Agenda item

To consider an application for the refurbishment and conversion of two derelict houses to form 4 1xbed apartments on the first floor (to provide supported accommodation for the homeless) with ground floor offices at 17/19 Westbourne Avenue, Rhyl (copy attached).

 

 

An application was submitted for the Refurbishment and conversion of two derelict houses to form 4, 1xbed apartments on the first floor (to provide supported accommodation for the homeless) with ground floor offices at 17/19 Westbourne Avenue Rhyl.

 

General Debate –

 

The chair informed members that some information was available in the late representation, there were also some late emails received. He requested that any applicants who wanted to share information that it would be sent earlier than the day of the committee, to allow members to digest all of the information.

 

Councillor Joan Butterfield (Local Member) as ward members she had been requested by local residents to speak against the application. The residents did hold a public meeting to discuss and their concerns with regard to the planning application. The proposed property was highlighted as having potential as a possible family homes. There were multiple issues in the area, parking was an issue as multiple properties in the area had already been developed into flats. It was also highlighted that the in the application two of the flats did not meet the regulations and would be too small, the size of the proposed flats would reduce the quality of life of the occupiers of the flats. The suggested occupants for the development would be vulnerable people and the area in Rhyl had many issues, and bringing people who were already in a vulnerable situation was not deemed appropriate.

 

Councillor Alan James (Local Member) agreed with the points that were raised by his fellow ward member. There had been multiple meetings with the local residents, it was stated that he was surprised that the housing association had not attended the planning committee to represent themselves.

 

Councillor Tony Thomas stated that the houses had been derelict for a number of years, and the possibility of a private development on the site was not likely. The applicant Adullam Housing Association had been commissioned by the Council to assist with homelessness within Denbighshire along with other services.

 

The officers responded to queries that two of the flats did fall below the space standard which is in the planning guidelines, one issue was the derelict condition of the property, which has an impact on the regeneration aspirations. There was also a corporate housing policy in regards to the homelessness. The applicant were also commissioned by the Council, there were conditions in place that whether the applicants were to leave the flats could not be used by anyone else. With the area and the residents’ concerns with crime there had been no objections by the police or Rhyl town council.

 

Proposal – Councillor Mark Young proposed the officer recommendation to grant the application, seconded by Councillor Tony Thomas.

 

Councillor Alan James clarified to the committee that he was representing the feelings of his residents, and not his own. However believed that the local residents’ concerns needed to be heard.

 

Councillor Joan Butterfield, requested conditions which could be included with the application –

 

·         Parking to the rear of the property should be used by the staff and not on the streets in front of the property.

·         That the flats be used to fulfil the needs of Rhyl residents.

·         The bin provisions be located at the rear of the property, rather than the side of the property.

·         Support systems to be available at all times 24/7 for the residents, and if a need was not required then the provision could be revisited within 6 months.

·         The company host a quarterly meeting after 6 months to discuss any issues that the residents would have.

 

Officers responded to the requested conditions and what could be carried out by Planning Committee, many of the conditions come down to management and Councillor Butterfield could go directly to the applicant and discuss the conditions. Alternatively a planning condition could be included which would state not prior to any development full detail of management arrangement document could be produced. However the officers suggested that the best option would go the relevant department to deal with the matter. The planning committee clarified that condition five within the application allowed control with the bin stores which could be located at the back of the development. The other matters were advised that they would be best dealt with the department of the council who had commissioned the work.

 

Members agreed with the bins condition however there was a large car park nearby to the proposed application, parking permits could be a possibility to the staff who would be located in the offices. It was discussed that why other areas within the council were not identified for a similar development. The parking condition was requested to be included within the condition.

 

Officers responded that it would be hard to enforce where staff would park, the parking nearby was suggested as an alternative, and if the staff were parking legally Denbighshire could not enforce the condition.

 

VOTE:

GRANT – 12

REFUSE – 2

ABSTAIN – 0

 

RESOLVED that permission be GRANTED in accordance with officer recommendations as detailed within the report.