Agenda item

Extension to existing hardstanding to create additional parking including associated pathway, bollards and landscaping.

Recommendation: That the decision be delegated to the Head of Regulatory Services to consider any representations received and that PLANNING PERMISSION BE GRANTED.

The application was for the extension to existing hardstanding to create additional car parking including associated pathway, bollards and landscaping at Shaftesbury Court, Malvern Way, Croxley Green, Hertfordshire.

The application was called in by 3 Members of the Planning Committee to consider the impact of the existing occupiers and the visual amenity given the nearby footpath.

Councillor Steve Drury left the Chamber.

An update was presented by the Officer. It was reported that since publication of the report, four further comments had been received, three in support and one further objection, not raising any new material considerations. No objections had been raised by Croxley Green Parish Council. No concerns were received from the Hertfordshire Highways, who had been consulted in an advisory capacity.

This application proposes to provide two parking spaces in replacement of an area of existing lawn to the south-east of the building of Shaftesbury Court. The spaces would be physically laid out with painted white lines. The existing access paths would be retained, and shrubs planted to 3 sides of the spaces to provide separation between the spaces and adjacent paths. The existing grass verge to the west (other side of the access road from the parking spaces) would also be reduced in width in order to allow for the access and egress of vehicles into the new spaces. New concrete bollards would be installed along the edge of the grass verge.

Whilst not within the red line of the application site, the plans suggest that a zebra crossing style pedestrian walkway would also be marked on the existing private access together with some safety signage.

The Committee were addressed by a resident, representing the residents of Shaftesbury Court, objecting to the application. The residents’ main concerns included the hazard caused for young children as an adjacent alleyway between the Church car park and Malvern Way was used by parents and young children, which was a blind spot and an accident waiting to happen. The residents felt that there were other options causing minimal disruption.

The Committee discussed the application, and the following points were raised:

·        That there was a path that came off the footpath that was used by parents and commuters.

·        Members were reminded by the Officer that this was a standalone application just for the parking.

·        Did Officers know how many residents had cars?

·        Would the footpath be raised or just segregated?

·        Officers confirmed that it would be a shared surface and pointed out the public right of way on the submitted plans. There would be physical demarcation on the ground to encourage users to cross the road and use the path on the side of the building and not the road.

·        The crossing was part of the scheme.

·        If additional planting or bollards were added this would reduce the visibility of anyone reversing.

·        That it was significant that no residents supported the application.

·        That as part of the application, the scheme would be adding two extra parking spaces and would significantly improve the markings of the permissive path, clearly mark the crossing points and the pedestrian route. It seemed like this would be an improvement.

Councillor Philip Hearn proposed the Officers recommendation to approve the application, and this was seconded by Councillor Ruth Clark and put to a vote.

Six Members voted For the application to be approved and one abstained from voting.

RESOLVED: that the planning application be approved as per the Officer recommendation.