Agenda and minutes

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 2 March and 30 March 2017 (previously circulated).

The Minutes of the meetings held on 2 March 2017 and 30 March 2017 were approved as correct records and signed by the Chairman.

To note declarations of Members’ disclosable pecuniary interests, non-disclosable pecuniary interests and non-pecuniary interests in respect of items on the Agenda.

Councillor P.Zukowskyj declared non-pecuniary interests in items on the agenda as appropriate by virtue of being a Member of Hertfordshire County Council.

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance).

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) setting out detailed considerations for the change of use of an office building to form 24 x two bedroom residential apartments with balconies, the construction of an additional two storeys and a four storey side and rear extension with roof garden, layout of 26 car parking spaces and cycle parking, internal access routes, landscaping and supporting infrastructure.

Tim Waller, (Agent) spoke in support of the application.

It was then moved by Councillor N.Pace, seconded by Councillor D.Bennett and

RESOLVED:

(8 voting for, 5 against)

That planning permission for application 6/2016/2497/MAJ be approved as set out in the report of Officers.

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance).

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) setting out the application of variation of condition 1 (plans) on planning permission 6/2015/2333/FULL (for erection of five new dwellings and shop (use Class A5) with new access following demolition of shed and two garages) dated 4 February 2016.

The variations to plans and drawings were as follows:

•               Change in wall materials from horizontally-lapped orange/brown cladding to buff bricks matching the adjacent building.  Details include two blue brick courses (between floors) and blue/grey soldier bricks above window and door openings

•               Thicker walls to provide a sounder structure - includes steel frame and precast stair core.

•               Repositioning of windows.  At first floor in the north flank elevation facing the rear garden of Number 8 Tolmers Gardens – two fewer windows.  (The remaining five windows to be obscured glazed and fixed, as previously approved). At second floor level - one fire escape window, 0.5m wide, was repositioned from the east (rear) elevation to the south. 

•               Ground floor flank window to have obscured glass and security bars on boundary with rear of Number 8 Tolmers Gardens as previously approved.

•               Vehicle access reduced in width to 4.2m (above kerb level), carriageway to 3.8m width.  The height would remain at 4m as previously approved.

•               The rear addition at second floor would be 3.7m deep rather than 2.7m.

•               Shallower slope of roof over the front part of the building where it extends the terrace of shops and flats facing the public car park.

•               One additional roof-light in the second floor roof.

Officers proposed that a change to Condition 3 to become part of the approved plans under Condition 11.

It was then moved by Councillor N.Pace, seconded by Councillor P.Shah and

RESOLVED:

(12 voting for, 1 against)

That planning permission be approved for application 6/2016/1857/VAR subject to removing Condition 3 in the report of Officers and inserting the Construction Management Plan to the end of Condition 11 of the approved plans.

The development/works shall not be started and completed other than in accordance with the approved plans and details:

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance).

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) setting out an application for the change of use of amenity land and formation of new vehicular access.

Welwyn Parish Councillor Colin Hukin spoke against the application.

It was then moved by Councillor N.Pace, seconded by Councillor A.Chesterman and

RESOLVED:

(9 voting for, 4 against)

That planning permission be approved for application 6/2016/0555/HOUSE as set out in the report of Officers.

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance).

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) setting out an application for the change of use from restaurant (A3) to residential (C3) and the erection of single storey and first floor rear extension and subdivision into four flats (2 x 1 bedroom flats and 2 x 2 bedroom flats).

Site Description

The application site comprised an end-of-terrace, two-storey property on the west side of Park Street in the Old Hatfield Conservation Area. 

The building had been vacant for approximately a year and had previously used as a restaurant at ground floor since 1977 (S6/1977/0627/FP) and a three bedroom flat at first floor.  The building faced east onto Park Street and the south side elevation abuts the pedestrian alley between Park Street and the public car park accessed from Arm and Sword Lane. 

The rear yard of the site was accessed from the footpath and provided access via an external stair to the first floor flat.  On the far side of the footpath was the Horse and Groom Public House.  To the north side, the building adjoined a two storey residential block (Archway House).  To the rear of the property was a small electricity sub-station and a single storey garage that had a commercial use and opened onto the public car park to the rear.

