Agenda and minutes

The Chair congratulated the Planning Team for winning the Royal Town Planning Institute award for the East of England.

Apologies were received by Councillor Julie-Ashley Wren.

Councillor Graham Snell declared an interest in Item 5 relating to The Oval as he was a member of the All-Saints Church in Green JCC – Joint Church Council. He confirmed that he had not been involved in any discussions.

Councillor Nazmin Choudhury also declared an interest in Item 5 that she previously worked at The Oval Pharmacy but had not been involved in any discussions surrounding the application.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the previous meeting held on 23^rd May 2024.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning and Development Committee held on 23^rd May 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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

It was RESOLVED that the Information Report – Delegated Decisions be noted.

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

It was RESOLVED that the Information Report – Appeals/Called in Applications be noted.

The Head of Planning and Enforcement gave an update to the Committee on the Local Plan Partial Review (2024).

The Head of Planning and Development advised that one of the keys areas for change was creation of policies in relation to climate change. Also some of the policies include improvement of the town and the infrastructure, creating a stronger position in terms of architecture of the town and emphasising the garden city principles with the town and country association.

The key amendments outlined in the review of the 2019 Local Plan were summarised as follows:

• Climate change policies would be placed at the top of the Council’s Strategic Planning Policies. The Council was seeking the right balance of new low carbon homes and investment in retrofitting existing homes, alongside new jobs, infrastructure whilst protecting the towns green spaces and cultural assets, echoing the Town and Country Planning Association Garden City principles that the original new town was founded on.

• Deletion of Policy SP1: Presumption in favour of sustainable development and replaced with new Policy SP1: Climate change to reflect the changed priority for the Local Plan to address climate change issues and challenges.

• Amendment of Policy SP2: Sustainable development in Stevenage included an amendment to clause A. which added an additional requirement for developments to demonstrate the promotion or provision of local green jobs during its construction or operation.

• Amendment to Policy SP11: Climate Change, flooding, and pollution to consider flooding and pollution only and replaced with Policy SP11: Flooding and pollution.

New chapter of detailed Climate Change policies:

Policy CC1: Energy efficiency which would set CO² emissions targets and contributions to a Carbon Offset Fund where these could not be met on-site.

Policy CC2: Heating and cooling to prevent overheating and limit the use of energy-dependent cooling systems.

Policy CC3: Water efficiency to set water use targets for new development.

Policy CC4: Energy infrastructure to encourage new ultra-low and zero carbon energy infrastructure.

Policy CC5: Carbon sinks to protect existing carbon sinks and encourage net gains in carbon sequestration.

Policy CC6: Green roofs and walls to encourage new green roofs and green walls.

Policy CC7: Digital connectivity to encourage the installation of high-speed digital infrastructure.

Policy CC8: The green economy to support the principles of a circular economy and encourage the creation of local green jobs.

Deletion of Policy FP1: Climate Change and replacement with new Policy FP1: Sustainable drainage to reflect change in Plan structure and to ensure that: Major and minor developments utilise sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) wherever possible; Surface water run-off is not increased; Developments incorporate green, surface level features (e.g. ponds and swales) wherever possible; and Underground attenuation features and impervious surfaces are only used where unavoidable.

Deletion of Policy FP2: Flood risk in Flood Zone 1 and Policy FP3: Flood risk in Zones 2 and 3 and replacement with new comprehensive Policy FP2: Flood risk management to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Hybrid application for the comprehensive redevelopment of land at The Oval comprising: an Outline Application for a mixed use development on parcels A,B and D to include 250 dwellings, 1200sqm of mixed commercial (Class E), Parking and public realm improvements including a New Market Square, up to 2650sqm of retail (Class E) and 220sqm mixed use (Class E and Sui Generis) and parking on Parcel C, and a Full Application for the Construction of 91 dwellings and shared communal facilities for Independent Living (Parcel E), community building including place of worship and public realm (Parcel F).

The Committee considered a report in respect of application 23/00954/FPM seeking planning permission for the comprehensive redevelopment of land at The Oval comprising: an Outline Application for a mixed use of development on parcels A, B and D to include 250 dwellings, 1200sqm of mixed commercial(Class E), Parking and public realm improvements including a New Market Square, up to 2650sqm of retail (Class E) and 220sqm mixed use (Class E and Sui Generis) and parking on Parcel C, and a Full Application for the construction of 91 Dwellings and shared communal facilities for Independent Living (Parcel E), community building including place of worship and public realm (Parcel F). Planning permission was being sought for a phased development which meant some buildings and areas were subject to detailed planning permission and other areas were only outlined with appearance, access, landscaping, layout and scale reserved for future consideration.

The Team Leader stated The Oval Neighbourhood Centre was located to the northeast of Stevenage and formed one of the six original neighbourhoods following the town’s designation as the first ‘New Town’ in 1946. It embodied many of the bold and experimental design principles characteristics of town planning in the 1950s, 60s and 70s including segregated traffic and pedestrian movements using underpasses and changing land uses, dedicated cycle ways, pedestrianised shopping precincts and deck access housing.

It was explained that the Oval Neighbourhood Centre was formed of a L-Shaped shopping parade running east-west. It was a pedestrianised street with a range of units on the ground floor and residential properties accessed via gated steps and decks above, the main shopping area has a range of independent retailers and service providers in the units. The residential properties included 22 two storeys, 3-bedroom flats which was accessed via the gated ‘decks’, the oval centre (including the residential part) was served by two carparks, the main car park is accessed from Vardon Road and provided easy pedestrian access into the main shopping street. A second car park was accessed via Jessop Road located to the north of the site, this car park was not used as much and had limited connectivity with the main shopping area.

Furthermore, the Team Leader stated that a large community centre was located to the east of the site, the building was constructed across several levels and housed the main community hall together with All Saints Church and the St Nicolas and St Martins family centre. The Times Club (including the Hillites Bar) was located on the southern part of the site. To the north of the community building was a children’s play area which included a rectangular area of green space used informally for ball games and children’s play. An enclosed community garden was located to the east which bound by hedgerows and trees and the Jehovah’s Witness Hall to the south which was not within the application. The Parameter plan was shown within the report to explain the maximum development area and building heights of the buildings subject to outline  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

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

At this juncture the Head of Planning Enforcement gave an update on the Icon Building Appeal. A cost claim was lodged against SBC by Hill Residential Limited as they believed the reasons for refusal were unreasonable and the Council did not have sufficient evidence to demonstrate the issue around car parking. The Head of Planning and Enforcement stated the inspector had given the Council 7 days to issue a rebuttal and a rebuttal was issued by officers on behalf of the Council. The next stage in terms of process would be to issue a statement of comment grounds which was in progress and a statement around section 106 and CIL and a main statement of case to defend SBC i.e.., why the application was refused by the Council.

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.

To consider the following motions that: 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. 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.

This report is to provide this Committee with a quarterly update (Q4 of 2023/24) with regards to the Planning Departments investigation of HMO properties within Stevenage.

This report was provided to the committee with the quarterly update (Q4 of 2023/24) with regards to the Planning Department investigation of HMO properties within Stevenage.

It was RESOLVED that the report be NOTED.

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

There were none.