Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, County Hall, Mold CH7 6NA

Contact: Tracy Waters 01352 702331  Email: tracy.waters@flintshire.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

167.

Declarations of Interest

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Carol Ellis declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the following application because her son was employed by Airbus:-

 

Agenda item 6.6 – Full application – Development of external infrastructure comprising air supply units, duct work, stacks & supporting steel work & associated roadways & landscaping to support the operation of 2 no. booths within the Paint Shop Building at Chester Road, Broughton (055021)

 

            In line with the Planning Code of Practice:-

 

                        Councillors Veronica Gay and Richard Lloyd declared that they had been contacted on more than three occasions on the following application:-

 

Agenda item 6.2 – Change of use of vacant Police House (formerly a dwelling) into a 9 bedroom HMO and associated access improvements at 63 High Street, Saltney (054886)

 

Councillor Alison Halford declared that she had been contacted on more than three occasions on the following application:-

Agenda item 6.5 – Full application – Erection of 1 No. detached dwelling and a detached double garage at 37 Wood Lane, Hawarden (054899)

 

168.

Late Observations

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman allowed Members an opportunity to read the late observations which had been circulated at the meeting.

 

169.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 241 KB

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 23rd March 2016 (copy enclosed).

Additional documents:

Decision:

That the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Minutes:

 

The draft minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 23rd March 2016 had been circulated to Members with the agenda.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

170.

Items to be deferred

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) advised that none of the items on the agenda were recommended for deferral by officers. 

 

Minutes:

The Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) advised that none of the items on the agenda were recommended for deferral by officers. 

 

171.

Full Application - Erection of 33 No. Apartments with Associated Car Parking at Albion Social Club, Pen y Llan, Connah's Quay (054607) pdf icon PDF 100 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment), subject to the additional condition reported in the late observations and the additional condition for a minimum of two disabled parking spaces, and subject to the applicant entering into a Section 106 Obligation/Unilateral Undertaking or earlier payment of monies to provide the following:-

 

·         An off-site commuted sum of £733 per unit in lieu of on-site provision to improve the junior play facilities at Central Park, Connah’s Quay

·         A contribution of £98,056 is required towards educational enhancements at Golftyn Primary School

·         A commuted sum of £360,000 to facilitate access to affordable housing in Connah’s Quay

·         Local Planning Authority review terms of the proposed management agreement for the apartments in order to ensure that it requires private refuse collection

 

If the obligation pursuant to Section 106 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 (as outlined above) is not completed within three months of the date of the Committee resolution, the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) be given delegated authority to REFUSE the application. 

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) in respect of this application.  The usual consultations had been undertaken and the responses received detailed in the report.  Additional comments received since the preparation of the report were circulated at the meeting. 

 

            The officer detailed the background to the report and provided details of the site description and its location and advised that the principle of development had been accepted.  She explained that the site was currently occupied by the Albion Hotel.  It was proposed that 33 apartments would be developed on the site with one car park space for each apartment and nine visitor spaces.  There had been some concerns about the height of the apartments but officers had worked with the applicant to achieve a sustainable development in this location.  The officer explained that the application had been deferred from the previous meeting due to concerns about waste management but following on from this, it had been confirmed that if the management company failed, it would be possible for a smaller Council bin lorry to access the site and turn around within the site.  A condition could also be included to surface the internal road to a suitable standard. 

 

            On the parking provision for the site, the officer confirmed that the maximum standards would require 50 spaces but due to the location of the site and the proximity to public transport, it was felt that 33 spaces was acceptable.  Highways had requested an additional condition requiring submission of a Travel Plan if the application was approved and it was also proposed that a Section 106 (S106) obligation be attached to the permission which the officer detailed. 

 

            Mrs. J. Faulkner (on behalf of Mrs Mullholey) spoke against the proposal and expressed concerns that the 2.5 storey apartment block, which would be sited six feet from a neighbouring boundary, would restrict views and result in loss of privacy.  She spoke of anti-social behaviour that had occurred in other flats in the area which had become Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) and raised significant concern that this could reoccur in this development.  Mrs. Faulkner felt that there were insufficient car parking spaces for the number of apartments proposed and suggested that residents could have two cars per apartment.  She also felt that the entrance to the site was unacceptable and that the increased traffic in the area could lead to a serious accident.  Mrs. Faulkner said that she would not be opposed to houses or bungalows on the site.          

