Agenda item - BH2015/01454 - Block D Kingsmere, London Road, Brighton - Full Planning

Erection of additional storey to block D to create 2no one bedroom and 2no two bedroom flats (C3) with roof gardens.

RECOMMENDATION – GRANT

Erection of additional storey to block D to create 2no one bedroom and 2no two bedroom flats (C3) with roof gardens.

(1)             The Planning Manager (Major Applications) gave a presentation by reference to plans, photographs and drawings. The application sought permission for an extra storey on Block D; similar schemes had been approved on blocks A&B and E&F; this scheme sought permission for two 2 bedroom, and two 1 bedrooms units, the design would also be set back to include balconies. Attention was drawn to a scheme at the Priory further along London Road that had been approved at appeal, and had served as the benchmark for these types of schemes. There was no significant impact on amenity; the new flats would be code level 4 for sustainability. No additional parking was proposed as part of the application. The application was recommended for approval for the reasons set out in the report.

Questions for Officers

(2)             In response to Councillor Wares it was noted that the permissions on the other blocks on the site expired three years from the date of the permission.

(3)             In response to Councillor Wares the Senior Solicitor clarified that were the application to be refused it would likely be difficult to uphold at appeal as policy had changed little since the previous permissions.

(4)             In response to a further query it was clarified that the parking had been assessed and Officers were of the view there was sufficient space on the network, and this did not warrant a reason for refusal.

(5)             In response to Councillor C. Theobald it was clarified that issues relating to sound proofing would be considered under Building Regulations.

(6)             It was clarified for Councillor Barradell that it would not be possible to condition social housing retrospectively on the applications for all the blocks in the Kingsmere site.

(7)             It was clarified for Councillor Taylor that Officers were not of the view that the cumulative impact of parking was sufficient to warrant refusal.

(8)             It was confirmed for Councillor Gilbey that there was a separate access to the school.

(9)             It was confirmed for the Chair that previous applications to develop straight up, without an inset, had been refused.

(10)          It was confirmed for Councillor Bennett that the proposed materials would be largely the same as the permissions on the other blocks.

(11)          In response to the Chair it was clarified that previous proposed reasons for refusal had related to the felling of trees to provide additional parking.

Debate and Decision Making Process

(12)          Councillor C. Theobald stated the scheme was not in keeping, and she would not support the Officer recommendation.

(13)          Councillor Taylor felt that not enough consideration had been given to potential displacement parking, and he would not support the Officer recommendation.

(14)          Councillor Barradell noted that she would support the scheme as the city needed additional housing.

(15)          Councillor Allen noted there was parking pressure in the area, but stated he would support the application.

(16)          Councillor Hamilton noted that any other decision than to approve would likely be overturned at appeal and he would support the Officer recommendation.

(17)          Councillor Mac Cafferty noted how stressful these types of applications could be for residents, he could see little justification to refuse the application given the planning history in the report.

(18)          The Chair stated that she was not against additional storeys, and noted that the city needed to additional housing; with this in mind she would support the application.

(19)          A vote was taken and the Officer recommendation that permission be granted was carried on a vote of 10 in support with 2 against.

70.3       RESOLVED - That the Committee has taken into consideration and agrees with the reasons for the recommendation set out in section 11 of the report and the policies and guidance in section 7 and resolves to GRANT planning permission subject to the conditions and informatives in section 11, and the amended condition below:

              Amended Condition

Amend condition 4 No development abovefourth floor slab level of any part of the development hereby permitted shall take place until samples of all materials to be used in the construction of the external surfaces of the development have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, including (where applicable):

a)         samples of all brick, render and tiling (including details of the colour of render/paintwork to be used)

b)         samples of all cladding to be used, including details of their treatment to protect against weathering

c)         samples of all hard surfacing materials

d)         samples of the proposed window, door and balcony treatments

e)         samples of all other materials to be used externally

              Development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

Reason: To ensure a satisfactory appearance to the development and to comply with policies QD1 & QD14 of the Brighton & Hove Local Plan.