Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDATION:  Approval subject to conditions and completion of Section 106 Agreement.

WARD:  Bush Hill Park

NOTED

1.    The introduction by David Gittens, Planning Decisions Manager, clarifying the proposal.

2.    Planning officers’ response to points raised, including the following:

a.    Overdevelopment

b.    Design

3.    Members’ debate and questions responded to by officers.

4.    The support of the majority of the committee to refuse the officers recommendation of approval subject to conditions and completion of Section 106 agreement: 5 votes for and 6 against.

5.    Members’ further debate and questions responded to by officers including the following points:

a.    As the principle of the development was accepted, deferral of the decision was discussed, so as to allow the applicant to come back with a better design.

b.    As there would be a new planning committee that would hear this application, if deferred, officers felt that a decision would be more appropriate; refusal of the application would also give the applicant a right of appeal.

c.    The reasons for refusal would be on the grounds of design and the impact on the conservation area.

d.    The applicant’s architect felt that he had been led to this point by planning officers. The Chair clarified that officers’ advise on what they believe would be acceptable and also listen to advice from conservation groups. The revised designs would come back to CAG.

6.    The support of the majority of the committee in favour of refusal on the grounds of design and impact on the conservation area: 6 votes for and 5 against.

AGREED that planning permission be refused for the reason set out below:

The design and appearance of the proposed development, and its relationship to the conservation area, were considered unacceptable and thus contrary to policy.