Agenda item

Demolition of existing building and construction of a new three storey building to provide community centre at ground floor level and 8 residential units to the two upper floors with associated landscaping, access, and parking alterations at British Red Cross, Community Way, Croxley Green.

Recommendation: that planning permission be approved subject to conditions.

Councillor Mitchell left the meeting.

The application was for demolition of existing building and construction of a new three storey building to provide community centre at ground floor level and 8 residential units to the two upper floors with associated landscaping, access, and parking alterations at British Red Cross, Community Way, Croxley Green.

The Planning Officer reported that the second sentence of paragraph 7.5.4 of the report contained a typo and the word ‘noted’ should read ‘not’.  The full sentence was therefore: ‘No.1a Barton Way is a first floor flat with amenity space at ground floor. As above it is noted that the proposed building would be taller than the existing building however owing to the separation distance it is not considered that overall the proposed building would result in such an overbearing impact or loss light so as to result in demonstrable harm to the rear gardens of the properties to the north.’

Additionally, the numbers at paragraphs 4.1.10 and 4.1.9 had been transposed.  The Planning Officer confirmed for clarity that 71 people had been consulted on the application and 12 comments had been received.

Finally, the use class referred to in the first sentence of condition 19 should be Use Class F2(b) and not F2(d), although the description in brackets was correct.

Councillor Narinder Sian spoke on the application.  Points raised included that the scheme would provide a sustainable long-term community hub, in line with the aims of the Croxley Green Neighbourhood Plan, which would secure its future; an aging building would be replaced with a modern, accessible community hall which would provide offices for the Parish Council as well as eight affordable rented homes in a sustainable location; the community facility would help to alleviate loneliness and isolation for local older people; the proposal was not considered to be out of character with the area; and residents were strongly in favour of the proposal.

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

·        Whilst expressing reservations about the building design, a Committee Member supported the principle of the development.

·        Another Committee Member recommended that priority for the housing units should be given to local Croxley Green residents, rather than those from across the district as a whole.  The Planning Officer confirmed that the affordable housing condition as written in the report did not contain and reference to Croxley Green residents specially, but rather it would be for those in housing need / on the housing register across the district as a whole.  It was agreed that officers would add an informative to draw this to the applicant’s attention.

(Note: subsequent to the meeting the Council’s Housing Team advised that properties advertised via the Council’s Housing Register are allocated strictly in accordance with the Council’s Housing Allocations Policy.  Preferential treatment to residents from any particular area could not be offered / specified, as the local connection test applies district wide).

Councillor Drury moved, and Councillor Lloyd seconded, that the application be approved subject to conditions, amendment to condition 19 as outlined above, and the addition of an informative relating to occupancy.

On being put to the vote this was agreed unanimously.

RESOLVED: that the application be approved subject to conditions, amendment to condition 19 as outlined above, and the addition of an informative relating to occupancy.

Councillor Mitchell re-joined the meeting.