 

            Councillor Ian Dunbar proposed the recommendation for approval which was duly seconded.  He referred to the Local Members who were unable to attend the meeting and thanked Mrs. Faulkner for her comments.  Concerns had been raised about the issue of waste collection but it had been confirmed that the waste would still be collected if the management company failed.  The Local Members had also expressed concerns about the small number of parking spaces on the site but acknowledged  ...  view the full minutes text for item 171.

172.

Change of Use of Vacant Police House (Formerly a Dwelling) into a 9 Bedroom HMO and Associated Access Improvements at 63 High Street, Saltney (054886) pdf icon PDF 76 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

           

            That planning permission be refused, against officer recommendation, on the grounds of overdevelopment, concerns about parking and the requirement to reverse out onto the main road. 

 

Minutes:

            The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) in respect of this application which had been the subject of a site visit on 18 April 2016.  The usual consultations had been undertaken and the responses received detailed in the report.  Additional comments received since the preparation of the report were circulated at the meeting.

 

            The officer detailed the background to the application and explained that the proposal was to convert a former dwelling into a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) with six bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and three bedrooms with a shared bathroom.  Two parking spaces were on the existing driveway and an additional access point was proposed with a further two parking spaces.  Both accesses would require reversing onto the High Street as there was insufficient space to turn within the site; Highways officers had not raised any issues with this.  A bus stop was also situated outside the property.  The main issues related to intensification of the residential use and the impacts relating to noise, disturbance, parking and access issues.  There were no parking standards for a HMO and therefore four spaces was deemed appropriate because of the proximity to local facilities and a bus stop with services directly to Chester and into Flintshire towns; a cycle store was also to be included in the site.  There were no windows in the property which directly overlooked the school playing fields or the adjacent residential properties in either the existing dwelling or the proposed extensions.

 

            Mr. J. Morgan spoke against the application.  He highlighted a number of issues which included that even though it had been indicated that the residents would be working professionals, this could change without notice and the building could be occupied by more vulnerable groups of people which could create child protection issues with the windows overlooking the school premises.  He felt that the provision of only four parking spaces for nine bedrooms was a problem as there was no-where for all of the residents to park if they all had a vehicle and would create extra traffic on an already busy road.  The school used the local church regularly and because there was no pedestrian crossing in the area, any additional traffic could increase a danger for those crossing the road.               

 

            Councillor Richard Lloyd proposed refusal of the application, against officer recommendation, which was duly seconded.  He felt that the site visit had allowed the Committee to see the location of the site, which was significant.  It was close to the primary school, church and doctor’s surgery and the property, which had not been a police station since the 1950s, had been empty for the past couple of years.  He did not feel that the change of use to a nine bedroom house was a good use of the site and expressed significant concern about the requirement to reverse out of the site on the High Street.  He commented on the Design and Access Statement and on the issue  ...  view the full minutes text for item 172.

173.

Full Application - Erection of 14 No. Semi-Detached Houses, 2 No. Semi-Detached Bungalows, 6 Terraced Properties and 1 No. Special Needs Bungalow Together with Access Road and Parking at Land Off Coed Onn Road, Flint (053662) pdf icon PDF 113 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

            That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) and subject to the applicant entering into a Section 106 agreement, providing a unilateral undertaking or the making of an advanced payment which provides for the following:-

 

·         Ensure the payment of a contribution of £733 per dwelling (£16859) in lieu of on-site play and recreation facilities, to upgrade the existing children’s play area at Oakenholt. 

 

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) in respect of this application.  The usual consultations had been undertaken and the responses received detailed in the report.

 

The officer detailed the background to the report and explained that the application had been deferred from the previous meeting to allow the application to be publicised further.  This period had now elapsed and no further representations had been received.  The site had been granted approval under application 050300 and this application was to amend house types on this part of the site. 

