Agenda item

Officers reported that Conditions 5 and 14 had been amended and an additional Condition, Condition 18 had been included; as detailed in the published Committee Update, copies of which were provided to Members and published on the Council’s website prior to the commencement of the meeting.

Officers stated that, as highlighted by the Chairman, the Committee would receive a joint presentation for Planning Applications 20/01392/FUL and 20/01393/LBC.

Officers informed the Committee that permission was sought to convert the former nursing home into 7 No. one bedroom and 8 No. two bedroom apartments, with amenity provision and off street car parking.  Existing structures would remain, apart from the low quality additions such as  lean tos and conservatories.

The building had previously been used as a nursing home and had since closed down.  The building had fallen into disrepair. 

The site was within an area designated as residential in the Bromsgrove District Plan and given its close proximity to public transport links and within walking distance to the town centre, the principle of residential development in this sustainable location would be acceptable and would comply with Policy BDP1 of the District Plan. 

Given the previous use of the building the conversion works would lend themselves towards 1 and 2 bedroom accommodation.  The provision of 1 and 2 bedroom units in this location would be acceptable and would comply with Policy BDP7.

The scheme provided sufficient functional space for residential development and incorporated appropriate amenity space for the occupiers complying with Policies BDP19 of the District Plan, the provisions of the NPPF, and the Council’s SPD on High Quality Design.

The building was a Grade II listed building.  The Conversation Officer had no objection to the principal of this structure.  The proposed use would enable this designated heritage asset to be brought back into use and would save the building from any further decline.

Concerns had been raised by residents with regards to highways and parking, whilst there was one letter supporting the proposal; the majority of objections received related to car parking issues in the area and that the proposed scheme would hinder the existing on street car parking provision.  Further evidence was provided via a Highway Technical Note that deemed the parking arrangements to be acceptable in this instance.

Officers drew Members’ attention to Sustainability, as detailed on page 14 of the main agenda report.

Officers further drew Member’s attention to the additional condition added, Conditions 18, that the existing gate along the southern boundary of the site would be used for maintenance and emergency use only, as detailed in the Committee Update. 

.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Mr. J. Taylor and Mr. B. Taylor’s objections were read out by the Democratic Services Officer.  Mr. E. Nash. Morrison Nash Developments, applicants addressed the Committee.  Councillor S. Robinson, Ward Member, also addressed the Committee.

The Committee then considered the Application, which Officers had recommended for approval.

In response to questions from Members and with the agreement of the Chairman, the Applicant clarified that there was an existing link bridge on the first floor that connected to the apartments.

Officers clarified that the existing gate along the southern boundary of the site would be used for pedestrian access for maintenance and emergency use only, it was not for emergency vehicles.  Emergency vehicles would use the main access to the site.  Officers reiterated the additional condition, Condition 18, as detailed in the Committee Update.  The applicant has also made it clear that they would do everything they could to ensure that the use of the gate was controlled.

Members referred to the concerns raised with regards to car parking spaces.  Officers highlighted that the site was located within walking distance of amenities, bus routes and bus stops and that Bromsgrove Railway Station was also located nearby, making the site sustainable and this had to be considered.

Members further commented that there was a need for 1 and 2 bedroom properties within the district.

Officers further clarified that there would be one electric charging point per unit.

WCC Highways Officers informed the Committee that with regards to placing bollards on the corner of the site, to prevent vehicles parking; that car parking control measures did not form part of the application proposal.  Residents would need to contact their Ward Councillor who could request that WCC Highways look into the potential of placing bollards to prevent vehicles parking on the corner.

Officers stated that the parking bay within the cul de sac of Warwick Hall Gardens was a public parking bay.

In response to further questions from the Committee, Officers explained that, as detailed on page 16 of the main agenda pack, Paragraph 63 of the NPPF stated that “To support the re-use of brownfield land, where vacant buildings were being reused or redeveloped, any affordable housing contribution due should be reduced by a proportionate amount”.  National policy provided an incentive for brownfield development on sites containing vacant buildings and vacant buildings being brought back into any lawful use.

Officers further explained that the Section 106 monitoring fee would be for the lifetime of the application, the monitoring fee, in essence, was for the resources it would take to monitor the Section 106 agreement trigger points.

Whilst Members understood the concerns raised by the residents with regard to car parking spaces, Members were of the opinion that these had been mitigated due to the sustainable location of the proposed development. Members were also in agreement that the proposed application was a well thought out scheme, that would bring a vacant building back to life as a beautiful old Grade 11 listed building. 

RESOLVED that Planning Permission be granted subject to:-

a)    authority be delegated to the Head of Planning and Regeneration to determine the application following the receipt of a suitable and satisfactory legal mechanism in relation to the following matters:-

i)             £36,181.00 as a contribution towards enhancements to open space facilities at Aston Fields Recreation Grounds for the scheme.

ii)            £4,738.00 as a contribution towards improved facilities at New Road Surgery.

iii)           Planning Obligation Monitoring Fee: £TBC. Revised Regulations have been issued to allow the Council to include a provision for monitoring fees in Section 106 Agreements to ensure the obligations set down in the Agreement are met; and

b)    that authority to be delegated to the Head of Planning and Regeneration to agree the final scope and detailed wording and numbering of Conditions as set out in the report, with Conditions 5 and 14 as amended and additional Condition 18, as detailed in the Committee Update.