Agenda item

Erection of 3 no. three storey houses and a three storey block comprising nine flats and one house, with ancillary garage and cycling blocks, after demolition of the existing buildings.  [Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Ward]

Members considered a major full application, submitted by Pilcher Homes Ltd., for the erection of 3 no. three storey houses and a three storey block comprising nine flats and one house, with ancillary garage and cycling blocks, after demolition of the existing buildings. 

The case officer reported that the Council’s Network Management section had no objections to the application and outlined their comments.  The inclusion of four additional highways conditions was recommended:

·  HWAY10 (vehicular areas surfaced, details required)

·  HWAY14 (access to be approved, details required)

·  HWAY36 (servicing within site, details required)

·  HWAY39 (off site highway works, details required)

Representations were received in objection to the application, from residents of Mayfield Grove and Tadcaster Road and on behalf of the Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Planning Panel.  A diagram indicating potential traffic hazards on Tadcaster Road was circulated by the Planning Panel.  Representations were also received in support of the application, from the applicant’s agent, and information setting out proposed distances to neighbouring properties was circulated to Members.  Written representations from Councillor Holvey, Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Ward Councillor, in objection to the application, had been circulated to Members and were read out by the case officer.

It was clarified that paragraph 1.4 of the report, which stated that the height of Villa A had been reduced by 0.5m to 11.1m, was incorrect and confirmed that neither the height or the footprint of the proposed development had been reduced since the previous application.  Members reiterated their concerns that the scale, height, massing and design were inappropriate and would harm the appearance and character of the area, the setting of the Tadcaster Road Conservation Area, and the amenities of residents living close to the site.

Members noted that this application demonstrated that alternative access arrangements could be provided to those proposed in the previous application, although some Members still expressed some concerns relating to traffic movements on Tadcaster Road.

Members also expressed concerns, in terms of sustainability, regarding the demolition of the existing buildings on the site.  They requested that the wording of condition 31 and the related informative needed to be amended to make specific reference to children’s play space, and highlighted the need for the snicket between 9 and 11 Mayfield Grove to be gated.  It was also suggested that access from the dwellings to the garden area should be through a strip of garden, rather than the hard surfaced garage area as currently proposed.

RESOLVED:             That the application be refused.

REASON:                  In the opinion of the Local Planning Authority the proposed buildings, by virtue of their scale, height, massing and design are inappropriate in this area and would harm the appearance and character of the area, the setting of the Tadcaster Road Conservation Area, and the amenities of residents living close to the site. As such, the proposal is contrary to Policy E4 of the North Yorkshire County Structure Plan and Policies GP1 'Design', H4 'Housing Development in Existing Settlements', GP10 'Subdivision of Gardens and Infill  Development' and HE2 'Development in Historic Locations' of the City of York Local Plan Deposit Draft.