The Proposal

Full planning permission was being sought for the following:

•               Change of use of the ground floor from restaurant to two residential units: 1 x 1 bedroom flat and 1 x 2 bedroom flat;

•               Subdivision of the first floor into two residential units: 1 x 1 bedroom flat and 1 x 2 bedroom flat;

•               1.8m deep rear extension at first floor to enclose the area used as an external landing (approximately 8.5sqm).  The walls would be red brick to match existing on the south elevation (facing the alley), render with horizontal timber cladding to the gable to replicate the existing rear elevation;

•               Extension to deepen the rear/side extension by 1.5m.  Floor-space increase (6sqm each at ground and first floors).  The other elevations would be rendered to match the existing rear extension. Increase in ridge height from 5.8m to 6.4m, link into the rear main roof and be retiled to match the main roof.  Increase in eaves height 0.8m;

•               Replacement of side window with a door at ground floor and installation of windows in the rear elevation.  Alterations to size of windows in first floor side elevation;

•               Remaining rear yard area (approximately 34sqm) to provide communal amenity area, cycle parking and bin stores.

Reason for Committee Consideration

The application was presented to the Development Management Committee because Councillor Broach has called it in for the following reasons:

“The proposal has insufficient parking provision and there are too many units being cramped into too small a space.  It marks a drastic change in an historic part of our Borough in what has been a retail unit for as long as most people can remember.

There are also often  ...  view the full minutes text for item 161.

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance).

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) setting out an application for the erection of porch, single storey rear extension, conversion of dwelling house into 1 x 1 bedroom flat and 1 x 2 bedroom flat involving demolition of existing garden shed and relocation of shared garden shed

Site Description

The application site was located on the eastern side of Deerswood Avenue and consisted of a three bedroom two storey mid-terrace dwelling in a block of six houses with hardstanding areas to the front and a rear garden.  The surrounding area and street scene were residential in character and the immediate surrounding contained dwellings similar in respect of both size and appearance while the southern side of the street contained mainly semi-detached houses.  The property formed part of a planned residential area of Hatfield New Town dating from around the late 1960’s.  There was a set-back of approximately 9m between the highway and the front of the application dwelling. 

The Proposal

Planning permission was being sought for the erection of a single storey rear extension and conversion of the resultant building into two self-contained flats with a two bedroom flat at ground floor and one bedroom flat at first floor level involving demolition of the existing garden shed.  The rear extension would be L-shaped and would measure approximately 3m deep by 2.45m wide taken from the boundary with No. 11; it would then project outward approximately 1.2m.  At this point, the extension would be approximately 2.9m wide and 4.2m long taken from the rear wall adjoining the shared access with No. 15.  The proposed extension would have a flat roof with a parapet wall and would be approximately 3m high and would be set 850mm from its southern boundary with Number 15.

Reason for Committee Consideration

The application was presented to Development Management Committee because Hatfield Town Council had objected to the application.

Hatfield Town Councillor James Broach spoke against the application.

•               The parking proposed was insufficient as it did not fully meet local standards.

•               The width of the proposed parking spaces appeared to be too narrow and not fit for purpose.

•               The proposal lacked soft landscaping which would impact further on the visual amenity of the area.

•               The proposed parking arrangements might impact on the shared access which would affect the two adjoining properties.

•               The proposed conversion of a house into flats, where the majority of properties were family homes, would be out of keeping and would spoil the nature of the area.

Members acknowledged that Officers has worked hard to achieve a balance between proposed development and the impact on the area.

Officers, in response to a question from Members, advised that the street light would be relocated to allow for a second car to park on the additional parking space.

It was then moved by Councillor P.Zukowskyj, seconded by Councillor A.Chesterman, that the application for a single storey rear extension, conversion of dwelling house into 1 x  ...  view the full minutes text for item 162.

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance).

The report of the Executive Director detailed recent appeal decisions for the period 9 March to 6 April 2017.

RESOLVED:

That the appeal decisions during the period set out in the report of the Executive Director be noted.

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance).

The report of the Executive Director providing Members with a summary of planning applications that might be presented to Committee over the coming months.  If the call-in or application was withdrawn, the item would not be presented.

RESOLVED:

That future planning applications which might be considered by the Committee be noted.