Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dixon and Rajan-Seelan. Councillor Collymore was present as an alternate member.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dixon and Rajan-Seelan. Councillor Collymore attended as an alternate member.

Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, the nature and existence of any relevant disclosable pecuniary or personal interests in the items on this agenda and to specify the item(s) to which they relate.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 14 December 2022 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.

None.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 14 December 2022 as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 14 December 2022 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.

Granted planning permission subject to the conditions and informatives as set out in the Committee report and supplementary report, with further amendments to be made to Condition 4 to allow the use of reasonable amplified sound and Condition 6 to allow flexibility to the hours of operation to allow for administrative and cleaning to take place.

PROPOSAL

Change of use of the ground floor from professional services to place of worship (Use Class F1(f)) and community hall (Use Class F2(b)) and replacement of windows with doors to front elevation.

RECOMMENDATION~:

That the Committee resolve to GRANT planning permission subject to:

(1)   That the Head of Planning is delegated authority to issue the planning permission and impose conditions and informatives as detailed in the report.

(2)   That the Head of Planning is delegated to make changes to the wording of the committee’s decision (such as to delete, vary or add conditions, informatives, planning obligations or reasons for the decision) prior to the decision being actioned, provided that the Head of Planning is satisfied that any such changes could not reasonably be regarded as deviating from the overall principle of the decision reached by the committee nor that such change(s) could reasonably have led to a different decision having been reached by the committee.

Mahya Fatemi, Senior Planning Officer, North Area, Development Planning Team introduced the report and set out the key issues. In introducing the report members were advised that the application sought the change of use of the ground floor of the existing property from professional services to a place of worship (Use Class F1 (f) and community hall (Use Class F2 (b) and replacement of windows with doors to the front elevation. The site was not located within a conservation area and there were no listed buildings within the site’s curtilage. It was clarified that the prayer space was limited to 40 worshippers and would serve to meet the needs mainly of local employees who required a designated place to pray during business hours.

The Committee’s attention was drawn to the Supplementary Report that responded to further objections made regarding the operational hours, the agent re-confirmed that the hours of use would be 12pm – 9pm and as such the recommendation remained to grant consent as per the Committee report and decision notice.

As no Committee questions were raised at this point, the Chair invited Mr Mohammed Azad (as an objector) to address the Committee (in person) in relation to the application.

Mr Azad introduced himself to the Committee as a local resident and business owner before raising the following key issues:

• Mr Azad advised that his premises where he had conducted his business for the past 24 years was located directly in front of the application site.
• Mr Azad felt that parking issues had increased significantly since the new owners of the application site acquired the premises approximately 4 years ago.
• There were ongoing issues in relation to parking along the access road, Mr Azad explained as there were limited allocated parking spaces, vehicles were frequently double parked and regularly blocked the access road.
• Mr Azad advised that this was a source of frustration for him, as there had been multiple occasions where he had been unable to move his vehicle to collect his children from school as he had been blocked in.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Granted planning permission subject to the prior completion of a legal agreement to secure the planning obligations as set out in the report and the conditions and informatives as set out in the Committee report with the inclusion of additional conditions to provide details of lighting along the access road and the provision of EVCP for the new homes.

PROPOSAL

Partial demolition of 30 and amalgamation with 30A and erection of 3 terraced houses on the garden space at the rear, creation of a side vehicular access and associated refuse, recycling and cycle parking facilities and hard and soft landscaping

RECOMMENDATION~:

That the Committee resolve to GRANT planning permission subject to:

(1)   The prior completion of a legal agreement to secure the planning obligations as detailed in the report.

(2)   That the Head of Planning is delegated authority to issue the planning permission and impose conditions and informatives as detailed in the report.

(3)   That the Head of Planning is delegated to make changes to the wording of the committee’s decision (such as to delete, vary or add conditions, informatives, planning obligations or reasons for the decision) prior to the decision being actioned, provided that the Head of Planning is satisfied that any such changes could not reasonably be regarded as deviating from the overall principle of the decision reached by the committee nor that such change(s) could reasonably have led to a different decision having been reached by the committee.

Victoria McDonagh, Team Leader, North Area Planning Team introduced the report and set out the key issues. In introducing the report members were advised that the existing site consisted of a set of 2 semi detached houses and 1 detached house on the southern side of Stilecroft Gardens, located within the boundaries of the Sudbury Neighbourhood Plan. The site laid partly within land that was liable to surface water flooding. The designated open space and local green space of Vale Farm was located to the south of the site.

The application did not have a supplementary report, however the Committee’s attention was drawn to a late objection made by the Sudbury Town Residents Association (STRA) in relation to outbuildings, however this was deemed not applicable as the proposal was for dwelling homes as opposed to outhouses.

The Chair sought clarification on the section of the report that referred to current site having “deep gardens” and as such they were recognised as being more suitable locations for this type of development and if there was a specific measurement of what could be defined as a “deep garden”. In response the Committee were advised that there was no specific measurement or policy and that the term was a judgement made by officers.

As no further questions were raised by members at this point, the Chair invited Mr Hallam Moore (objector) to address the Committee (in person) on behalf of the Sudbury Town Residents Association (STRA) in relation to the application. The following key points were highlighted:

·       It was not felt that the site was appropriate for the proposed application as the site did not fall within a designated growth area and there was no affordable housing provided as part of the development.

·       It was highlighted that the National Planning policy restricted residential gardens being used for the type of development proposed and as such it was felt that this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Granted planning permission subject to the conditions and informatives as set out in the Committee report.

PROPOSAL

Proposed two first floor rear extensions to building.

RECOMMENDATION~:

That the Committee resolve to GRANT planning permission subject to:

(1)   That the Head of Planning is delegated authority to issue the planning permission and impose conditions and informatives as detailed in the report.

(2)   That the Head of Planning is delegated to make changes to the wording of the committee’s decision (such as to delete, vary or add conditions, informatives, planning obligations or reasons for the decision) prior to the decision being actioned, provided that the Head of Planning is satisfied that any such changes could not reasonably be regarded as deviating from the overall principle of the decision reached by the committee nor that such change(s) could reasonably have led to a different decision having been reached by the committee.

Denis Toomey, Principal Planning Officer, North Area Development Team introduced the report and set out the key issues. In introducing the report members were advised that the application sought permission for two first floor rear extensions to the building. The application property consisted of a two storey end of terrace property on Stanley Road, the site was not within a Conservation Area and the property was not listed. The Committee was advised that the proposal would not change the use of the building. A Certificate of Lawfulness for the existing use was considered lawful in relation to the use of the building as a mosque on the ground floor with residential accommodation on the first floor.

As there were no registered speakers for the application, the Chair invited Committee members to ask any clarifying questions or raise any concerns they had with the officers in relation to the application. The following points were discussed:

·       Following a Committee question in relation to the permitted rights of the homeowner, officers confirmed that this property did not have permitted development rights due to the nature of the use, hence the requirement to submit this application for planning permission.

·       Following a Committee question regarding the use of the proposed extension to the property, the Committee were advised that the extension would support both the residential use of the dwelling and provide additional space in the prayer area.

As there were no further questions and having established that all members had followed the discussions the Chair asked members to vote on the recommendations.

Granted planning permission subject to the conditions and informatives as set out in the Committee report.

(Voting on the recommendation was unanimous)

Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Head of Executive and Member Services or her representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 60.

None.

None.