any concerns regarding noise and air quality issues.

Representations were also received from a neighbour in objection to the application. She explained to Members that she owned the property behind this one on High Newbiggin Street, which she also rented out to a middle aged married couple. She explained that use of the building as an HMO would affect the privacy of her small patio area and well as lead to an increase in noise for her tenants. She noted that as wheelie bins were not used  in the street, rubbish from the HMO would be left in bags which could encourage rats. She stated the use of the building was out of character for the area as the houses in the terrace were either occupied by families or had been divided into a maximum of two flats.

The applicant advised Members that the cycle/bin store would act as a barrier offering privacy to the property to the rear and some trellis work could be used to offer further privacy. He advised that he had worked together with his neighbour to resolve issues in the past.  He explained that wheelie bins would be used to store bin bags in until collection day to protect the bags from vermin. Officers added that this issue was covered by proposed condition 3 which required a management plan for waste storage and recycling arrangements.

Members discussed the privacy of the neighbours in High Newbiggin Street and officers suggested that a fencing panel could be fixed to the existing low wall secured  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52b

Extensions to ground floor to provide extension to lounge, and en-suite facilities to existing bedrooms. Alterations to roof to provide 7 additional bedrooms at first floor level (revised scheme). [Rural West York Ward] – THIS ITEM HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.

This application, for extensions to the ground floor to provide an extension to the lounge and en-suite facilities to existing bedrooms as well as alterations to the roof to provide 7 additional bedrooms at first floor level (revised scheme), was withdrawn by the applicant, Roseville Carehomes Ltd, prior to the meeting.