Agenda item
APPLICATION NO. 43/2017/1100/PR - LAND ADJACENT TO MAGISTRATES COURT, VICTORIA ROAD, PRESTATYN
- Meeting of Planning Committee, Wednesday, 14 February 2018 9.30 am (Item 8.)
- View the declarations of interest for item 8.
To consider an application for details of access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale of 20 no.
residential units submitted in accordance with condition 1 on outline planning
permission ref 43/2015/1241/PO (Phase 1 reserved matters application); details
of the range of house sizes and types submitted in accordance with condition 10
and details of finished floor levels of 20 no. dwellings submitted partly in
accordance with condition 11 at land adjacent to Magistrates Court, Victoria
Road, Prestatyn (copy attached).
Minutes:
[Councillor Emrys Wynne declared a personal interest in this
item because he was a Justice of the Peace]
An application was submitted for details of
access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale of 20 no. residential units submitted
in accordance with condition 1 on outline planning permission ref
43/2015/1241/PO (Phase 1 reserved matters application); details of the range of
house sizes and types submitted in accordance with condition 10 and details of
finished floor levels of 20 no. dwellings submitted partly in accordance with
condition 11 at land adjacent to Magistrates Court, Victoria Road, Prestatyn.
Public Speaker –
Mr. W. Gill (For) – explained a condition imposed on the outline permission on
site density equated to twenty residential units and details of the type and
size of those units were provided. The
apartments’ height had since been lowered to two storey. The developer had made a significant
financial contribution in lieu of providing on-site open space. Highlighted additional technical requirements
due to the site being in a flood zone.
General Debate – Councillor Tony Flynn (Local Member)
highlighted two areas of concern (1) flats out of keeping with area, and (2)
loss of green open space. Whilst
appreciating the desire to maximise the value of the site for residential
development Councillor Flynn stressed the value of the existing green open
space for children to play and he appealed for steps to be taken to retain that
provision. Councillor Rachel Flynn
(Local Member) raised concerns regarding infrastructure and impact on local
schools and doctors surgeries. She also
queried whether the commuted sum payment provided in lieu of open space could
be used for children’s facilities and sought assurances that the wellbeing of
residents would be safeguarded against the disruption caused by the
development.
In response to the issues raised the
Development Manager –
·
advised
that the outline permission established the acceptability of the development,
including the residential density element, and the current application involved
details of access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale
·
emphasised
that the green open space referred to had not been designated as such in the
Local Development Plan and a financial contribution to public open space in the
area would be forthcoming and ring fenced to benefit local facilities
·
explained
that the issue of infrastructure had already been examined when assessing the
principle of the development
·
advised
that a construction and environmental management plan was required, to be
agreed with the Local Member, which would enable the development to be
undertaken with minimum disruption and disturbance to residents
·
referred
to the type of housing and layout, vehicular access and parking, and the scale
of the development which had been lowered to two storey, which was in keeping
with other two storey properties in the area.
Councillor Bob Murray queried whether the
commuted sum payment in lieu of open space could be used to purchase part of
the site for that purpose which had previously been identified for retail
use. Concerns were also raised regarding
the ridge heights of the development in comparison with other properties in the
area and assurances were sought regarding ensuring compliance with quality
standards and design specifications. In
response members were advised that –
·
there
would be another reserved matters application coming forward in terms of the
retail units element approved as part of the original outline consent
·
it would
not be possible to use the commuted sum payment to purchase land as there was
strict criteria in terms of how that payment could be spent. It was suggested that discussions between
members and Property Services could be held outside of the meeting in terms of
land acquisition but it would not be part of this planning process and it would
be unrealistic to expect land with outline consent for retail development to be
an affordable acquisition for open space
·
it was not
possible to confirm the precise pitches on the roofs of the dwellings but revisions
had been made and the height had been reduced in response to concerns raised –
a measurement in terms of the actual ground floor to the ridge height had been
provided which officers considered acceptable given the surrounding design of
properties in the locality and the delivery of housing in a potential flood
risk area
·
assurances
were provided that the design quality standards in terms of the size of the
units would be strictly controlled to ensure they would be met.
Proposal – Councillor Tony Thomas proposed the officer
recommendation to grant the application, seconded by Councillor Peter Scott.
VOTE:
GRANT – 16
REFUSE – 1
ABSTAIN – 0
RESOLVED that permission be GRANTED in accordance with officer recommendations as stipulated
within the report.
At this juncture (11.20 a.m.) the meeting
adjourned for a refreshment break.
Supporting documents:
- ITEM 10 - FORMER MAGISTRATES COURT, PRESTATYN, item 8. PDF 6 KB
- ITEM 10 - FORMER MAGISTRATES COURT, PRESTATYN - APP, item 8. PDF 1 MB