Issue - meetings

Demolition of existing 2no. semi-detached houses and erection of 20 no. flats comprising 12 no. 1 bed and 8 no. 2 bed, associated parking and ancillary works.

It was RESOLVED: That the application 22/00437/FPM be GRANTED planning permission subject to the conditions and reasons set out in the report and the applicant having first entered into a S106 legal agreement.

The Committee considered a report in respect of application 22/00437/FPM seeking the demolition of the existing 2 semi-detached houses and the erection of 20 flats comprising of 12 one-bed and 8 two-bed, associated parking, and ancillary works.

The Senior Planning Officer informed Members that the application was previously determined by the Committee on 4^th October 2022 and was granted subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement and a suitable drainage strategy. The land was owned by Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) who was requesting the change of tenure in relation to affordable housing provision. The existing application was to be policy compliant for affordable housing which was 25% of the dwellings, the new application requested to change this to 100%.

The Senior Planning Officer gave a presentation which included photos of the existing site, the houses that were to be demolished to make way for the block of 20 flats, as well as the previously developed March Hare site which gave an example of what the new block would look like. The garage block would form the car park for the development. She displayed photos of the traffic in the surrounding area and the access to the development which would be in Chertsey rise.

The Chair invited Ms J Wheeler, an objector, to address the Committee.

Ms Wheeler stated that a planning application was refused in 2001 due to the traffic issues in the area. There was congestion caused by refuse vehicles, which created more traffic caused by buses. The increase in vehicles due to this development would add to the congestion. Additionally she believed that families would be better in houses rather than flats.

The Chair thanked Ms J Wheeler for her contribution to the meeting.

The Chair then invited the Housing Development Representative to address the Committee.

The Housing Development Representative informed Members this application was only for a change in tenure, so SBC was successful in delivering affordable housing, which SBC wanted to increase for those in housing need. He stated that 85% of the 3000 people on the waiting list were in need of 1 and 2 bed accommodation. He informed Members that since the original application, the Housing Development team had secured funding and executive approval from SBC for the scheme. 

The Chair thanked the Housing Development Representative for their contribution to the meeting.

The Senior Planning Officer informed Members the recommendations in the report were solely based on the affordable housing provision and that all other planning considerations on the previous application were not under consideration at the meeting. The application would provide 22.8% of the annual requirement for affordable homes.

There were ongoing negotiations between the developer and flood risk consultant to finalise an acceptable drainage strategy and recommend a suggested list of conditions. There had also been further conditions imposed in relation to climate change. She also noted under the planning history that they had received a prior approval application for the demolition of the existing dwellings. The land was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3