Agenda item

Reserved matters application for access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for the construction of a single storey pavilion building to provide changing facilities for the sports pitches at Northstowe Western Park together with a club room for community use following outline planning permission S/0388/12/OL.

By affirmation, the Planning Committee approved the proposed addition of the following:

(a)  The addition of the wording “The submission shall also include detail of any boundary treatment to the car park, as well as details of permeable surfacing to the car park associated with condition 7 (Surface Water Drainage)

(b)  The addition of condition 9 (Construction Management Plan) which states “No development shall take place until a Construction and Environment Management Plan has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall take place in accordance with the approved details.” with the following Reason: “To ensure that the potential environmental and nuisance impact of the construction of the development on existing and future residents is minimised, in accordance with South Cambridgeshire Local Plan policy HQ/1”; and

(c)  The addition of an informative stating “The applicant should consider the introduction of security measures such as CCTV to help effectively manage the use of the pavilion and the car park.”

By affirmation, the Planning Committee approved the Reserved Matters submission, subject to both the conditions added by the Committee and those originally laid out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.

The report was presented by the Principal Planning Officer (Mike Huntington) who informed the Committee that South Cambridgeshire District Council was the applicant and that there were no updates to the report. A written statement from a member of the public (GaurangDaruwala) was circulated amongst Members, and Martin Lindus addressed the Committee as an agent of the applicant. When questioned on the subject, the agent clarified that the lighting to the exterior of the building was implemented through low level bollards in the car park and that there was no upward pointing lighting proposed for the side of the building. The agent informed the Committee that the lighting scheme was designed to provide visibility for visitors whilst not creating excessive light pollution that would impact both residents and local wildlife. The agent was also questioned on the potential for the site and car park to be a catalyst for anti-social behaviour. The agent noted that the layout of the car park was not conducive to joyriding, stating that it would be segmented and broken up by bays and features, and also informed the Committee that there were no proposals in the scheme to provide CCTV or other monitoring systems but expressed a willingness to discuss potential mitigation measures with the applicant. Councillor Paul Littlemore of Northstowe Town Council also addressed the Committee and, in response to a question, clarified comments on the Impact Assessment, stating that the comments were put forward to provide clarity to the Town Council on the Construction Management Plan and whether relevant conditions would be discharged through conditions laid out in the Outline Planning application or the Reserve Matters application in question.

In the debate, Members noted concerns expressed by the Parish Council over boundary treatments in the car park. The Principal Planning Officer informed the Committee that there was nothing on boundary treatments in the report, but stated that a condition on boundary treatment could be added to Materials Planning condition. Councillor Richard Williams, seconded by Councillor Heather Williams, proposed an amendment of the Materials Planning condition.

By affirmation, the Committee approved the addition of the wording “The submission shall also include detail of any boundary treatment to the car park, as well as details of permeable surfacing to the car park associated with condition 7 (Surface Water Drainage)” to condition 2 (Materials).

The concerns expressed by Councillor Littlemore over the Construction Management Plan were addressed by the Committee. The Delivery Manager noted that the report stated that, if considered appropriate by the Committee, a condition on a Construction Management Plan could be added. Councillor Dr. Tumi Hawkins, seconded by Councillor Heather Williams, proposed the addition of a Construction Management Plan.

By affirmation, the Committee approved the addition of condition 9 (Construction Management Plan) which stated:

“No development shall take place until a Construction and Environment Management Plan has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall take place in according with the approved details” with the following Reason:

“To ensure that the potential environmental and nuisance impact of the construction of the development on existing and future residents is minimised, in accordance with South Cambridgeshire Local Plan policy HQ/1”.

The concerns over security and anti-social behaviour were explored by the Committee. The Delivery Manager noted that the addition of CCTV was a difficult issue to address and that the Reserved Matters application was not the appropriate stage to remedy Member’s concerns on the subject. The Senior Planning Lawyer informed the Committee that there was nothing in the Section 106 Agreement that dealt with security or CCTV. It was noted by the Delivery Manager that the applicant (South Cambridgeshire District Council) would be the Local Authority responsible for taking any action to manage anti-social behaviour issues and the Delivery Manager acknowledged that local Police had not been consulted on the application. Councillor Heather Williams proposed that an informative on the responsibility for managing security and CCTV issues be added.

By affirmation, the Committee approved the addition of an informative which stated:  

“The applicant should consider the introduction of security measures such as CCTV to help effectively manage the use of the pavilion and the car park”.

Mr. Daruwala was given the opportunity to verbally express his concerns over the application. Further debate explored the concerns raised by Mr. Daruwala over cooking noise and smells, and the Principal Planning Officer informed the Committee that the Environmental Health Officer made no comment on the application as there were no issues of concern to the Environmental Health Officer. Members noted that Mr. Daruwala’s concerns had been addressed before his verbal representation after discussion of his written submission. The Committee noted that the addition of the conditions and informatives made the application satisfactory.

By affirmation, the Planning Committee approved the Reserved Matters submission, subject to both the conditions added by the Committee and those originally laid out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.