Agenda for Planning and Development Committee on Wednesday, 4 November 2020, 6.30pm

Agenda and decisions

Venue: Virtual (via Zoom)

Contact: Lisa Jerome 01438 242203  Email: committees@stevenage.gov.uk

Note: You can view this meeting via the live stream from the Council’s YouTube channel by following this link - https://www.youtube.com/user/SBCComms 

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Decision:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Lizzy Kelly and John Lloyd.

 

There were no declarations of interest.

2.

MINUTES - 7 OCTOBER 2020 pdf icon PDF 87 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 October 2020.

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Planning and Development Committee held on 7 October 2020 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

3.

FORMER BHS STORE, 7 THE FORUM, STEVENAGE pdf icon PDF 209 KB

To consider the partial demolition and redevelopment of existing former BHS store to create 11 storey building comprising of 1no ground floor commercial unit, 129no. 1 bed, 120no. 2 bed and 1no. studio apartments with associated infrastructure including amenity space, car parking, bicycle storage, refuse storage and plant rooms.

Additional documents:

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that planning permission be granted, subject to the Section 106 Agreement and conditions as per the recommendations set out in the report.

4.

FORMER CHELLS PLAY AREA, ELIOT ROAD, STEVENAGE pdf icon PDF 237 KB

To consider the construction of 13no. semi-detached and terraced dwellings along with associated parking, landscaping and earthworks.

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that planning permission be granted, subject to the Section 106 Agreement and conditions as per the recommendations set out in the report, together with a revision to condition 9 and an additional condition (No. 22) regarding replacement tree planting as follows:

 

9.       Before any development commences, including any site clearance or demolition works, any retained trees on the site or in close proximity of the boundary edge in Six Acre Wood shall be protected in accordance with the details contained within the Arboricultural Method Statement by PJC Consultancy dated 18 June 2020, unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority.

 

22.      Prior to occupation of the development a scheme of replanting of trees felled since the planning application was submitted shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The scheme shall detail a replanting schedule to include UK produced trees, their size and proposed replanting location.  The tree planting shall be carried out in the first available planting season.

 

REASON: In the interests of Biodiversity and Wildlife.

5.

THE IET, MICHAEL FARADAY HOUSE, SIX HILLS WAY, STEVENAGE pdf icon PDF 195 KB

To consider the variation of conditions 1 (Approved Plans), 6 (Drainage Strategy) and 12 (Cycle Storage) attached to planning permission reference 18/00328/FPM.

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that planning permission be granted, subject to the conditions as per the recommendations set out in the report.

 

6.

THE ABBINGTON HOTEL, 23 HITCHIN ROAD AND 28 ESSEX ROAD, STEVENAGE pdf icon PDF 251 KB

To consider the change of use of the Abbington Hotel from Hotel (Use Class C1) to 23 Hitchin Road for use as a Rehabilitation Centre (Use Class C2 ) and 28 Essex Road for use as residential accommodation comprised of 2 x 1 bed flats (Use Class C3).

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that planning permission be granted, subject to the conditions as per the recommendations set out in the report, together with the following amended condition 8 in relation to hard landscaping:

 

8.     All hard surfacing comprised in the approved details of landscaping, including the provision of the benches in the amenity area, shall be completed and be ready for use prior to the first operation of 23 Hitchin Road and the ‘bungalow’ as a Rehabilitation Centre.

7.

SYMONDS GREEN NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE, FILEY CLOSE, STEVENAGE pdf icon PDF 260 KB

To consider the variation of conditions 1 (Approved Plans), 12 (Car Parking Provision), 13 (Cycle Parking Provision), 17 (Business Retention), 18 (Restriction on Retail) and 19 (Restriction on Retail) attached to planning permission reference number 16/00395/FPM.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that planning permission be granted, subject to the deed of variation to the existing Section 106 Agreement and conditions as per the recommendations set out in the report, and subject also to trigger points in the Section 106 Agreement regarding Affordable Housing contributions being amended, as set out in the addendum report, with this being delegated to the Assistant Director (Planning & Regulation), in conjunction with the Council’s appointed Solicitor.

8.

DEVELOPER CONTRIBUTIONS - SUPPLEMENTARY PLANNING DOCUMENT pdf icon PDF 655 KB

 

To consider the consultation draft of the Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document.

 

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that consideration of the Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document be deferred to a later date, with the method by which the Committee could best consider the document being investigated by officers.

9.

THE IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT ON BIODIVERSITY SUPPLEMENTARY PLANNING DOCUMENT (SPD) pdf icon PDF 13 MB

To consider the Supplementary Planning Document on the Impact of Development on Biodiversity.

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that consideration of the Biodiversity Supplementary Planning Document be deferred to a later date, with the method by which the Committee could best consider the document being investigated by officers.

 

10.

INFORMATION REPORT - DELEGATED DECISIONS pdf icon PDF 103 KB

To note a report on decisions taken by the Assistant Director Planning and Regulatory in accordance with his delegated authority.

Decision:

Noted.

11.

INFORMATION REPORT - APPEALS/CALLED IN APPLICATIONS pdf icon PDF 62 KB

To note a report on decisions taken by the Assistant Director Planning and Regulatory in accordance with his delegated authority.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Noted.

12.

URGENT PART I BUSINESS

To consider any Part I Business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

Decision:

North of Stevenage application

 

The Assistant Director (Planning & Regulation) advised that there had been recent re-consultation regarding this application due to a proposed adjustment to the siting of the southern access point to the site.  He asked Members to contact the Planning Team should they require any clarification on this matter.

 

The Chair commented that he was proposing that a Zoom meeting be arranged for those Members of the Committee (such as himself) who were not involved in the original decision on this application when it was determined on 4 February 2020, to meet with leading objectors to allow them the opportunity to explain their position/views on the application.  

13.

EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

To consider the following motions that:

 

1.    Under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs 1-7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006.

 

2.    That Members consider the reasons for the following reports (if any)being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

 

Decision:

Not required.

14.

URGENT PART II BUSINESS

To consider any Part II Business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

Decision:

None.