Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Municipal Offices. View directions

Contact: Judith Baker, Planning Committee Co-ordinator 

Items
No. Item

269.

Apologies

Minutes:

Councillors Hegenbarth, Nelson and Savage.

 

270.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

18/00039/ADV The Wilson

Councillors Hay and Hobley are both trustees of the Cheltenham Trust (the applicant).  They will leave the Council Chamber during this debate.

 

271.

Declarations of independent site visits

Minutes:

Councillor Mason visited all the application sites, apart from The Wilson

 

272.

Public Questions

Minutes:

There were none. 

 

273.

Minutes of last meeting pdf icon PDF 333 KB

Minutes:

Resolved, that the minutes of the meeting held on 22nd March 2018 be approved and signed as a correct record without corrections.

 

 

 

 

 

Before the meeting got underway, Councillor Barnes paid tribute to three Members of Planning Committee who will not be standing for re-election at the local elections in May.

 

He thanked

-       Councillor Colin Hay for many years of service on Planning Committee, all his fine words and opinions on many planning applications, and hoped that he would enjoy his brief rest;

-       Councillor Helena McCloskey who is retiring from the Council, having done an awful lot of work for Planning Committee, including a spell as Chair. She has done a lot of fine work, and can relish looking at the town and thinking about the huge contribution she has made to the townscape;

-       Councillor Thornton (not arrived at the meeting at this point), who has been a stalwart of Planning Committee for many, many years.

 

 

 

 

 

274.

Planning/Listed Building/Conservation Area Consent/Advertisement Applications, Applications for Lawful Development Certificate and Tree related applications – see Main Schedule

275.

17/02110/FUL Land and Garages at King Alfred Way pdf icon PDF 294 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

Application Number:

17/02110/FUL

Location:

Land And Garages At King Alfred Way, Cheltenham

Proposal:

Demolition of 14no. lock-up units and erection of 4no. two bedroom dwelling houses with associated car parking

View:

Yes

Officer Recommendation:

Permit

Committee Decision:

Permit

Letters of Rep:

5

Update Report:

None

 

MP introduced the application as above.  The plans have been revised during the course of the application to secure a reduction in the number of units from five to four – it is now for two sets of semi-detached houses with car parking.  Officers consider it to be an effective and efficient use of the space, making a contribution to the housing stock in the borough.  It is at Planning Committee at the request of Councillor Babbage, due to the level of local concern.

 

 

Public Speaking:

Neighbour, in objection

Represents the immediate neighbours, none of whom dispute brownfield development in principle, or argue that the application site is a beauty spot.  However, five of the eight houses that border the site have expressed strong and consistent objections about impact on their properties and about highway safety.  Neighbours are glad Councillor Babbage referred the matter to Planning Committee as their concern from the start is that although it is only a small application, it is too easy for paperwork to be put in front of busy officials who don’t actually know the neighbourhood.  Any decision will be taken as precedent for those determined to develop King Alfred Way, and this proposal would form the only residential use within that street and change its character.  The details of neighbours objections have been circulated; they centre on privacy, highways safety, trees and access.  None of these concerns have really been improved by the modified March plans, and in some cases the revisions have made them materially worse. 

 

Privacy has been raised as an issue by homes which aren’t currently overlooked; windows were introduced to the second revisions which didn’t exist at all in the first set so presumably aren’t needed.  Regarding highway safety and traffic, these are serious issues in a crowded area.  The council recommendation echoes the applicant’s statement that there are no recorded incidents in the area, but what exactly is the rea and over what timescale?  Several neighbours have assisted with collisions and injuries, and there are regular near misses.  What data is being used about what local people know to be busy roads?  Properties 1 and 2 will create a blind exit where no-one an see anything, while the current lock-ups are set safely metres back from the road.  The proposal removes safe off-road parking and sets an unrealistic parking ratio which forces more cars onto the streets.

 

Regarding trees, it is proposed to give one affected tree a management plan although the tree expert’s report still identifies some species wrongly. 

 

Regarding access, the proposed site layout plan states that existing access rights to the rear of 35 Hales Road will be maintained, but these do not attach to No. 35 but to No.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 275.

276.

