Agenda and minutes

Contact: Ed Bostock, Democratic Services  Email: ed.bostock@westnorthants.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

63.

Declarations of Interest

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

Minutes:

Councillor Lane declared a personal interest in respect of item 7c as a friend of the applicant and advised that he would leave the meeting while the item was being discussed.

64.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 50 KB

To confirm Minutes of meetings of the Committee held on 27th April (Interim Committee), 5th October, 2nd November 2021.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meetings held on 27th April, 3rd October and 2nd November 2021 were agreed and signed by the Chair.

65.

Chair's Announcements

To receive communications from the Chair.

Minutes:

The Chair announced that following updates to the Constitution at the meeting of Council on 2nd December 2021, members who called in an application for consideration by Planning Committees were now required to register to speak on the application, otherwise it would be automatically referred back to officers for determination.

 

Item 7f (WNN/2021/0867)   was called in by a councillor who had not registered to speak on the item, so the application was withdrawn from the agenda and would be determined by officers in accordance with the Council’s scheme of delegations.

66.

Deputations/Public Addresses

Minutes:

Under the following items, the members of the public and Ward Councillors listed below were granted leave to address the Committee:

 

N/2020/1623

Councillor Hinch

Miles Drew

 

N/2021/0313

Councillor Davenport

Councillor Roberts

 

WNN/2021/0129

Councillor Rahman

 

WNN/2021/0797

Councillor Roberts

Dr Job

Perry Thomas

Sally Stroman

Alex Millar

67.

List of Current Appeals/Inquiries pdf icon PDF 320 KB

Minutes:

An update would be brought to the next Planning Committee meeting.

68.

N/2020/1623 - Demolition of existing buildings and erection of Class E limited assortment discount foodstore with associated car parking, access, landscaping and associated engineering works
Harvey's Warehouses Ltd, Hill Close (corner of Harlestone Road) pdf icon PDF 609 KB

Minutes:

The Interim Development Management Team Leader submitted a report to the Committee which sought approval for demolition of existing buildings and erection of Class E limited assortment discount foodstore with associated car parking, access, landscaping, and associated engineering works. Members’ attention was drawn to the addendum which contained an updated retail impact assessment, details of an additional neighbour representation, and revised conditions. It was advised that that the Council has employed an independent retail planning consultant and the proposal had been found to be acceptable on retail grounds.  Furthermore, it would provide employment opportunities and incorporate sustainability measures and would not have an unacceptable impact on the character of the area, residential amenity or highway safety. 

 

Councillor Hinch, in his capacity as Ward Councillor for the neighbouring Duston East Ward, spoke against the application.  Whilst he commented that he welcomed new retail developments, he raised significant concerns regarding highway safety and noted that another large food store was located close by.

 

Miles Drew, the agent on behalf of the application, spoke for the application and commented that there was an absence of foodstores in the area. In addition, Travis Perkins had confirmed that the site was surplus to their requirements and jobs had already been relocated.  The applicant had worked with local highway authority and the trips from the development can safely be accommodated on the highway, with no roundabout needed at the Harlestone Road/Lodge Way junction.

 

In response to questions, the Committee heard that the proposed retail unit and nearby Aldi store would serve different catchment areas.

 

Members discussed the report.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the application be APPROVED subject to the conditions and reasons as set out in the report and amended conditions contained in the addendum.

69.

N/2021/0313 - Two storey rear extension, first floor side extension, fenestration changes, and conversion of dwelling into 4no flats, with additional parking bays and amenity area
113 Delapre Crescent Road pdf icon PDF 482 KB

Minutes:

The Principal Planning Officer submitted a report to the Committee which sought approval for a two-storey rear extension, first floor side extension, fenestration changes, and conversion of the dwelling into 4 flats with additional amenity area. Committee were made aware of an update in the addendum. The application site was located within a residential area, so the principle of development was considered acceptable. It was advised that the proposed extensions would not lead to unacceptable impact in terms of overshadowing and visual dominance when assessed against a virtual 45-degree line taken from the neighbouring property. The rear garden would be sub-divided and refuse and cycle storage provided; these provisions were secured by conditions. There were no statutory objections to the application and whilst no parking was provided, the application site was located in a sustainable location, close to public transport links and shopping facilities. It was also noted that recent appeals in the area had been allowed where planning applications had refused on parking grounds.

 

Councillor Roberts, in her capacity as a Ward Councillor for Far Cotton & Delapre, spoke against the application and stated that the proposal would result in an overdevelopment in the area and stated that residents were concerned about the potential number of additional vehicles that the development could generate. Concern was raised with the safety of the development and whether the road needed adapting for it, alongside parking issues, and the loss of a family home.

 

Members discussed the report.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the application be REFUSED on the grounds of overdevelopment due to the size of the extension and the number of flats, and due to the lack of parking. The wording of the reasons for refusal were delegated to the Head of Development Management, Enforcement and Land Charges (Interim) in consultation with the Chair.

 

Councillors Lane and Smith left the meeting at this juncture and Councillor King took the Chair.

