Agenda item

Erection of 5 no. two storey and 2 no. three storey office (B1) units including landscaping and car and cycle parking (Huntington & New Earswick)

Members considered a major full application, submitted by Monks Cross Partnership, for the erection of 5 two storey and 2 three storey office (B1) units including landscaping and car and cycle parking.

Officers updated that if Members were minded to approve the application they would recommend three additional conditions regarding the achievement of a good or excellent BREEAM rating, submission of an energy strategy for the building and an amended height condition to show the maximum heights of the units to be 12.8 m. They also recommended it being delegated to officers to approve the layout of the cycle path.

Representations were received in support of the application from the agent for the applicant. Colour plans/photos were distributed to Members for their information. It was stated that the applicant would support the additional conditions proposed by officers, and the proposed amendments to cycle path access.

Members discussed the planting to be agreed, parking and disabled parking, and supported the proposal for the amendments to cycle path access. Members discussed an addition to condition 8 of the report to state that details of systems for foul and surface drainage shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority before any development hereby approved is carried out on the site. 

RESOLVED:             That the application be approved subject to the conditions and informatives outlined in the report, that it be delegated to officers to approve the plan for the cycle path access, and subject to the following:

(i) amended condition 8:

Details of systems for foul and surface water drainage shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority before any development hereby approved is carried out on site. The approved drainage systems shall be implemented on site before the buildings hereby approved are first brought into use.

Reason: In the interests of the proper and sustainable drainage of the site.

additional conditions:

                                    (ii) 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.

(iii) Prior to the commencement of development on site an energy strategy for the building shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local Planning Authority. The development hereby approved shall thereafter be carried out and occupied in accordance with the approved energy strategy.

                                       Reason: In the interests of sustainable development.

(iv) Notwithstanding the information contained on the approved plans, the height of Unit A shall not exceed 8.10 metres, the height of Unit B shall not exceed 8.5 metres and the height of Units C and D shall not exceed 12.80  metres, as measured from existing ground level. Before any works commence on the site, a means of identifying the existing ground level on the site shall be agreed in writing, and any works required on site to mark that ground level accurately during the construction works shall be implemented prior to any disturbance of the existing ground level. Any such physical works or marker shall be retained at all times during the construction period.

Reason: To establish existing ground level and therefore to avoid confusion in measuring the height of the approved development, and to ensure that the approved development does not have an adverse impact on the character of the surrounding area.

REASON:                  The proposal, subject to the conditions listed above, ,would not cause undue harm to interests of acknowledged importance, with particular reference to protect species, the operation of the transport network, residential amenity, the character and appearance of the area or the proper drainage of the area. As such the proposal complies with Policies GP1, GP4A, T4, T13, SP8, GP9, SP9, NE2, NE5B, NE6, NE7, E1A  and E4 of the City of York Local Plan Deposit Draft and the aims of PPS1, PPG4, PPS6, PPS9, PPG13, PPG24 and PPS25.