Agenda item - BH2016/00021 - Clarendon House, Conway Court, Ellen House, Livingstone House & Goldstone House, Clarendon Road, Hove - Full Planning

Alterations to lift motor rooms including raising roof height by 600mm. Installation of UPVC framed doors and installation of external smoke vents. General repair and decoration works.

RECOMMENDATION – GRANT

Alterations to lift motor rooms including raising roof height by 600mm. Installation of UPVC framed doors and installation of external smoke vents. General repair and decoration works.

(1)             The Principal Planning Officer (Kate Brocklebank) introduced the application with reference to plans, photographs and elevational drawings. The proposed materials would match those existing on the site and the proposals sought to enclose the stairwells with doors – smoke vents and smoke alarms would be fitted. The current works being undertaken on site were in relation to a previous approved application for new windows. The application was not considered harmful to the buildings or neighbouring amenity and was recommended for approval for the reasons set out in the report.

Public Speaker(s) and Questions

(2)             Valerie Paynter and Roy Croydon addressed the Committee as local residents in objection to the scheme. They stated that they were of the view that the contractors (Mears) were already undertaking some of this work without consent on the site. The repairs being undertaken were not being finished to a satisfactory standard. The application did not address design and health and safety issues to protect residents from concrete dust. The colour of the finished bricks should be agreed in the conditions, as the apricot bricks were being replaced with yellow ones that were being stained. The Committee were invited to abstain from the decision before them.

(3)             James Dealer addressed the Committee on behalf of the applicant (the Council) in his role as a lift engineer. He stated that the works sought to lift the roof heights of the motor rooms as these were currently not safe to undertake the necessary works to the lifts, which were at the end of their serviceable lives. The door installations sought to prevent pigeon infestations on the stairwells, as well as ensuring the stairwells were warm and adequately insulated.

(4)             It was confirmed for Councillor Morris that the only works to have commenced were to remove asbestos on site.

Questions for Officers, Debate and Decision Making Process

(5)             In response to Councillor Mac Cafferty it was clarified that the containment of dust would be covered through Environmental Health legislation.

(6)             In response to Councillor Barradell it was confirmed that the series of applications that had been submitted in relation to this site followed as the alternative to the cladding scheme that had been refused by the Committee previously.

(7)             Councillor Barradell stated she would abstain from the vote.

(8)             Councillor Gilbey stated she would support the scheme as she could see no reason in planning terms to refuse it.

(9)             A vote was taken of the 12 Members present and the Officer’s recommendation that the Committee grant planning permission was carried on a vote of 9 in support with 3 abstentions.

190.4    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 set out in section 11.