Agenda item

Members considered a Major Full Application, submitted by York St John College/Bellway Homes Ltd for an additional 12 residential units (within approved building footprint) to previously approved scheme 04/01208/FUL for 132 residential units making a total of 144 residential units at Heworth Croft, 19 Heworth Green, York.

Officers updated that revised plans had now been received that addressed the external design of the larger block and relocated living rooms in Block J to the satisfaction of Officers. They indicated that if permission were granted there was a need to amend Condition 2 to reflect the revised plan numbers and for Condition 4 to include “tenure” in i) and “handover to a Registered Social Landlord” to replace “construction” in ii). Confirmation had also been received from the applicant that cycle parking had been increased within the existing cycle stores and these were shown on the revised plans. However, following discussion with the Highway Officer, it was recommended that Condition 6 should remain to confirm that the technical details were satisfactory. Finally, as a result of comments received from Highways, Officers recommended that Informative 4 should be amended to relate to a “minimum of a 12 month bus pass or car club membership for each occupier of the additional dwellings”.

Members questioned the provision of recycling bin storage for the additional units and Officers confirmed that this was covered by conditions imposed under the previously approved scheme for the site. Members also questioned the definition of the term “affordable housing” and the means by which this was continued with the sale of properties.  Officers confirmed that they were confident that the discounting could be continued with each sale.  Officers also confirmed that a briefing note relating to the affordable housing scheme would be circulated to all Members of the Sub-Committee for their information.

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

1. The replacement of Condition 2 with

The development hereby permitted shall be carried out only in accordance with the following plans: -

Drawing no. 131/RP/01B dated 12/9/06; Drawing no. 131/RP/02A dated 11/9/06; Drawing no. 131/RP/03B dated 11/9/06; Drawing no. 131/RP/04A dated 11/9/06; and, Drawing no. 131/RP/05A dated 11/9/06, and all received 21 Sep 2006;

or any plans or details subsequently agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority as amendment to the approved plans.

2. The replacement of Condition 4 with

The development shall not begin until a scheme for the provision of affordable housing as part of the development has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The affordable housing shall be provided in accordance with the approved scheme. The scheme shall include: -

i) The numbers, type, tenure and location of the site of the affordable housing provision to be made

ii) The timing of handover to a Rented Social Landlord of the affordable housing

iii) The arrangements to ensure that such provision is affordable for both initial and subsequent occupiers of the affordable housing

iv) The occupancy criteria to be used for determining the identity of prospective and successive occupiers of the affordable housing, and means by which such occupancy shall be enforced.

3. The replacement of Informative 4 with

 INFORMATIVE:

The transport measures referred to in the above condition could be satisfied by the completion of a planning obligation made under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 by those having a legal interest in the application site, for the funding of a minimum of a 12 month bus pass or car club membership for each occupier of the additional dwellings.

No development can take place on this site until the transport measures have been agreed and the Planning Obligation has been completed and you are reminded of the local planning authority's enforcement powers in this regard.

REASON:                 In the opinion of the Local Planning Authority the proposal, subject to the conditions listed in the report and above, would not cause undue harm to interests of acknowledged importance, with particular reference to principle of development, design considerations, visual amenity, impact on historic and natural environments, residential amenity, highway safety, and education and leisure facilities.  As such, the proposal complies with Policies H9, T9 and E4 of the North Yorkshire County Structure Plan (Alteration No.3 Adopted 1995) and Policies GP1, HE2, H2A, H3C, H5A, T4, and L1 of the City of York Local Plan Deposit Draft.