Agenda item

Proposed demolition of existing car garage and construction of residential accommodation comprising 12 studio flats and 2 x 6 bedroom cluster flats (HMO) (revised scheme)

Beeston Car Centre, Broadgate, Beeston, Nottinghamshire, NG9 2HD

Proposed demolition of existing car garage and construction of residential accommodation comprising 12 studio flats and 2x6 bedroom cluster flats (HMO) (revised scheme)

Beeston Car Centre, Broadgate, Beeston, Nottinghamshire, NG9 2HD

This application was brought to the Committee at the request of Councillor B C Carr and Councillor S J Carr.

The late items were comprised of an additional comment received objecting to the submission of an amended visualisation without any extension to the neighbour consultation period and an amendment to the section 106 payment for parks and open spaces to take into account the two cluster flats.

Mark Bassett, the applicant and Ian Cooper, objecting, made representation to the Committee prior to the general debate.

The number of applications for student accommodation clustered around this area were discussed.  It was noted that the proposed development would be on an employment site, which if lost, could impact the viability of Beeston Town Centre.  There was also concern that the six parking spaces allocated to the building were for staff, not residents, that the rooms in the block were small and that the proposed density for the site was too high. 

Debate progressed on to the detrimental impact of student blocks on the character of the area, especially the appearance of the block at the gateway to Beeston Town Centre, as well as the impact on existing residents and the wider community. 

Councillor G Marshall proposed that the item be deferred to allow officers to gather further information about student properties in the area.  He then withdrew his proposal.

RESOLVED that planning permission be refused with the precise wording of the refusal, to include reasons regarding the loss of an employment site, the density, highways and loss facilities and employment, delegated to the Vice Chair of Planning Committee in agreement with the Head of Planning and Economic Development and the Planning Manager.

Reasons

1.         The proposed building, by virtue of its scale and massing, is considered to dominate neighbouring properties in the street scene and cumulatively have an unacceptable impact on the character of the surrounding area. Therefore, the proposed development would be contrary to the aims of Policy 10 of the Aligned Core Strategy 2014 and Policy 17 of the Part 2 Local Plan (2019), and there are no other material considerations that justify treating this proposal as an exception to these policies.

2.         The proposal would contribute to an increasing imbalance in the local housing mix and represents an unacceptable density of residential development, contrary to the aims of Policy 8 of the Aligned Core Strategy 2014 and Policies 15(6) and 17 of the Part 2 Local Plan (2019), and there are no other material considerations that justify treating this proposal as an exception to these policies.

3.         The proposal would result in the loss of facilities and services, place additional demand on those that remain and reduce the sense of locally distinctive character, contrary to Policy 17 of the Part 2 Local Plan (2019) and the Building for Life criteria referred to therein, and there are no other material considerations that justify treating this proposal as an exception to these policies.