Agenda item

This application proposes the extension and formal laying out of Car Park South at the existing Heslington West campus. This will provide 340 car parking spaces and 7 disabled accessible spaces, together with access barriers and the realignment of part of Goodricke Way, the main access into the campus from Heslington Lane. The proposal also includes landscaping and the relocation of a small compound used for the storage of materials by the University Grounds Maintenance Department. [Heslington] [Site Visit]

Members considered an application for an extension and laying out of a car park providing 347 car parking spaces, installation of access barriers and widening of part of Goodricke Way, together with landscaping and relocation of a materials compound.

The Officer updated Members and stated that if the application was approved that amendments would be made to conditions; 4, details of the car park barriers to be agreed prior to installation, 6, that the overall cap on car parking spaces of 1520 should not be exceeded at all times, 7, that details of boundary treatment would include reference to existing trees overhanging the boundary of 15 Walnut Close and 8, that the height of the storage bays, including the materials stored within them shall not exceed 1.75 metres, to be measured from a ground level to be agreed in writing.

The agent for the applicant answered Members questions on a range of issues including; the decommissioning of car parking spaces, the control of car parking users through permits and smart cards and the discrepancy between the location of spaces and the material store on plans and reports provided.

She reported that the process of decommissioning of car parking spaces from other sites on the University campus to be relocated into the proposed car park had already started.  In response to a question of whether the number of spaces would be reduced at the same time as the proposed extension of the existing car park, she said that a survey on campus spaces is conducted on an annual basis and that the spaces would be allocated according to the home addresses of those who use them. She added that as a result of this process, there would be a reduction in traffic through Heslington village.

So far as to controlling the usage of the car park was concerned, the agent added that students would not have to pay for permits but that as part of the University travel plan, staff would be allocated a certain car park which would be closest to their point of entry onto the campus from the city.  The access to the car parks would be controlled by the use of a Smart Card to make sure that users parked in their allocated area.  The agent advised Members that the Smart Card scheme would not start until the other proposed car parks across the campus had been constructed.

RESOLVED:             That the application be approved subject to the conditions detailed in the officer’s report and the following amended/additional conditions. ¹

                                    Condition 4 -  Prior to their installation, details shall be agreed with the LPA of the barrier equipment to be installed at the entrance to the car park, together with the methods of managing and controlling access by students and staff.

Reason – In the interests of highway safety and to ensure effective management of parking demand within the University campus.

Condition 6 – At all times the total number of car parking spaces within Heslington West Campus shall not exceed 1520 spaces (excluding disabled spaces).

Reason – To accord with previously agreed parking levels on this campus.

Condition 7 – Details of all means of enclosure to the site boundaries between existing maintenance yard and the properties on Walnut Close and The Orchard shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and subsequently provided before the development of the proposed new storage bays commences. Notwithstanding the details included on the submitted landscaping plans these boundary details shall also include any new tree planting details including height and species proposed between the rear of the proposed material bays and the boundary with Walnut Close.

Reason – In the interests of visual amenities of the area.

Condition 8 – Prior to the commencement of work on the proposed storage bays in the materials compound, details of their size, design and appearance shall be submitted to and agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The height of the bays, including the materials   stored within them shall not exceed 1.75 metres to be measured from a ground level to be agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to work on the bays commencing.

Reason – In the interests of the visual amenities of the area and from neighbouring properties.

Condition 9 – Development shall not begin until details of the surface water drainage works have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, and carried out in accordance with these approved details. Sufficient information should be provided by the Developer to determine the potential impact the proposals may have on the existing drainage systems.

Details to include:

1.      Calculations and invert levels of existing surface water system should be provided together with details to include calculations and invert levels of the proposals for the new development. This will enable the impact of the proposals on the downstream University watercourse/lake to be assessed.

2.       Additional surface water shall not be connected to any foul /combined sewer, if a suitable surface water sewer is available.

3.      Existing and proposed surfacing should be specified.

4.      Details of run off rates including calculations of both the existing and proposed rates.

5.      Surface water run-off from the development shall be attenuated to 70% of the existing rate, in accordance with a scheme to reduce run off to be submitted to and agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority (based on 140 l/s/ha of connected impermeable areas). If connection of existing impermeable areas not proven, then a Greenfield run-off rate of 1.4l/s/ha shall be used. The scheme submitted shall include storage volume calculations, using computer modelling, allowing for 1:30 year storm with no surface flooding, along with no internal flooding of buildings or surface run off from the site in a 1:100 year storm. Proposed areas within the model shall also include an additional 20% allowance for climate change. The modelling shall use a range of storm durations, with both summer and winter profiles, to find the worst case volume required.

6.      Details of future management/maintenance of the proposed drainage system.

7.      All surface water from the proposed car park shall pass through petrol interceptors prior to discharge into the existing system.

Reason – So that the Local Planning Authority may be satisfied with these details for the proper drainage of the site to comply with guidance contained within Planning Policy Statement 25 (Development and Flood Risk) and that provision has been made to maintain the proposed drainage system.

REASON:                  In the opinion of the Local Planning Authority the proposal, subject to the conditions listed in the officers report, would not cause undue harm to interests of acknowledged importance, with particular reference to the impact on the principle of development within the existing campus, impact on the landscaped setting of the campus, loss of trees, design and appearance, sustainable development, drainage and flood risk from surface water drainage and the impact on the amenity of neighbours from increased levels of lighting and the proposed alterations to the materials compound. As such the proposal complies with the University Development Brief for the existing Heslington West campus and Policies GP1, ED6, GP4b, NE1 and GP15a of the City of York Local Plan Deposit Draft.