Agenda item

Report of Head of Planning

(copy herewith)

Ward: Castle

The Head of Planning submitted a report in respect of application no. N/2011/0867, referred to the Addendum that set out two representations from the owner of neighbouring flats and bungalow and the responses thereto and elaborated thereon.

Mr Noble, stated that he was representing a family business that owned and managed 195 to 197 Kettering Road and 102 Hood Street and that he wished to object to the application as he did not believe that the report accurately reflected the concerns he had raised since 2011. He believed that the basement was not suitable for the use applied for and had raised concerns with the Council’s officers. Furthermore, there was no outside smoking area for customers and only limited car parking. Mr Noble believed that customers would be unlikely to walk to the premises. He also considered that the report and application made little reference to the restaurant use but concentrated on the pub use and noted that the closing hours stipulated in the planning consent did not match the hours granted by Licensing. In answer to a question, Mr Noble commented that he had received complaints from some of his tenants and had lost the tenants adjacent to the first floor. There had also been complaints about smoking in the street and from the tenants of the bungalow in Hood Street in respect of their children. Mr Noble confirmed that most of the complaints had been whilst the works had been carried out.   

Mr Hepworth, the applicant, commented that his pub was different to most in that he did not sell lager or alcopops. His clientele tended to be older and he was not aware of any particular issues. Mr Hepworth noted that the soundproofing installed was ten times better than the standard required by Building Control. He referred to three references from customers in support of the premises. In answer to questions Mr Hepworth commented that the noise limiter was set to 85db on the advice of Environmental Health; that from the 1880’s to the 1970’s the premises had been a butchers with heavy equipment in the basement and that he played background music, generally, from the 1960’s and 1970’s. 

Councillor Glynane, as a sometime customer stated that the premises were a pleasant place for a meal and drink and noted the support other customers had given to it. He had walked to it from where he lived in Far Cotton. He was dismayed by some of the comments that had been made particularly about smoking; the premises were located in a commercial area with several other pubs, restaurants and takeaways nearby. He believed that it fitted in well with the area.

The Head of Planning noted that Mr Noble’s comments had been dealt with in the Addendum and in answer to questions commented that the issue of noise limiters was for Environmental Health and that proposed condition 2 dealt with noise and controlling it and could be amended to specifically prevent live music and reminded the Committee that this application only concerned the use of the basement.   

The Committee discussed the application.

RESOLVED: That the application be approved subject to the conditions set out in the report as amended to prevent the playing of live music, as the use would be in keeping with the character of Kettering Road as a Local/District Centre and would not lead to any undue adverse impact on adjoining residential properties or on highway safety. The proposal thereby complies with Policy E28 of the Northampton Local Plan and the guidance in the NPPF.