Agenda item

Report of the Planning and Development Manager recommending that delegated authority be granted in respect of an application for a proposed development at the above address, attached.

The Panel considered the report of the Planning and Development Manager recommending delegated authority be granted in respect of an application for a proposed development at the above address.

Development of the site to provide 330 Purpose Built Student Accommodation flats (435 bed spaces) in three buildings of between 3-storey's and 6-storey's plus lower ground floor level with vehicle access from Belmont Road and associated landscaping.

Adrian Vinson, Jerry Gillen, Richard Buckle, Ben Pym (local residents/ objecting), Mark Sennitt (applicant),Paul Conway (architect) and Councillor Paul O’Neil (ward councillors/objecting) were present and with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.

The presenting officer reported that:

·  the proposed development on the site had been altered from the published report from the provision of 260 to 330 Purpose Built Student Accommodation flats that would now provide 435 rather than 443 bed spaces; and

·  the following additional clauses be added to part 2 of the S106 legal agreement:

  xiii.  the submission and implementation of a Construction Management Plan which includes the routing of construction traffic and timing of deliveries to avoid peak hours.

  xiv.  the submission, approval and implementation of Public Art in accordance with the Council’s adopted Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document.

  xv.  a commuted sum towards off-site tree replacement or the implementation of off-site replacement tree planting, to include mature replacement tree species. 

RESOLVED

  (i)  to delegate to the Planning and Development Manager authority to grantplanning permission subject to the completion of an amended S106 Legal Agreement and the amended and additional conditions set out below;

AMENDED / ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS

Amend Condition 3 - Materials:

Notwithstanding the information shown on the approved drawings and application form no development works shall be carried out unless and until a written schedule of external materials and finishes has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  Development shall be implemented only in accordance with the agreed details. These shall include full details of the manufacturers, types and colours of the external materials to be used for external walls, windows, doors and the roof of the proposed buildings and include alternatives to the buff colour brick finish indicated on the submitted drawings. It is the Local Planning Authority's practice to review all such materials on site.  The developer should have regard to the context of the site in terms of surrounding building materials and should be able to demonstrate why such materials have been chosen and why alternatives were discounted. If necessary this should include presenting alternatives on site. 

Reason: 

To enable the Local Planning Authority to control the development in detail in the interests of amenity by endeavouring to achieve a building of visual quality.

Amend Condition 8- Replacement Trees:

Any trees to be felled pursuant to this decision notice will be replaced with species of trees to be agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority at a ratio of two replacement trees for every single tree removed.  The trees will be planted within the site or at a place agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority and shall include the following species:

·  Acer platanoides Olmstead

·  Incense Cedar Calocedrus decurrens for evergreen interest

·  Non-Fastigiate Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris Fastigiata for evergreen interest

·  Prunus Amanogawa for autumn colour and spring flowers

·  Small Leaves Lime Tilia cordata Greenspire (as above)

·  Elm Ulmus carpinifolia Wredei Aurea

The Developer shall be responsible for any replacements for a period of 5 years from the date of planting.  The replacement planting shall be carried out within the next planting season (between November and March) following the completion of construction. If the trees, within a period of 5 years from the date of planting die, fail to establish, are removed or become damaged or diseased, they will be replaced by the site owner / site developer or person responsible for the upkeep of the land in the next planting season with others of a similar size and species unless the Local Planning Authority gives written consent to any variation.

Reason:

To improve the appearance of the site and enhance the character of the development in the interests of visual amenity, to ensure that the development makes a positive contribution to the local environment and, in accordance with the duty required of the Local Planning Authority by Section 197 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Additional Condition Tree Planting Method:

Prior to the commencement of the development hereby approved, the following shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority:

1.  a root barrier for mitigating root damage to the public footway;

2.  Specification for constructing the above-ground surfacing to the front of the plots in a way that allows continuous soil volumes not individual ‘tree pits’, while avoiding future root damage to surfacing that will bring pressure to fell for actionable nuisance.

The development shall thereafter proceed in accordance with the agreed specification.

Reason: To ensure that replacement tree planting improves the appearance of the site and enhances the character of the area.