Issue - meetings

To consider the change of use of parking bays to facilitate construction of outdoor seating area associated with 56-58 High street.

It was RESOLVED that application 23/00482/FP be deferred for Officers to provide to the Committee, at their next meeting, clarity on the implications for the application of and direction following the adoption into Law of the new Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023.

The Committee considered a report in respect of application 23/00482/FP for the change of use of parking bays to facilitate construction of outdoor seating area associated with 56 -58 High Street, Stevenage.

The Principal Planning Officer informed the Committee that the application did not take account of the actual proposed seating arrangements but only the use of the land for this purpose more generally.

Councillor Loraine Rossati had called the application in due to the potential impact on neighbouring properties, car parking and highway safety.

The Chair invited Councillor Rossati to address the Committee. 

Councillor Rossati expressed concern regarding the current parking and traffic situation in the area.  She advised that the area was already short of parking spaces and that the traffic was often queuing to get into the spaces outside Tesco.  The reduction in spaces would force drivers to park on yellow lines and pedestrians to navigate the pavements unsafely.  The reduction in parking would also have a negative impact on the local businesses in the area.

The Chair then invited Dr. Veal from the Old Town Business and Community Partnership to address the meeting.

Dr. Veal advised that although he was keen to see the Old Town flourish, the decision on this application should be delayed until the Herts County Council (HCC) plans for the High Street along with the decisions for similar premises at the South end of the High Street were known.

Mr Linnard, Planning Agent on behalf of the applicant advised the Committee that the premises had a temporary licence since 2021.  As there had been no objections from consultations with HCC, SBC Environmental Health or BEAMS he hoped that the Committee would support the application as the hospitality sector played an important role in the Old Town.

The Chair thanked all speakers for their contributions.

Members asked a number of questions relating to the loss of the spaces and were concerned regarding the potential similar issues with premises at the south end of the High Street.

The Development Manager advised the Committee that the recent adoption of the new Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023 encouraged Local Authorities to support local businesses relating to outdoor seating.  However, due to the Act being so new, the implications for the Council on this issue had yet to be fully drawn out.

Following further consideration, it was moved by Councillor Broom and seconded by Councillor Claire Parris and RESOLVED that application 23/00482/FP be deferred for Officers to provide to the Committee, at their next meeting, clarity on the implications for the application of and direction following the adoption into Law of the new Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023.