Agenda item

Councillor Harrington re-joined the Committee at this point.

The planning application was for the construction of 31 two-bedroom flats at the Former Sewerage Works, Potters Way, Fengate, Peterborough, together with associated access, parking areas, bin stores and cycle stores.

It was officer’s recommendation that planning permission be granted, subject to the conditions set out in the report. The Head of Development and Construction provided an overview of the application and highlighted a number of key issues within the report.

James Griffiths, Kier Living Ltd, addressed the Committee in support of the application and responded to questions from Members. In summary the key points highlighted included:

·         Mr Griffiths endorsed the officer’s report.

·         It may have been the case that previous employees had advised purchasers that the development sites were to remain as open space, which was unfortunate.

·         The scheme had originally been intended for a much higher density, however this alternative proposal was the preferred way forward.

·         Areas of play were proposed within the development site.

·         Mr Griffiths was surprised by statements from residents regarding parking tickets and suggested that this may be the management company.

·         At the time planning consent was granted for the current development, a maximum parking policy was in place. The proposal in front of Committee today provided two spaces per dwelling.

The Planning Lawyer advised that any potential miss-selling or parking issues arising from the previous development were not matters for the Committee to consider in determination of the current application.

The Committee discussed the underpass from the proposed development to the open space on the other side of the parkway. This would be lit in the evening, however, the Head of Development and Construction advised that no CCTV was proposed.

A motion was proposed and seconded to agree that permission be granted, as per officer recommendation. This motion was carried nine voting in favour and one abstained from voting.

RESOLVED: (nine voted in favour and one abstained from voting) that planning permission is GRANTED subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Reasons for the decision

Subject to the imposition of the attached conditions, the proposal was acceptable having been assessed in the light of all material considerations, including weighing against relevant policies of the development plan and specifically:

·         the proposed 31 no. residential units would contribute towards the overall growth strategy of the City and would provide additional housing within an allocated residential site, in accordance with Policy CS2 of the Peterborough Core Strategy DPD (2011) and Policy CC8.1 of the Peterborough City Centre DPD (2014);

·         whilst the proposal would result in the loss of planned informal public open space, it was considered that there was sufficient provision within the wider development site and nearby.  In addition, it was considered that the benefit arising from additional housing provision, on balance, outweighs the slight harm that would result;

·         the design and layout of the proposal would not result in any unacceptable impact to the character, appearance or visual amenity of the surrounding area, in accordance with Policy CS14 of the Peterborough Core Strategy DPD (2011) and Policy PP2 of the Peterborough Planning Policies DPD (2012);

·         the proposed site layout made adequate provision for car parking in accordance with adopted minimum standards and would provide safe access for all highway users, in accordance with Policy CS14 of the Peterborough Core Strategy DPD (2011) and Policies PP12 and PP13 of the Peterborough Planning Policies DPD (2012);

·         the proposed three and four storey blocks would not result in an unacceptable level of harm to the amenities of neighbouring occupants, in accordance with Policy CS16 of the Peterborough Core Strategy DPD (2011) and Policy PP3 of the Peterborough Planning Policies DPD (2012);

·         the proposal would provide future occupants with an acceptable level of amenity, in accordance with Policy PP4 of the Peterborough Planning Policies DPD (2012);

·         adequate provision had been made to ensure that previous contamination of the site was dealt with and that it was safe for future residential use, in accordance with paragraph 121 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2012) and Policy PP20 of the Peterborough Planning Policies DPD (2012);

·         the proposal would not result in any unacceptable impact to protected species or the protected Nene Washes SSSI/SPA/Ramsar site, in accordance with paragraph 118 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2012), Policy CS21 of the Peterborough Core Strategy DPD (2011) and Policies PP16 and PP19 of the Peterborough Planning Policies DPD (2012);

·         the proposed development would not be at unacceptable risk from and would not increase flood risk elsewhere, in accordance with paragraph 100 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2012) and Policy CS22 of the Peterborough Core Strategy DPD (2011); and

·         the Applicant had adequately demonstrated that there were significant constraints associated with the site which prevent the delivery of policy requirements in terms of affordable housing.