Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed those present and explained the process on hearing of each application.

These were received from Councillor Eddy (Substitute Cllr S Smith)

To note any interests relevant to the consideration of items on the agenda.

Any declarations of interest made at the meeting which are not on the register of interests should be notified to the Monitoring Officer for inclusion.

There were none.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting as a correct record.

The minutes were agreed as correct record of the meeting.

Resolved: that the Minutes be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair

To note appeals lodged, imminent public inquiries and appeals awaiting decision.

The Head of Development Management requested that Committee note the update report.

To note enforcement notices.

Committee were requested to note that notices were pending with a further update to be given at the next meeting.

Any member of the public or councillor may participate in public forum. The detailed  arrangements for so doing are set out in the Public Information Sheet at the back of this agenda. Please note that the following deadlines will apply in relation to this meeting:

Questions:

Written questions must be received three clear working days prior to the meeting. For this meeting, this means that your question(s) must be received at the latest by 5pm on Thursday 12^th December 2019.

Petitions and statements:

Petitions and statements must be received by noon on the working day prior to the meeting. For this meeting, this means that your submission must be received at the latest by 12.00 noon on Tuesday 17^th December 2019

The statement should be addressed to the Service Director, Legal Services, c/o The Democratic Services Team, City Hall, 3^rd Floor Deanery Wing, College Green,

P O Box 3176, Bristol, BS3 9FS or email - democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk

Members of the Committee received Public Forum Statements in advance of the meeting.

The statements were heard before the application they related to and were taken fully into consideration by the Committee prior to reaching a decision.

To consider the following applications for Development Control Committee B -

The Head of Development Management and his representative gave a presentation and summarised the report for this item highlighting the following:

Cllr Khan arrived after the start of public forum so was unable to participate in the discussion and decision making for this application.

The Head of Development Management and his representative gave a presentation and summarised the report for this item highlighting the following:

a.     Committee were provided with an overview of the extensive history of this development and explained the fundamental changes in terms of the current scheme. The submitted schemed addressed the majority of issues that had arisen about the redevelopment of the site over recent years.

b.     The application sets out: The intended retention and refurbishment of the former BRI building Fripps Chapel for residential and community use / A3, D1 and D2 uses; the erection of new buildings to provide 416 student bedspaces; the enhancement to the public realm with landscaping; public access to a newly created  square; the widening of the pavement around the site; connection to the District Heating Network and use of the same; the offer of 12 units to made available for affordable rent, albeit in this instance not a policy requirement.

c.      The report detailed the remaining outstanding concerns raised by interested parties and the conditions outlined to meet a number of these concerns and agreements arrived at between Officers and the Developer.  Officers were confident that they had now arrived at a place that the application could be approved together with the necessary conditions and with the Committees’ delegated authority move forward to resolve any outstanding issues as matters progressed.

d.     There was no requirement for the provision of affordable housing as the development benefits from ‘vacant building credit’  but the applicant had voluntarily offered 12 units to be made available at a discounted rent likely to be used by essential workers – health workers or educational workers employed by the hospital or university. Committee were advised that this element could only be given neutral weight in coming to a resolution.

e.     Officers recommend approval subject to a s. 106 legal agreement and a number of conditions.

Questions for Clarification

f.       Further clarification was sought on the offer of affordable housing; who was to manage those units? What measure could be put in place to prevent the future sale of units on the open market? Also if the space standards been met for each of the units?  Officers were able to comment as follows:

·       The offer of 12 units was discretionary; not a policy requirement ; the details of the  management of which will be finalised and secured through the s. 106 agreement, Unite would remain the Landlord and manage all units;  Bristol University are the preferred client whose students would likely occupy the cluster units; the studio units likely to be offered to other establishments recognising that they can be more suitable to mature students.

·       As ownership remains with Unite they are in a position to sell the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

The Head of Development Management and his representative gave a presentation and summarised the report for this item highlighting the following:

a.     Committee were provided with an overview of the report that detailed the planning application; for the demolition of Kingsdown House & 1-3 Unity Street located in the Old Market area of Bristol; erection of 3 buildings ranging in height comprising of 102 Co-living studios; 189 Student bedrooms; co-working/employment and other associated items.

b.     Details were given on the numbers of student accommodation buildings in the Old Market area and the projected movement of students.

c.      Officer recommendation was to approve the application and grant delegated authority to Officers to finalise the necessary conditions and the Section 106 legal agreement. .

d.     Questions

e.     The absence of food shops and/or local convenience stores was noted; Officers advised that this was subject to market conditions.

f.       Further explanation was sought & provided on the accessibility of the accommodation for students with disabilities.

g.      Discussion

h.     Members commented the scheme agreeing it was of a high quality; the design reflected the local area;  the inclusive of mix use was viewed positively; were hopeful that the co-living arrangements  would prove successful and looked to the management company to properly manage the accommodation.

i.       Commented that the area needed ‘an uplift’ that the application provided that in its design. .

j.       A Member looked to the developer to encourage the occupation of the units by students in the upper years not just first years.

k.      Cllr Mead moved that Committee support officer recommendation to approve, seconded by Cllr Davies when put to the vote;

l.       Resolved: (11 for unanimous) that the application be granted subject to conditions set out in the report.

The Head of Development Management and his representative gave a presentation and summarised the report for this item highlighting the following:

a.     Committee received a presentation on the proposal to erect a single storey side and rear extension together with the erection of a small porch to the front elevation at 26 Cranham Road.  Members were provided with a full overview of the proposed alteration to the building.

b.     Members were reminded that this matter had come to Committee as required by the Planning Officer code of conduct that prevented Officers presiding over a colleagues planning application.

c.      Questions

d.     There were none.

e.     Debate

f.       Members noted that it was a small scale, householder  development and the reason why it had been brought to Committee; requesting that the process is reviewed by committee leads to avoid unnecessary delay to an Officer application; to ensure best use of Officer time & Committee time.  The Head of Development Management  advised that the Constitution and the Planning Code of Conduct was in the process of being reviewed but until such time that an alternative process was adopted such matters would continue to be presented to Committee.

g.      Cllr Mead moved, Cllr Denyer seconded, the approval of the application as set out in the Officer report when put to the vote;

h.     Resolved (11 for unanimous) that the application be approved as set out in the report.

12^th February 2020 at 6.00 pm.

12 February 2020 @ 6pm