70.

WNN/2021/0129 - Remodelling of restaurant frontage including new awning (Retrospective)
76 Earl Street pdf icon PDF 332 KB

Minutes:

The Interim Development Management Team Leader submitted a report to the Committee which sought approval for the installation of a replacement shopfront to the ground floor front elevation of the premises. The site is in the Boot and Shoe Quarter Conservation Area and there were no statutory objections to the application.

 

Members were informed that retrospective applications were not unlawful, however were undertaken at the applicant’s own risk.

 

Members discussed the report.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the application be APPROVED subject to the conditions and reasons as set out in the report.

 

Councillors Lane and Smith re-joined the meeting and Councillor Lane resumed chairing the meeting.

71.

WNN/2021/0514 - Change of Use from Restaurant/Bar (Use Class E/Sui Generis) to 13no Flats (Use Class C3), including removal of existing prep kitchen and rear external stair and construction of additional floor by splitting existing first floor into two levels.
Sazerac Restaurant
Charmark House, 20 Castilian Street pdf icon PDF 480 KB

Minutes:

The Principal Planning Officer submitted a report to the Committee which sought approval for a change of to 13 flats, including removal of the existing prep kitchen and rear external stairs and construction of an additional floor by splitting the existing first floor into two levels. New windows would be added. The principle of residential development was considered acceptable and it was noted that the room sizes complied with the relevant regulations, including in relation to outlook and light. Highways had not objected to the application and it was explained that parking was not a requirement for town centre residential developments. The site is in a Conservation Area, and no objection is received to the scheme from the Conservation Officer or Town Centre Conservation Area Advisory Committee.

 

In response to questions the Principal Planning Officer clarified that two flats would have individual bin storage areas, and the remaining flats would have access to a communal bin store.

 

Members discussed the report.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the application be APPROVED subject to the conditions and reasons as set out in the report.

72.

WNN/2021/0797 - Formation of 5no cycle trails, routes and associated works including car parking, landscaping and ecological enhancements to facilitate the use of former nine hole golf course as a bike park
Former Hardingstone 9 Hole Golf Course, Houghton Hill pdf icon PDF 589 KB

Minutes:

The Interim Development Management Team Leader submitted a report to the Committee which sought approval for the formation of 5 cycle trails, routes and associated works including landscaping and ecological enhancements. Members’ attention was drawn to the addendum which contained additional representations from a local resident and Northamptonshire Badger Group. It was explained that planning permission was not required for the site’s use as a bike park, only for the formation of the cycle trails. The site falls partly within Hardingstone Conservation Area and is in close proximity to the site of the Battlefield of Northampton, however the Council’s Archaeological Advisor raised no objection to the application, subject to a condition to secure archaeological works.  Car parking would be provided at the car park at Delapre Golf Course on a pre-booked basis; 40 spaces would be available during the week and 60 on weekends and cyclists would also be able to access facilities at the clubhouse. Details around car and cycle parking would be secured by condition. In addition, details of the crossings of the rights of way and a kissing gate style feature at the entrance to footpath KN4 would be secured by condition. Five collection areas would be created and the closest of these to a habitable property was some 26.5m. It was advised that the development would support the use of the site for sport and recreation with associated health, well-being and community benefits and would result in a net increase in biodiversity, with a long-term commitment to habitat enhancement. 

 

Councillor Roberts, in her capacity as a Ward Councillor for Delapre & Rushmere, spoke against the application and commented that parking details were not agreed at the Council’s recent Cabinet meeting and noted that the Battlefield Trust had raised concerns to the application. Councillor Roberts stated that parking should be in place before development commenced and not before.

 

Dr Jobs, a local resident, spoke against the application and commented that the application lacked an environmental impact assessment. He stated that the area was prone to waterlogging and could become dangerous for users not following designated cycle tracks. He also raised security concerns due to increased use of the site.

 

In response to a question, Dr Jobs stated that he had seen red kites, swifts, badgers, great crested newts, buzzards and bats on the site, and that only a desk study had been undertaken.

 

Perry Thomas, Chair of Hardingstone Parish Council, spoke against the application and voiced concern around parking and the highways impact the proposed development would have on the surrounding area.

 

Sally Stroman, the agent on behalf of the applicant, spoke for the application and advised that the trails were dictated by the contours of the site and that the proposal was for a multi-use facility accessible by all.  In addition, she commented that the applicant was keen to work with schools and parish councils and that the day to day running of the site would be covered by a management plan.She also noted that full ecological  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

73.

WNN/2021/0867 - Change of Use from Dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) to House in Multiple Occupation (Sui Generis) for 12 occupants, including modifications to front lightwells
3 Langham Place pdf icon PDF 401 KB

Minutes:

As per paragraph 14.8 of the Constitution, this item was withdrawn from the agenda and would be determined by officers in accordance with the Council’s scheme of delegations.

74.

Urgent Business

The Chairman to advise whether they have agreed to any items of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

Minutes:

There was no urgent business on this occasion.