Agenda item

The Head of Planning submitted a report in respect of application no. N/2012/0328 elaborated thereon and referred to the Addendum that set out an objection from the Managing Agents of Derngate Mews and confirmations of the positions of the Chief Fire Officer and Private Sector Housing Officer.

Councillor Stone, as Ward Councillor, thanked the applicants for the revised plans and the efforts they had made to meet the concerns that had been raised at the last meeting however concerns remained that the proposal was too dense; fourteen units was still more than the previous consent for 10; that the rubbish storage and cycle store were inadequate; and inadequate parking provision. In answer to questions Councillor Stone commented that her constituents view was that the existing planning permission for 10 units was already dense and therefore more than ten was too dense.

Mr Moody, the Operations Director for the managing company that would look after the premises, noted that the average rent for similar sized accommodation in Northampton was £70 per week. Given that these premises would be high spec aimed at young professionals, they would be seeking to achieve rent of £100 to £125 per week. He commented that typically 40% of their tenants did not own cars. All tenants would have Harmonious Living Guidelines that were designed to manage out issues with neighbours along with frequent visits from a site supervisor. Mr Moody commented that the previous permission for 10 units would have allowed for couples so the actual number of occupants could have been higher than under this proposal. He also stated that as Managing Agents their properties in Derby had achieved accreditation for the standard achieved.

Dr Rawcliffe, the applicant, commented that she had taken account of the Committee’s previous comments and had reconfigured the internal layout. One room was now nearly three times larger than the legal requirement. All the rooms had ensuites. The current lawful use of the building was as a HIMO with 8 units together with 6 offices which she suggested was a greater use than the proposal. The planning permission for 10 units had now lapsed. Safe cycle and rubbish storage had been provided. Dr Rawcliffe commented that the building had cost nearly £300,000 to purchase and the internal works would cost a further £200,000 which put the scheme on the limit of affordability.

The Head of Planning confirmed that the previous planning permission that had now lapsed had been for 10 units (flats) with a total of 18 bedrooms and no car parking. This proposal included five allocated car park spaces. 

The Committee discussed the application.

RESOLVED:     That the application be approved subject to the conditions set out in the report as the proposal would not have an undue detrimental impact on the character of the locality or on residential amenity of the area and would not give rise to highway safety problems. The proposal is therefore compliant with NPPF and Policies E20 and E26 of the Northampton Local Plan.