17/02460/FUL Playing Field adjacent to 10 Stone Crescent pdf icon PDF 251 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

 

Application Number:

17/02460/FUL

Location:

Playing Field Adj 10  Stone Crescent, Cheltenham

Proposal:

Erection of 13no. dwellings with associated road and sewers

 

DEFERRED

 

 

 

277.

18/00039/ADV The Wilson, Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum pdf icon PDF 215 KB

Minutes:

 

Councillors Hay and Hobley left the Chamber for the duration of the following agenda item

 

 

 

Application Number:

18/00039/ADV

Location:

The Wilson, Cheltenham Art Gallery And Museum, Clarence Street, Cheltenham

Proposal:

Installation of two banner signs and one hanging sign

View:

Yes

Officer Recommendation:

Grant

Committee Decision:

Grant

Letters of Rep:

0

Update Report:

None

 

JS introduced the installation as above, at Committee because The Wilson is owned by CBC.  The recommendation is to permit.

 

 

Public Speaking:

None.

 

 

Member debate:

MC:  The Wilson is an asset to the town, and brings a lot of tourism.  It is important for CBC to support it.  This isn’t an application for flashing neon lights, but necessary advertising of the location, making it more attractive to visitors.  Is happy to support the officer recommendation.

 

 

Vote on officer recommendation to grant advertising consent

11 in support – unanimous

GRANT

 

 

278.

18/00357/FUL 6 Westal Park pdf icon PDF 232 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

Application Number:

18/00357/FUL

Location:

6 Westal Park, Cheltenham

Proposal:

Two storey side extension following demolition of double garage, utility and laundry rooms.  Internal alterations and alterations to rear elevation of existing dwelling

View:

Yes

Officer Recommendation:

Permit

Committee Decision:

Permit

Letters of Rep:

11

Update Report:

None

 

GD introduced the application as above, recommended for approval as set out in the officer report.  It is at Committee at the request of Councillor Harman, due to the numerous concerns from local residents.

 

 

Public Speaking:

Neighbour, in objection

The first point to make is that he has no objection in principle to the proposed extension at 6 Westal Park; it is the sheer size and overbearing impact on his home and amenities which is the problem. The lower windows of his property will face a blank wall, 7.5m high and 12m away.  Facing south-east, the early sun will be blocked out, and the proximity of the first floor windows will result in a loss of privacy, with his small garden and conservatory being overlooked.  The Design and Access statement justifies the size of the proposal, referring to similar-sized extensions being added to Nos. 12 and 15 Westal Park, but these had no impact on the immediate neighbours.  Moreover, No. 15 originally proposed a second staircase but this was removed on the advice of the planning department, reducing the footprint by 10%.  Nos. 3 and 8 had extensions similar to this, both of which were acceptable to other neighbours.  Thanked the Committee members for looking at the site, and hopes they will recognise that the objections are reasonable and encourage the applicant to submit a new proposal. 

 

Applicant, in support

Has lived in Westal Park for seven years, and would now like to adapt his home for multi-generational living, to accommodate growing children and elderly parents, when the time comes, rather than them going into residential care.  Has considered many design options over the last year, and Members will have noticed on their site visit that the houses in Westal Park have similar character but there are significant variations on theme.  Took pre-application advice last autumn and submitted plans, taking care to comply with the council’s policies for sustainable living, design, and the SPG for residential alterations.  The extension was subservient to the main dwelling, used existing materials, respected local design, and was set back from the neighbours.  After listening to officers’ concerns, withdrew the plans and has since made several changes to reduce the impact.  The width of the extension is reduced from 6.8m to 6.3m, so the gable wall is further from No. 7, and making the extension narrower than several garages and existing first floor extensions.  It also improves its subservience without compromising the internal accommodation.

 

The orientation of the houses is such that the sun has passed the front of No. 6 by 9am and is due east of No. 7, shining directly into its garden.  The front and rear first floor elevations are set back, so any additional  ...  view the full minutes text for item 278.

279.

Any other items the Chairman determines urgent and requires a decision

Minutes:

 

 

 

As Councillor Thornton was not present at the beginning of the meeting, Councillor Barnes thanked her for all her sterling work on Planning Committee over many years.  He hopes she will have many happy memories, and will cherish the knowledge that she has contributed to the present townscape of Cheltenham.