Agenda item

Construction of car park and bus interchange with associated footpaths, cycleways and landscaping. [Heslington Ward]

Members considered a major reserved matters application, submitted by the University of York, for the construction of a car park and bus interchange with associated footpaths, cycleways and landscaping.

Officers circulated a sheet, which set out details of draft conditions to replace Conditions 1 and 8 in the Committee report. The replacement conditions covered the receipt of revised plans. Officers also referred to an amendment required to the report on page 45, paragraph 1.1 which referred to a car park for 132 cars for the new campus, which should now read 126 cars.

Representations in support of the application were received from the applicant’s agent who confirmed that this application was part of the transport strategy for both University campuses. She explained that there was to be a peripheral car park strategy with no localised parking. The car parks would be barrier controlled with a strict access policy together the promotion of a non car initiatives. There would be an extensive pedestrian/cycling network together with bus shelters, seating and timetabling information at the interchange. She also confirmed that the No 4 bus service would turn at the new interchange rather than at Heslington Hall and that two additional services, No 6 and 10 would also use the site.

In answer to Members concerns in relation to users of the car park, the agent confirmed that staff from Cluster 1 would use this but that, in the longer term, it would be solely used by visitors to the University. They also referred to the rolling out of a sequential programme for the issue of car park permits and to initiatives that the University were to undertake to reduce car park use. They also confirmed that the original University approval had conditioned that lighting on the site would be dark sky compliant.

RESOLVED:             That the application be approved subject to the conditions listed in the report and the following amended conditions:

Amended Condition 1: The development hereby permitted shall be carried out only in accordance with the following plans:- 30080-3-P-101/D, DD110317.L.301/L, DD110317.P.302A/E, DD110317.P.302C/B, DD110317.P.302D/D and DD110317.L.303 and any plans or details subsequently agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority as amendment to the approved plans.

Amended Condition 8: The landscaping scheme shown on the approved plans shall be implemented by the end of the next planting season following substantive completion of the development.  Any trees or plants which within a period of five years from the completion of the development, die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased, shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of a similar size and species, unless the Local Planning Authority agrees alternatives in writing. This also applies to any existing trees that are shown to be retained within the approved landscape scheme. Any works to existing trees that are protected by a tree preservation order (TPO) are subject to local authority approval within and beyond this five year period.

REASON:                  In the opinion of the Local Planning Authority the proposal, subject to the conditions listed, would not cause undue harm to interests of acknowledged importance, with particular reference to the principle of the use, landscaping, sustainable transport and drainage.  As such the proposal complies with Policies GP4a, GP9, GP15A,  ED9 and T4 of the City of York Local Plan Deposit Draft.