 

Mr. J. Yorke spoke against the application and in referring to the Design and Access statement which he said referred to nine houses.  He sought clarification on whether the contribution for play provision was for the playground at Oakenholt or Albert Avenue as both had been mentioned in the report.  The Design Brief required affordable housing for young people to get on to the housing ladder and in line with Technical Advice Note (TAN) 2, he suggested that this should be pepperpotted through the site and not just be in one location within the site.  Mr. Yorke said that this application did not adhere to the condition required by 050300 as it was for social housing in one area of the site and suggested that these were not affordable homes. He expressed significant concern about the parking on Coed Onn Road and said that the Environment Impact Assessment was 13 years old.  Concern had been expressed by the Ecology Officer because of the requirement to remove 13 feet of top soil alongside a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).  He referred to an email that had been sent by the Planning Strategy Manager to Local Members, Councillors Vicky Perfect and Paul Cunningham, which implied that approval of this application implemented the planning condition imposed on phase 3 that the link road from Coed Onn Road to the A548 would be provided; he queried why this was not evident in this proposal.  Mr. Yorke felt that this application was significantly different to those submitted in 1999, 2004, 2008 and other public exhibitions. 

 

            Councillor Ian Dunbar proposed the recommendation for approval which was duly seconded.  He said that the area had planning permission for 23 dwellings and that this application was for the same number of dwellings but of different house types and the development would also link the proposal for the distributor road.  Councillor Christine Jones welcomed the inclusion of a special needs bungalow as part of the proposal. 

 

            The Adjoining Ward Member, Councillor Rita Johnson spoke against the application.  She said that the application was part of the Croes Atti design brief which included affordable properties to be pepperpotted throughout the whole site.  This application from a Housing Association was trying to change the site to 23 affordable homes was not part of the original application and suggested that this had not been adhered to.  The area was classed as phase 3 which required that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 173.

174.

Full Application - Erection of Joinery Workshop at Joinery Yard, Valley Road, Ffrith (054266) pdf icon PDF 72 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

            That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment).

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) in respect of this application which had been the subject of a site visit on 18 April 2016.  The usual consultations had been undertaken and the responses received detailed in the report.

 

            The officer detailed the background to the report and explained that the application, which was for a joinery workshop to replace a building destroyed by fire, had been referred for Committee determination by the Local Member.  The main issues for consideration were the impact on the public footpath, drainage and noise.  He added that this proposal was for a building smaller than the one previously on the site.

 

            Ms. H. Arndt spoke against the application on the grounds of concerns about the drainage solutions for the site and the negative impact on the property ‘The Glen’.  She explained that ‘The Glen’ was a lower lying property than the joinery yard therefore water naturally drained onto ‘The Glen’ from the concrete surface and the concern was regarding the proposed shed and the surrounding concrete yard.  There was a current soakaway on the site which was omitted from the site maps and the application and it was unclear what would happen to the soakaway under the new plan but there would be a negative impact on the adjoining land.  She quoted from policy GEN 1 (d) and (i) and suggested that these had not been complied with in this proposal.  She felt that a soakaway was not a suitable solution for the site and was not a manageable solution for the rainwater at the Joinery Yard. 

 

            Mr. O. Jones spoke in support of the application on behalf of the applicant.  He firstly apologised for speaking at the site visit and explained his reasons for his comments.  He said that the applicants felt that the report was comprehensive and factual and asked that it be put on record the input from other departments within the Council particularly the Drainage Engineer.  He felt that the Council through its economic policy supported and encouraged such developments as this.  He refuted any allegations that this application would increase any drainage problems on adjacent land.      

   

Councillor Alison Halford proposed the recommendation for approval which was duly seconded.  She congratulated the officer for the report and indicated that the drainage proposals had been explained on the site visit.  The building was smaller than what had previously been in place and would bring employment to the area.  In seconding the proposal, Councillor Richard Jones said that the application need not have been referred to Committee for consideration and that it should be approved.   

 

            RESOLVED:

 

            That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment).

 

175.

Full Application - Erection of 1 No. Detached Dwelling and a Detached Double Garage at 37 Wood Lane, Hawarden (054899) pdf icon PDF 108 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

            That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment).

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) in respect of this application.  The usual consultations had been undertaken and the responses received detailed in the report.  Additional comments received since the preparation of the report were circulated at the meeting. 

