Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors De Cruz, M Hoare, Lane and Matthews.

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 29 July 2009 were signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED: (1) That Mr B Waine be granted leave to address the Committee in respect of Application No N/2009/0187 – Demolition of Existing 4No Dwellings and Business Premises and Erection of 29No Apartments at 68-72 Abbey Street.

                        (2) That Messrs Leventhal, Tagg and Summers, Mrs Tagg and Councillor B Hoare be granted leave to address the Committee in respect of Application No N/2009/0481 – Erection of Two Commentary Boxes, Camera Gantry, Extension to Pavilion and Installation of Six Floodlights at County Cricket Ground, Abington Avenue, Northampton.

1.   Councillors Church, J Conroy, B Hoare and Meredith declared a personal interest in respect of Application No N/2009/0481 as the Liberal Democrat offices adjoin the site.

2.   Councillor B Markham declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Application No N/2009/0481 as his wife was an objector to the application.

3.   Councillor Church declared a personal interest in Application No N/2009/0481 as a Board member of WNDC.

4.   Councillor Meredith declared a personal interest in Application No N/2009/0481 as a substitute Board member of the WNDC.

None.

Report of Head of Planning (copy herewith)

The Head of Planning submitted a List of Current Appeals and Inquiries and elaborated thereon.

RESOLVED:         That the report be noted.

Report of Head of Planning (Copy herewith).

The Head of Planning submitted a report and elaborated thereon.

RESOLVED: That the report be received and that the congratulations of the Committee be passed on to the staff involved.

None.

None.

An Addendum of further information considered by the Committee is attached.

Report of Head of Planning (copy herewith)

Ward: St James

The Head of Planning submitted a report in respect of Application No N/2009/0187 and referred to the Addendum that set out the formal response from the Environment Agency, including an additional condition requiring that the development be carried out in accordance with the approved Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) 07/8533/FRA July 2009 and comments from Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service and County Highways.  In answer to a question, the Head of Planning noted that the proposal was for a mix of one and two bedroom apartments.

Mr B Waine, agent for the applicant, commented that the proposal sought to overcome previous objections principally from the Highways Authority in respect of turning circles.  He noted that the principle of development on the site had already been established and commented that the existing use by Mario’s was a non-conforming use in a residential area.  He also noted that the issues of overlooking and shadowing were dealt with in the Committee report and stated that a great deal of consultation had taken place with the Planning officers to arrive at a development which was acceptable and sympathetic to the surrounding area in respect of the Saints stadium, the existing blocks of flats and housing.

In answer to questions, the Head of Planning noted that PPG13 and PPS3 encouraged local authorities to approve planning applications with reduced car park provisions in sustainable areas where there was good access to local facilities and public transport.  The site was regarded as being in a sustainable location.  She also noted that there was provision for secure cycle storage within the site.

The Committee discussed the application.

RESOLVED: That approval be given in principle subject to:

1. Prior finalisation of a Section 106 Agreement to secure:

•       the provision of a minimum of 35% affordable housing within the site with 10% of these being mobility units

•       a contribution towards education provision

•       a payment for the necessary administrative, legal and works costs for the changes to the Traffic Rule Regulation Order adjacent to the site

2. Planning conditions set out in the report and in the Addendum and additionally conditions in respect of the maintenance of the secure cycle storage for the life of the development and the provision of a brick wall to the boundary of the site with the existing residential properties as the proposed development would have no undue detrimental impact on the amenities of neighbouring occupiers and would be in keeping with the character and appearance of the area and would enable the removal of a non-conforming commercial use within a primarily residential area as identified in the Northampton Local Plan.  The proposal would also help in meeting the requirements of the housing provision as identified in the Regional Spatial Strategy and in line with the growth agenda for West Northamptonshire.  The development would therefore be in line with the Policies H6, H17, H32, E20 and E40 of the Northampton Local Plan and the advice contained in PPS1 (Delivering Sustainable Development), PPS3 (Housing) and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10a

Report of Head of Planning (copy herewith)

Ward: St Crispins

The Head of Planning submitted a report in respect of E/2009/1 and elaborated thereon.

RESOLVED: That the Borough Solicitor be authorised to instigate prosecution proceedings in respect of the non-compliance with Enforcement Notices 8/2008, 18/2008 and 19/2008.

Report of Head of Planning (copy herewith)

Ward: Abington

Councillor B Markham vacated the Chair in favour of the Deputy Chair, Councillor Meredith, and left the room during the discussion on this matter.

The Head of Planning submitted a report in respect of Application No N/2009/0481 and referred to the Addendum, which noted that a revised lighting scheme had been submitted, comments from Public Protection, correspondence from Mr Tagg and Councillor B Hoare.  The Head of Planning noted that the six floodlight columns would be permanent features but would be in use in the summer months and for a maximum of fifteen occasions.  By way of comparison, the floodlight columns proposed were 48 metres in height and those at the Sixfields and Franklins Gardens, were 21 metres.  At Lords they were 47 metres in height and retractable.  The requirement for the increased height was because of the larger playing area and ICC and ECB rules.  The temporary lights currently used under Permitted Development rights were 40 metres in height and gave higher light levels than the proposal in the application.  Within Permitted Development Rights the applicant could use temporary floodlights for a total of 28 days in a year.  In answer to a question it was noted that the floodlights, although arranged in a different way, had been 30 metres in height when the Football Club also played at the County Cricket Ground.

Mr Leventhal commented that he was representing a number of local residents and noted a statement in the report that the impact of the proposal needed to be balanced against the advantages it gave to the applicant.  He commented that the lighting columns would be 150 feet high and, as permanent, would be visible all through the year.  He noted that the Cricket Club would get a approximately 45 hours of benefit per year from their provision.  He commented that light spillage and noise from tannoys would be experienced up to 11:00 pm and that 20:20 Cricket was about generating noise and atmosphere.  This also included the consumption of alcohol.  Together his would have a severe impact on residents.  He commented that if the application were to be rejected 20:20 Cricket would still continue to be played at the Ground.  He asked whether other possibilities had been considered, such as earlier start times and measures to reduce the noise from the tannoy system.  He commented that there should be a travel plan and a seasonal visual impact study made.  In answer to a question, Mr Leventhal noted that comments concerning the consumption of alcohol had come from a report in the Chronicle & Echo.  He had no direct evidence of this being an issue. 

Councillor B Hoare noted that he had emailed his comments to members of the Committee ahead of the meeting.  He noted that the Committee was a consultee to the application; the issue was a question of impact on residents and the effect on the adjoining Conservation Area in terms of light, noise and traffic.  He understood that the impact assessment of the lighting  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12a