Agenda item

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 extension and refurbishment of the Grade II listed building (use class C1) following demolition of existing rear and side extensions. Erection of 7,253.7sqm student accommodation (Sui Generis), landscaping and associated works.

Background

The application and the related Listed Building Consent application (6/2016/1740/LB) had been presented to the Development Management Committee (DMC) on 13 October 2016.

At that Committee Members approved the Listed Building Consent application.  Members also resolved to grant planning permission for the planning application subject to the satisfactory completion of a Section 106 agreement to provide a number of planning obligations and to the revision to two of the 23 planning conditions.  It also approved a recommendation that planning permission be refused if the S106 Agreement was not completed on or before 13th January 2017.

The planning obligations requested were detailed below:

1.    Restriction of occupation of student accommodation to registered full time students at the University of Hertfordshire,

2.    Sustainable Transport: Green Travel Plan incorporating a Parking Management Plan (HCC)and ongoing assessment of demand for cycle parking and bicycle pooling on the site

3.    Monitoring of the Travel Plan £6,000 (HCC)

4.    Sustainable Transport - £27,000 to promote pedestrian way-finding in the locality (HCC)

5.    £50,000 contribution towards pre-development and post-occupation car parking surveys and potential alterations to parking controls to manage the impact of the development on the local area with respect to car parking (WHBC)

(i)   £10,000 towards undertaking a survey of car parking in the area prior to occupation of the development

(ii)  £10,000 towards undertaking a survey of car parking in the area following occupation of the development

(iii)£30,000 towards the implementation of car parking mitigation measures in the event that they are necessary.

6.    £18,788 Contribution to enhancing and improving informal leisure opportunities in the vicinity of the student accommodation (at £61 per head) (WHBC)

7.    Contribution for provision of refuse bins for the student accommodation (WHBC)

8.    £5,000 Monitoring fee (WHBC)

9.    Surface water discharge connection to Ellenbrook

10.Access to the student accommodation for monitoring of occupation.

Members were advised that regrettably and despite all the endeavours of the parties involved in the legal process to prepare and complete the legal agreement, it was not completed by the 13 January 2017.  The parties included the applicant, agent, and both Officers of the Council and Hertfordshire County Council, the Section 106 agreement was only duly completed on 17 January 2017.  The completion date was four days beyond the date earlier approved by Members.

Reason for Committee Consideration

The application was presented to the Development Management Committee by virtue of the earlier Member resolution on 13 October 2016 (DMC) to grant planning permission subject to the satisfactory completion of a Section 106 agreement by 13 January 2017.

The Section 106 agreement was completed on 17 January 2017.  Approval by Members was sought for the date of completion to be extended from 13 January 2017 to 17 of January 2017.  This would avoid the possibility of any legal challenges should the Council have granted the planning permission after the stipulated deadline of 13January 2017 for completion of the said agreement.

The conditions contained in the report were identical to those reported and agreed revisions at the DMC on 13 October 2016.

Hatfield Town Councillor James Broach withdrew his request to speak against the proposal.  Catherine Norris, (Agent) chose not to speak in connection with the application although she had registered to do so. 

It was moved by Councillor S.Markiewicz, seconded by Councillor N.Pace and

RESOLVED:

(unanimous)

That planning permission for application 6/2016/1739/MAJ be approved as set out in the report of Officers subject to the legal agreement.

(Note: Councillor P.Zukowskyi withdrew from the meeting for this item due to his involvement with the University of Hertfordshire as an employee).