 

            The officer detailed the background to the report, explaining that a previous application had been approved on this site as part of a Section 106 (S106) obligation because the Category B settlement had exceeded its growth for the Unitary Development Plan (UDP) period.  However, the applicant had not signed the S106 and the proposal was therefore refused under delegated powers.  This application was a resubmission of that proposal but in view of the date of the UDP there was no longer a requirement to comply with policy HSG3 and therefore approval of the application was recommended. 

 

            Mr. I. Warlow spoke against the application which, he advised, he had also done on the previous application for this site.  He felt that the plans had not shown how close the site was to the properties at 35 and 37 Wood Lane.  He raised concern about the significant excavation that would be required as this site was elevated by six feet and if groundwork was not carried out, the ground floor rooms would be at the same height as his first floor rooms.  The side windows would also overlook his daughter’s bedroom window.  There would be light and noise pollution on neighbouring properties as a result of the application and concern had been expressed about the ability to comply with condition 10.  He added that the owners of number 37 had been asked to sign a contract to indicate that they would not object to the proposals for this property.  Mr. Warlow felt that the site would impact on the local area and there had already been an additional 100 properties being permitted in the locality and therefore this one extra property was not required.  He also felt that it was backland development and that the application should be refused. 

 

            Mr. C. Shaw, the applicant, spoke in support of the application.  The earlier application had required the completion of a Section 106 agreement but this had not been signed because he had deemed the scheme to be unviable if the S106 had been signed.  He had listened to the concerns raised and explained that the floor levels were at a similar level to those of number 37.  Both of the Local Members had asked for Committee determination.  As the UDP had expired in April 2015, he felt that this should be treated as a new application and considered on its own merits.  There had been no objections from the Head of Assets and Transportation and the addition of one dwelling would not significantly increase the traffic in the area.  The issue of backland development had been addressed and there were already houses to the rear of 31, 33 and 35 Wood Lane.  The Council only had a 3.7  ...  view the full minutes text for item 175.

176.

Full Application - Development of External Infrastructure Comprising Air Supply Units, Duct Work, Stacks & Supporting Steel Work & Associated Roadways & Landscaping to Support the Operation of 2 No. Booths within the Paint Shop Building at Chester Road, Broughton (055021) pdf icon PDF 71 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

            That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment).

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) in respect of this application.  The usual consultations had been undertaken and the responses received detailed in the report.  Councillor Carol Ellis, having earlier declared an interest in the application, left the meeting prior to its discussion. 

 

            The officer detailed the background to the report and explained that the application had been submitted for consideration by the Committee because of the height of the development.         

 

Councillor Gareth Roberts proposed the recommendation for approval which was duly seconded.

 

            RESOLVED:

 

            That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment).

 

After the vote had been taken, Councillor Ellis returned to the meeting and the Chairman advised her of the decision.

 

177.

General Matters - Application for the Variation of Condition No. 10 (Extension to Working Hours) & Condition No. 26 (Increase Height of Stockpiles) Attached to Planning Permission 052359 at Flintshire Waste Management, Ewloe Barns Industrial Estate, Mold Road, Ewloe (054536) pdf icon PDF 70 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

            That the following wording be used on the decision notice for application 054536:

 

“The proposed increase in working hours would result in unacceptable noise and disturbance on residential amenity, contrary to policies GEN1 (d), EWP 8 (b) and (f) and EWP13 of the adopted Flintshire Unitary Development Plan.”

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) in respect of this application.  The usual consultations had been undertaken and the responses received detailed in the report.

 

                        The Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) advised that the report was seeking clarification on the wording for the reason for refusal of planning permission from the Planning and Development Control Committee meeting on 23rd March 2016.  He advised that Councillor Carol Ellis had been contacted to discuss the wording as she had proposed refusal of the application at that meeting.   

 

            Councillor Ellis proposed that the suggested wording for refusal of the application be accepted, which was duly seconded.

 

            RESOLVED:

 

            That the following wording be used on the decision notice for application 054536:

 

“The proposed increase in working hours would result in unacceptable noise and disturbance on residential amenity, contrary to policies GEN1 (d), EWP 8 (b) and (f) and EWP13 of the adopted Flintshire Unitary Development Plan.”

 

178.

Members of the Press and Public in Attendance

Additional documents:

Minutes:

            There were 17 members of the public and 1 member of the press in attendance.