Agenda item - 20 TEWIN ROAD, WELWYN GARDEN CITY, AL7 1LG - 6/2019/3066/FULL - RETENTION OF CHANGE OF USE FROM OFFICES (B1a) TO CHURCH AND COMMUNITY CENTRE (D1)

Agenda item

20 TEWIN ROAD, WELWYN GARDEN CITY, AL7 1LG - 6/2019/3066/FULL - RETENTION OF CHANGE OF USE FROM OFFICES (B1a) TO CHURCH AND COMMUNITY CENTRE (D1)

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

Minutes:

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) on the retention of change of use from Offices (B1A) to Church and Community Centre (D1).

 

The property currently benefitted from planning permission for church and community centre use (Use Class D1) which was granted on 19th August 2015 under application reference N6/2014/2743/FP for period expiring 31st March 2020.

 

Condition 1 of the permission was as follows:-

 

“The permission is for a limited period only expiring on 31 March 2020.  Following the expiration of the period of this temporary permission the use shall cease and the unit shall revert back to a B1(a) use unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

 

REASON: Permission is only granted for a temporary period to allow a vacant unit to be brought back into use without prejudicing the long-term supply of employment land in the borough, in accordance with The National Planning Policy Framework and Policies EMP2 and CLT2 of the Welwyn Hatfield District Plan 2005.”

 

This permission was therefore shortly to expire and the applicant wished to remain in the building and to continue the existing use into the future.

 

The application site was located towards the southern end of Tewin Road and comprised a two storey former office building of an ‘L’ shaped footprint.  The site included areas of parking to the front, side and rear of the building and soft landscaping to the front. 

 

The application was presented to the Committee because the proposal was in conflict with the development plan and had been advertised as a departure.

 

There had been a late representation submitted in support of the application from Isobel Hospice, New Zion Christian Fellowship, YMCA, Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church and The Rt. Hon Grant Shapps MP.

 

Mr R.Webb spoke for the application saying that Christchurch had been serving the local community in Handside for 90 years and in 2012, following the growth of the Church, took the strategic decision of opening a second centre in Peartree and after three years in a temporary building, bought the current building in Tewin. From the Peartree Centre, Christchurch ran a toddler group, chair based exercise classes, kids club, youth club, a weekly drop-in and a job club. We value a wide range of partnerships. In 2018, Christchurch served over 3000 people with Christchurch volunteers giving over 12000 hours.

 

Following discussion, it was proposed and seconded by Councillors J.Broach and B.Fitzsimon and

 

RESOLVED:

(unanimous)

 

That planning permission be APPROVED subject to the conditions as set out in report, including a Section 106 but with amendments to condition 1 to read;

 

The building shall only be used for church services on Sundays, public holidays and on any other day of Christian worship including Christmas Eve, Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, Corpus Christi, Assumption of Mary Day, Feast of St Francis of Assisi, All Saints’ Day, All Souls Day and Feast of the Immaculate Conception and shall not be used for any other purpose other than as a Use Class D1 Community Centre on any other day unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

 

REASON: To ensure that a sufficient parking provision is provided for the use of the building which does not detrimentally impact on the surrounding road network or amenity of adjoining users in accordance with policy M14 of the Welwyn Hatfield District Plan 2005, the Supplementary Parking Guidance, 2004 and the National Planning Policy Framework.

Supporting documents: