Agenda item

Erection of two and three storey development comprising 14 flats and 5 houses [Acomb Ward]

Members considered a major full application, submitted by York Housing Association, for the erection of a two and three storey development comprising 14 flats and 5 houses.

A copy of the case officer’s update was circulated to Members (attached as Appendix 2 to these minutes).  It summarised four additional letters of objection which had been received since the publication of the report, presented a further email from Councillor Simpson-Laing and recommended revised wording for condition 9.  Officers also outlined details of the landscaping proposals.  

Representations were received in objection to the application, from a neighbouring resident, and in support of the application, from the applicant’s agent.  Representations were also received relating to the protection of woodland and on behalf of the Acomb Planning Panel, in objection to the application.

Some Members expressed concerns regarding the scale and massing of the proposed building and that it would be out of character with the area.  They  also expressed the view that the level of on-site parking was inadequate, given the lack of on-street parking on nearby narrow roads.  Councillor Horton moved, and Councillor Waller seconded, a motion to refuse the application on these grounds.  On being put to the vote, this motion was declared lost.  Councillor Sunderland requested that her abstention in the vote on this motion be recorded.

Members expressed concern regarding the loss of highway verge for hard surface footpath and requested that this requirement be removed from the proposal by deleting condition 9.  They also requested the addition of conditions requiring the reuse of materials, where possible, and removing permitted development rights for fencing off the open space.

RESOLVED:That the application be approved, subject to the conditions listed in the report, with the deletion of condition 9 and the following additional conditions:

(i)                 Additional condition

Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 3 of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Order 1995), (or any Order revoking or re-enacting that Order), development of the type described in Class A of Schedule Part 2 of that Order (gates, fences, walls or other means of enclosure) except where shown on the approved drawings shall not be carried out without the prior written permission of the Local Planning Authority following receipt of a planning application in that respect.

Reason:  In the interests of visual amenity on this open space land and in the interests of allowing public access to the land as proposed in the planning application.

(ii)Additional condition

Prior to the commencement of development a statement demonstrating how materials from the existing building are to be re-used shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.

Thereafter the development shall proceed only in accordance with those details.

Reason:  In the interests of the sustainable development of the site as required by policy GP4a of the 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 the character of the area, residential amenity, highway implications, loss of allocated open space or impact upon protected species. As such the proposal complies with Policies GP1, GP4a, H2a, H3c, H4, NE1 and NE6 of the City of York Local Plan Deposit Draft.