Agenda and minutes

The Chair, Councillor Surti, welcomed those present to the meeting.

Councillor Porter substituted for Councillor Kennedy-Lount.

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed on the Agenda.

Members will be aware of the Code of Practice for Member involvement in Development Control decisions. They are also asked to declare any interest they might have in any matter on the committee agenda and/or contact with applicants, agents or third parties. The Chair, acting on advice from the Monitoring Officer, will then determine whether the interest disclosed is such to require the Member to withdraw from the committee during consideration of the relevant officer report.

Members who are not on the committee but who are attending to make representations in accordance with the Code of Practice are also required to declare any interest.  The Chair, acting on advice from the Monitoring Officer, will determine whether the interest disclosed is such that the Member is not able to make representations.  Members requiring guidance should contact the Monitoring Officer or the Committee's legal adviser prior to the committee meeting.

Members were asked to declare any interests they had in the business on the agenda.

Councillor Porter declared an interest in the application 20242143, 16 Plantation, where he made an objection to the application and therefore would withdraw from being on the panel for the item to put forward the objection as a speaker.

There were no declarations of interest.

Members are asked to confirm that the minutes of the meeting of the Planning and Development Control Committee held on 2 April 2025 are a correct record.

Proposed by Councillor Mohammed, seconded by Councillor Moore.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Planning and Development Control Committee held 2 April 2025, be confirmed as a correct record.

The Committee is asked to consider the recommendations of the Director, Planning, Development and Transportation contained in the attached reports, within the categories identified in the index appended with the reports.

20250228 - The Glen, Hillsborough Road

Ward: Eyres Monsell

Proposal: Change of use from public house (& ancillary flat) (Sui Generis) to place of worship (& ancillary education centre) (Class F1)

Applicant: Eyres Monsell Community Foundation

The Planning Officer presented the report and the Addendum report detailing further representations received since the publication of the agenda. 

George Weightman presented to the Committee in support of the application.

Mr Adrian Fields, Jo Watts and Sarah Williams spoke in objection to the application.

Councillor Pickering presented to the Committee in objection to the application.

Members of the Committee considered the application and officers responded to questions and queries raised by the Committee.

The Chair summarised the application and points raised by Committee Members and moved that in accordance with the Officer recommendation, the application be approved. This was seconded by Councillor Cassidy, and upon being put to the vote, the motion was CARRIED.

RESOLVED: permission was granted subject to conditions

            CONDITIONS

1.         The development shall be begun within three years from the date of this permission. (To comply with Section 91 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990.)

2.         The use shall not be carried on outside the hours of 07:30 while 23:00 daily except for the use of the Prayer Halls during the Holy Month of Ramadan. (In the interests of the amenities of nearby occupiers, and in accordance with saved policies PS10 and PS11 of the City of Leicester Local Plan.)

3.         No amplified call to prayer or aural announcement of activities shall take place at the site at any time. (In the interest of the amenity of neighbouring residents and in accordance with saved policy PS11 of the City of Leicester Local Plan).

4.         The hardstanding around the site and the grassed area to the south of the building shall not be used for any formal scheduled activities (for example worship, religious events, weddings, classes or community events) at any time during the lifetime of the use. (In the interest of the amenity of neighbouring residents and in accordance with saved policies PS10 and PS11 of the City of Leicester Local Plan).

5.         Notwithstanding the submitted Travel Plan, no part of the development shall be occupied until a revised Travel Plan for the development has been submitted to and approved in writing by the City Council as local planning authority and shall be carried out in accordance with a timetable to be contained within the Travel Plan, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Council. 

            The plan shall

            (a) assess the site in terms of transport choice for staff, users of services, visitors and deliveries;

            (b) consider pre-trip mode choice, measures to promote more sustainable modes of transport such as walking, cycling, car share and public transport (including providing a personal journey planner, information for bus routes, bus discounts available, cycling routes, cycle discounts available and retailers, health benefits of walking, car sharing information, information on sustainable journey plans, notice boards) over choosing to drive to and from the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

20242143 - 16 Plantation Avenue

Ward: Aylestone

Proposal: Retrospective Construction of single storey outbuilding to rear of house for use as gym/office/music room (Class C3)

Applicant: Ms Susan Jane Holcroft

Councillor Porter withdrew from the panel due to submitting an objection to the application.

The Planning Officer presented the report.

Faizal Osman spoke in support of the application.

Jan Andrews spoke in objection to the application.

Councillor Porter spoke in objection to the application.

Members of the Committee considered the report and Officers responded to the comments and queries raised.

The Chair summarised the application and the points raised by Members of the Committee and moved that in accordance with the Officers recommendation, the application be approved subject to the conditions set out in the report. This was seconded by Councillor Aldred and upon being put to the vote, the motion was CARRIED.

RESOLVED: permission was granted subject to conditions

              CONDITIONS

1.           The detached outbuilding shall not be used as living accommodation, shall only be used incidentally to the main house and shall not be used independently of the main house. (In the interests of residential amenity in accordance with Policy PS10 of the City of Leicester Local Plan.)

2.           Development shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans:

              Drawing 005 Rev A - Proposed Floor Plans - Received 12/12/2024

              Drawing 006 Rev A - Proposed Elevation and Roof Plans - Received 12/12/2024

              Drawing 007 Rev A - Proposed Elevation Plans - Received 12/12/2024

              Drawing 008 Rev A - Proposed Relationship to Main House - Received 12/12/2024

              (For the avoidance of doubt).

              NOTES FOR APPLICANT

1.           There are statutory exemptions and transitional arrangements which mean that the biodiversity gain condition does not always apply.

              Based on the information available this permission is considered to be one which will not require the approval of a biodiversity gain plan before development is begun because the following statutory exemption/transitional arrangement is considered to apply:

              Development which is subject of a householder application within the meaning of article 2(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015. A "householder application" means an application for planning permission for development for an existing dwellinghouse, or development within the curtilage of such a dwellinghouse for any purpose incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse which is not an application for change of use or an application to change the number of dwellings in a building.

2.           The property may be suitable for roosting bats, which are protected by law from harm. The applicant should ensure that all contractors and individuals working on the property are aware of this possibility, as works must cease if bats are found during the course of the works whilst expert advice from a bat ecologist is obtained. Bats are particularly associated with the roof structure of buildings, including lofts, rafters, beams, gables, eaves, soffits, flashing, ridge-tile, chimneys, the under-tile area, etc. but may also be present in crevices in stone or brickwork and in cavity  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The meeting closed at 19.15pm.