Issue - meetings

Removal of condition 3 (Lighting Hours) pursuant to planning permission 25/1012/RSP at 57 - 59 High Street, Abbots Langley.

Recommendation: that planning permission be granted.

The application was for removal of condition 3 (Lighting Hours) pursuant to planning permission 25/1012/RSP at 57 - 59 High Street, Abbots Langley.

The Planning Officer reported that there no updates.

Committee Members asked questions about the proposal which were responded to by officers. The Committee’s discussions included the following:

·       A Committee Member reported that they had undertaken a visit to the site at night.  In addition to the light emanating from the parcel locker, there was also light from street lights and shops, so that the locker downlight was not considered to be significantly contributing to the overall illumination.

·       No complaints had been received from residents in relation to the locker lighting.

·       A Committee Member commented that the street lights were switched off between 1am and 5am, and it was questioned whether the same could be required of the light which illuminated the locker.  However, in debate it was noted that the shop lights remained on all night and so conditioning of the hours of operation may not be reasonable.  In relation to a suggestion from the Parish Council that a motion sensor be installed, Committee Members considered that this would serve no useful purpose as the sensor would be likely to be triggered by wildlife.  Additionally, the periodic switching of the light on and off may prove more disruptive.

·       A Committee Member commented that the level of the lighting appeared excessive in relation to what was needed to operate the locker.  Whilst Committee Members did not object to the lighting in principle, it was recommended that the Planning Officer should discuss with the applicant whether the level of brightness could be reduced or changed to a warmer tone.  This was supported by Committee Members.

Councillor Lloyd moved, and Councillor Whately-Smith seconded, that authority be delegated to the Head of Regulatory Services to request a change to a warmer lighting tone and a reduction in brightness, and subject to that change, to grant planning permission.

On being put to the vote this was carried, the voting being 10 in favour, 0 against and 1 abstention.

RESOLVED: that authority be delegated to the Head of Regulatory Services to request a change to a warmer lighting tone and a reduction in brightness, and subject to that change, to grant planning permission.