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 change of use from B1a (Office) to C3 (Residential) and erection of two storey side extension to form 23 residential units comprising ten one-bedroom and 13 two-bedroom apartments.

Site Description

The application site was situated between Great North Road (A1000) to the west and the East Coast Mainline Railway to the east.  To the south of the site was the multi storey car park which served Hatfield Railway Station.  To the north was a car park and loading area associated with 61 Great North Road which was occupied by GE Healthcare for purposes falling within Use Class B, which encompassed offices, research and development, industrial process and storage or distribution.  To the north east of the application site, on the opposite side of Great North Road, was a Grade II listed building known as North Place.  Also on the opposite side of the Great North Road, to the south east, was a residential development of 25 flats known as Northcotts.  The building dates from the 1970’s and was three storeys in height with a flat roof.

The application building was two storeys in height and was believed to have been built in the early 1990’s.  It was previously used as offices; however, it had been vacant for some time and now had deemed planning consent for conversion to residential use and the creation of ten dwellings, following the Council’s decision (ref. S6/2015/1147/OR) that prior approval was not required.  The development was permitted pursuant to Schedule 2, Part 3, Class O of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015.

The Proposal

Planning permission was sought for change of use from B1a (office) to C3 (residential) and erection of two storey side extension to form 23 residential units comprising ten one-bedroom and 13 two-bedroom apartments.  The two-storey side extension would had seven dormer windows with accommodation in roof space.

The proposed 23 dwellings was an increase of 13 dwellings from the form of development envisaged by the application for prior approval.  This was facilitated by the introduction of a side extension measuring approximately 7m wide by 13m long at ground floor level with a 6.2m wide undercroft and 13.2m wide by 24m long on upper floors.  Its eaves level and roof height would match those of the existing building; seven dormer windows are proposed in the roof slope housing three apartments.  The proposal was for additional eight units to the 15 units already approved including the ten units under deemed consent of Schedule 2, Part 3, Class O of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015.  The proposal would involve the creation of a two-storey extension, with one apartment on the ground floor, four on the first floor and three on the second (roof space) floor.

Reason for Committee Consideration

The application was presented to the Development Management Committee because the proposed development would represent a departure from the Development Plan and an objection from the Hatfield Town Council.

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

Hatfield Town Councillor James Broach spoke against the application.

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

RESOLVED:

(11 voting for, 4 against)

That planning permission for application 6/2016/1647MAJ be approved as set out in the report of Officers.