Agenda item - BH2016/06391,123-129 Portland Road, Hove - Full Planning

Creation of additional floor to provide 1no one bedroom flat and 3no two bedroom flats (C3) with associated alterations.

RECOMMENDATION – Grant

Ward Affected:Westbourne

Creation of additional floor to provide 1no one bedroom flat and 3no two bedroom flats (C3) with associated alterations.

              Officer Presentation

(1)             The Principal Planning Officer, Johnathan Puplett, introduced the application and gave a presentation by reference to plans, elevational drawings, photographs and floor plans. He stated that the material considerations in determining the application related to (HW12); the impact of the additional storey on the character and appearance of the building, the wider streetscene, the effect on the amenity of neighbouring residential occupiers, the standard of the proposed accommodation, and transport and sustainability issues. The Planning Department had received 22 letters objecting to the scheme.

Questions to Officers

(2)             In response to Councillor Morris, the Planning Officer confirmed the proposed materials as presented in the report.

(3)             The Planning Officer stated in response to Councillor Gilbey that condition 3 required the provision of a suitable recycling and waste storage scheme to be agreed with the Local Planning Authority before the development could be occupied. 

Debate and decision making process

(4)             Councillor Hyde stated that she felt the materials were out of keeping with the neighbourhood and would make the proposed new storey look like a metal shed erected on top of the red brick building below.

(5)             Councillor Littman stated that the existing building was already unattractive and putting another out of character storey on top would only increase its detrimental impact on the streetscene.

(6)             The Chair stated that Portland Road had a distinctive character of flats above shops build in the 1930s and the application did not reflect this.

(7)             A vote was taken and on a vote of 4 for and 6 Against with no abstentions planning permission was refused.

(8)             Councillor Hyde proposed that the application be refused planning permission the officer recommendation to grant planning permission was not carried.

1.       Use of materials out of keeping with the character of the area which makes the design inappropriate.

(9)             Councillor Littman seconded the proposal.

(10)          The Chair called a vote on the proposed alternative recommendations which was carried with Councillors Cattell, Gilbey, Theobald, Bennett, Hyde, Littman, Morris voting for and Councillors; Inkpin-Leissner, Miller and Platts voting against with no abstentions.

18.9       RESOLVED – That the Committee has taken into consideration the recommendation laid out in the report but resolves to REFUSE planning permission on the grounds proposed by Councillor Hyde detailed in paragraph (8) above.

Note: Councillors Mac Cafferty and Morgan were not present for the consideration of the item.