Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Choudary and Dyball, and Councillor Cali would be arriving late. Councillor Kilbride would be substituting for Councillor Dyball.

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.

Councillor Kilbride declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to item 9a as a board member of Northampton Partnership Homes and advised that he would take no part in the discussion or vote.

To confirm the Minutes of the meetings of the Committee held on 2^nd August, 1^st November 2022 and 5^th December 2022.

The minutes of the meetings held on 2^nd August, 1^st November, and 5^th December 2022 were agreed and signed by the Chair.

To receive communications from the Chair.

There were no Chair’s announcements on this occasion.

RESOLVED

That under the following items, the members of he public and Ward Councillors below were granted leave to address the Committee:

WNN/2022/1072

John Howsam

Kevin Langley

Leslie Brannan

WNN/2022/0828

Lien Geens

An update would be brought to the next meeting.

The Principal Planning Officer presented the report to the Committee which sought approval for a change of use from car park to temporary home for Northampton Market Stall holders, and associated works, for a period of 2 years. Following deferment of the application at the previous meeting, discussions took place with the applicant to clarify matters raised by Members. A plan was appended to the report to show various pedestrian access routes from the town centre to the proposed site; of 7, only 1 had steps, so the site was considered by officers to be accessible to all users. Whilst it was noted that there were no public toilet facilities on the Market Square, the closest being on Abington Street, the Grosvenor Centre, the Guildhall and the Bus Station, the applicant confirmed that they would be willing to install an accessible toilet for use during market opening hours. Access and egress for service vehicles from the existing highway networks would remain unchanged with access gates within the car park proposed that would ensure that the servicing of the market took place within the market area, rather than the public car park.

John Howsam addressed the Committee and spoke against the application. He believed that the move to Commercial Street was a mistake and highlighted a petition to “save” the Market which had reached more than 16,000 signatures. He suggested that the Market could be moved to the vacant BHS building which benefitted from close proximity to toilet and loading facilities within the Grosvenor Centre.

Kevin Langley, WNC Head of Major Projects and Regeneration, addressed the Committee and spoke in favour of the application. He advised that the results of a public consultation showed that residents’ priority in terms of regeneration was the Market Square. A wide range of options were presented to Market Traders, including indoor venues, and costs increased where splitting the market was proposed.

In response to questions, Mr Langley confirmed that the BHS building, and the vacant M&S building next door were looked at, but neither were viable options. He advised that a wide range of options were looked at as potential temporary homes for the Market. The Market’s new home would be communicated by the Council, and it was expected that its new location would bring new customers since it was located next to a car park. However, in response to a concern raised around sustainability, Mr Langley suggested that people would visit the Market as part of a journey, not travel by car specifically to use it.

Leslie Brennan, a Northampton Market trader, addressed the Committee and spoke in favour of the application. He advised that following discussions with the Council, it became clear that Commercial Street was the only viable option. He noted that the Committee had previously approved the application to regenerate the Market Square and it was now vital that traders be given a new home whilst works took place.

In response to questions, Mr Brennan advised that a shuttlebus from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87.

There are none.

The Principal Planning Officer presented the report to the Committee which sought to vary Conditions 4, 22, 26 and 32, and remove Conditions 12 and 31 of planning permission N/2016/0810 as amended by WNN/2021/0582, to replace the approved plans; changes to housing mix, highway layout, landscaping, parking and vehicle access, vehicle charging point and pedestrian crossing. Members’ attention was drawn to the addendum which contained an amended recommendation, an amendment to Section 9 of the report, and corrections to paragraphs 8.11 and 8.13.

Lien Geens, of MCW Architects, addressed the Committee and spoke in favour of the application. She advised that the retention of the western wing and part of the eastern wing was beneficial in terms of sustainability and heritage, and the removal of the central avenue would create a family-friendly communal space. An additional lift in the eastern building meant that only 6 dwellings would not be fully accessible, and she advised that a larger number of trees on St George’s Avenue would be retained under the amended plans.

In response to questions, the Committee heard that all financial contributions secured at the outline application stage were carried over.

Members made the following comments:

·       They were happy with the scheme; larger social housing units were desperately needed.

·       The removal of the central avenue made the scheme safer.

Councillor Cali proposed and Councillor Russell seconded that the officer recommendation as amended be approved. The recommendation contained within the report was put to a vote and declared carried with 9 votes for.

RESOLVED:

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

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

There was no urgent business on this occasion.