Agenda item

Report of the Planning and Development Manager recommending that delegated authority be granted in respect of an application for a proposed development at the above address, attached.

The Panel considered the report of the Planning and Development Manager recommending delegated authority be granted in respect of an application for a proposed development at the above address.

Erection of a part 11-storey and part 12-storey building to provide retail floorspace (Class A1/A2/A3) at ground floor level with purpose built student residential accommodation above (62 cluster flats and 166 studio units - 507 bedrooms in total) with associated communal living space, cycle and waste storage in the basement and external amenity areas.

Lorraine Barter (local resident/ objecting) and Charles Fish (applicant) were present and with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.

The presenting officer corrected two typographical errors in the Habitats Regulations Assessment, deleting reference to the former bus depot site and amending the distance quoted for ‘the likelihood of a significant effect from Solent and Southampton Water SPA from 670m to 1.4 km.

Two key matters that Members needed to consider were emphasised by the presenting officer:

·  Office policy – it was noted that the site is within an area safeguarded for future office development (Core Strategy Policy CS6 and CCAP Policies AP1 and AP2). It was noted that the application constitutes a ‘Departure from the Development Plan’ so that Members would need to consider in balance the length of time the site has been vacant against the benefits associated with this proposal which are outlined in the report; and

·  Impact on the setting of heritage assets – Members were advised to pay special attention to the conservation of the designated heritage assets in the immediate vicinity. It was noted that officers considered that the listed buildings to the north, east and west were too far away for their setting to be adversely affected by this development. In regard to the impact on the setting of the registered park, Members attention was drawn to the comments of the Heritage Team Leader in paragraph 5.12 of the report. 

In addition the Panel discussed the potential usage of the top floor roof terrace and the condition relating to the hours of construction.

RECORDED VOTE on the amended officer recommendation

FOR:   Councillors Coombs, Denness and Tucker

AGAINST:  Councillors Hecks and Wilkinson

RESOLVEDthat the Panel:

  (i)  confirmed the Habitats Regulation Assessment as set in Appendix 2 of the report, and updated at the meeting;

  (ii)  delegated to the Planning and Development Manager authority to grant planning permission subject to the completion of a S106 Legal Agreement, the conditions listed in the report, and the amendment to the S106 and amended conditions, set out below.

Amended / Additional Conditions

Amended Condition

Condition 09: Hours of work for Demolition / Clearance / Construction [Performance Condition]

All works relating to the demolition, clearance and construction of the development hereby granted shall only take place between the hours of:

Monday to Saturday 08:00 hours to 18:00 hours (8.00am to 6.00pm) and at no time on Sundays and recognised public holidays.

Any works outside the permitted hours shall be confined to the internal preparations of the buildings without audible noise from outside the building, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: To protect the amenities of the occupiers of existing nearby residential properties.

Additional Condition:

Condition 28: Use of top floor roof terrace (Performance Condition)

The roof terrace at 11^th floor level as shown on approved drawing number 15009 (08) 113 Rev B shall not be used or occupied between the hours of 2200 hours and 0900 hours on any day.

Reason: To Protect the amenities of neighbouring occupiers.