Agenda item

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

19/00066/F Conversion and extension of 6 Upper York Street and the former Coroner's Court and erection of a four-storey building to create 46 no. residential units; business space for Class A2/Class B1 uses; associated cycle storage and landscaping.

19/00067/LA Physical works to facilitate the conversion and extension of Coroner's Court, as part of the wider development including the conversion and extension of 6 Upper York Street and the erection of a four-storey building to create 46 no. residential units; business space for Class A2/Class B1 uses; associated cycle storage and landscaping.

Answers for Clarification

·           The works will take place over a period of time and there are Conditions included to address the issue of noise generation

·           The details of the ramp for disabled access will be secured by condition; Transport Development Management has confirmed that the cycle stores are accessible 

·           No petition relating to the planning application has been submitted to the Local Planning Authority; information relating to the objections to the planning application that have been received are summarised in the report; the Council’s Regulatory Function is separate from its Executive Function; the Committee should therefore make a decision on the planning application

·           If someone deliberately allows a listed building to fall into disrepair, the Local Authority should take this into account in any decision

·           The Coroner’s Court building is a listed building; the Lakota building is locally listed; the scheme has to be considered as a whole

·           All of the affordable accommodation meets space standards

·           It is not known why the owners of Lakota purchased the Coroner’s Court building, but there would be difficulties in obtaining planning permission for a housing development adjacent to a nightclub

·           Development Control Committee resolved to grant planning permission previously, around  2008, but the development did not happen; it was also predicated on Lakota closing

·           Nine affordable units are proposed throughout the development which equates to 20%, in accordance with the Council’s Affordable Housing Practice Note

·           The provision of play space within the development, together with the nearby Pauls Park, is sufficient to meet the demand associated with the development 

Debate

·           There is a public benefit in developing the site

·           Safeguards are in place and there is affordable housing and a play area to be provided

·           There are concerns about the loss of a music venue, as a community and cultural facility

·           Acknowledgement that the site is allocated in the Local Plan for residential-led development, and the weight that should be attached in favour of the development by meeting this allocation

·           The scheme does not enhance the area

·           The public realm is being improved

·           There will be a benefit to the local community

·           A listed building will be restored

·           Not convinced by the quality of the development

·           The scheme only included the bare minimum for sustainability

Councillor Brook moved the Officer Recommendation for approval of both applications.

Councillor Khan seconded this Motion.

On being put to the Vote it was

Resolved – (Voting 6 for, 3 against, 1 abstention) that both applications be approved.