Agenda item

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

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) on the erection of 6 x 3 bedroom residential dwellings with associated access, car parking, amenity space and landscaping involved demolition of a block of three garages.

The site was located in the settlement of Welwyn Garden City, to the South East of the Borough. The site extended to approximately 0.17 hectares.

The application site, known as land behind 140 Ludwick Way, was largely rectangular in shape and remained largely flat in topography. It comprised 15 single storey garages to which 3 would be demolished as part of this proposal. The site was mainly vacant and had been partly cleared of other garage blocks. The site comprised of a large area of hardstanding.

Both vehicular and pedestrian access to the site was gained directly from Ludwick Way. There was also pedestrian access to the site from Burgundy Croft.

The site was surrounded by traditional residential two storey dwellings. At the south of the application site, there was a two storey detached block of flats with associated car parking. Further south of the application site, was a shopping parade with associated infrastructure.

The application was presented to Development Management Committee because it was a corporate application and the Head of Planning considered it prudent.

Andrew Fisher, agent, spoke for the application saying that the development would result in six new council homes to house local families on the housing register. There would be twelve parking spaces in accordance with requirements as well as cycle storage. Electric car charging points would be provided. Hertfordshire Highways had raised no objection. The development was in keeping with the local area.

Mrs Stanton spoke as an objector, saying that each dwelling would be allocated two car parking spaces whereas one allocated parking space would have reduced congestion and pollution. The proposed access road was not wide enough for two way traffic and would be dangerous for pedestrians.

Councillor Cowan, Ward Councillor, Welwyn Hatfield Council, spoke against the application saying that he was glad there was a change of use from derelict garages to residential dwellings but he felt that there were concerns over blocked visibility at the junction onto the access road and issues with the size of the access road. There were also concerns about the lack of recycling facilities.

Following discussion, it was proposed and seconded by Councillors L.Musk and S.Elam and

RESOLVED:

(12 voting in favour, 1 against)

That planning permission be APPROVED subject to the conditions as set out in report and additional conditions relating to energy and sustainability statement, lighting along the access road and details of the access road. 

Additional conditions shall include;

1.    Prior to above ground development an Energy and Sustainability Statement shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be constructed in accordance with the agreed details and shall thereafter be maintained in the approved form.

REASON:   To ensure that the development contributes towards Sustainable Development and Energy efficiency in accordance with Policy R3 of the Welwyn Hatfield District Plan 2005 and the National Planning Policy Framework.

2.    Prior to above ground development details of lighting for the access road shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be constructed in accordance with the agreed details and shall thereafter be maintained in the approved form.

REASON:   To ensure a satisfactory standard of development in the interests of highway safety in accordance with Policy D1 of the Welwyn Hatfield District Plan 2005 and the National Planning Policy Framework.

Amend condition 3 to include details of the access road;

No development above ground level in any phase of the development shall take place until full details on a suitably scaled plan of both hard and soft landscape works have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The development shall not be carried out other than in accordance with the approved details.

The landscaping details to be submitted shall include:

(a) original levels and proposed finished levels

(b) means of enclosure and boundary treatments including gates

(c) all hard surfacing, including details of the proposed shared surface for the access road and other hard landscape features and materials

(d) existing trees, hedges or other soft features to be retained and a method statement showing tree protection measures to be implemented for the duration of the construction

(e) planting plans, including specifications of species, sizes, planting centres, number and percentage mix, and details of seeding or turfing

(g) management and maintenance details of the communal areas

REASON:   The landscaping of this site is required in order to protect and enhance the existing visual character of the area and to reduce the visual and environmental impacts of the development hereby permitted in accordance with Policies D1, D2 and D8 of the Welwyn Hatfield District Plan 2005 and the National Planning Policy Framework 2019.