Agenda item

Members considered a major full application, submitted by the University of York, for the demolition of university staff houses and the erection of six student residences, comprising 3 x three storey and 3 x four storey blocks with an associated utility building, parking and landscaping.

The Case Officer reported comments received from the Hull Road Planning Panel and from an objector.  He also outlined amendments to condition 2 to update the reference numbers of the drawings listed and to condition 25 to require either an ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ standard to be achieved in the Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) assessment and to increase the timescale available to complete the pre-assessment stage. 

Representations were received from the architect of the buildings that were proposed for demolition, in objection to the application.  Representations were received from the University of York’s Director of Estates, the President of the Graduate Students’ Association and the President of the Students’ Union, in support of the application.  The applicant’s planning consultant and architect also attended to answer questions and circulated plans and drawings to Members for consideration.

Members discussed a number of issues, including the amount of parking proposed, particularly for disabled people, the need for accommodation to be suitable for disabled people, the design of the buildings and the need for the windows in the stairwells to be the optimum size to maximise solar gain and minimise heat loss.  In relation to the existing buildings, they commented that demolition was unsustainable and that family housing would be lost.

Members requested that the existing buildings be documented and photographed before they were demolished.

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

(i)     Condition 2 – “The development hereby permitted shall be carried out only in accordance with the following plans:-

      Drawing no's

      - 1249/100 Revision F.

      - 1249 - 300 Revision B

      - 1249 - 303 Rev. B

      - 1249/200 Rev. A

      - 1249-101

      - 1249-002 Rev. B

      - 1249/102 Rev. C

      - 1249/103 Rev D

      - 1249-304 Rev. C

      - Landscape Proposals.

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

Reason:  For the avoidance of doubt and to ensure that the development is carried out only as approved by the Local Planning Authority.”

(ii)  Condition 25 – “The developer shall aim to achieve a BREEAM "very good" or "excellent" assessment standard for the development. Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Council  within 1 month of the date of the commencement of construction of the development the developer shall submit in writing for the approval of the Local Planning Authority a BREEAM design assessment demonstrating the progress of the BREEAM assessment, the percentage score expected to be achieved and which standard this relates to. Where this does not meet at least a 'very good' standard then the developer must demonstrate what changes will be made to the development to achieve at least 'very good" standard.

Reason:  To ensure that the development is sustainable and accords with Policy GP4A of the draft City of York Local Plan.

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 design, sustainability, Green Belt, traffic generation, impact on the University campus and landscaping. As such the proposal complies with  Policies GP1, GP3, GP9, GB1, T4, T5, SP2, GP4A, SP3, ED6 and NE6 of the City of York Draft Local Plan Incorporating the 4th set of changes (approved April 2005).