Agenda item

Ward: Westcotes

Proposal: change of use from police station (sui generis) to 30 residential apartments (11x Studio, 19x 1bed) (Class C3) Alterations (Amended Plans Rec 25/10/19)

Applicant: K Enterprise Limited

The Planning Officer presented the report, which Members then considered.

The Chair moved that, in accordance with the officer recommendation, the application be approved subject to the conditions set out in the report.  This was seconded by Councillor Halford and, upon being put to the vote, the motion to approve was CARRIED.

RESOLVED:

that the application be APPROVED subject to the conditions as set out below:

            CONDITIONS

1.         Start within three years

2.         Prior to the commencement of development full design details of on-site renewable energy generation and energy efficiency measures shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the City Council as local planning authority. No flat shall be occupied until evidence demonstrating satisfactory operation of the details, including on-site installation, has been submitted to and approved in writing by the City Council as local planning authority. (In the interests of securing energy efficiency in accordance with Policy CS02 of the Core Strategy. This is a PRE-COMMENCEMENT condition).

3.         Prior to the commencement of development an acoustic survey shall be undertaken and details of a noise insulation scheme (including mechanical ventilation arrangements) to prevent the transmission of noise into the development and to prevent the transmission of noise to adjacent properties shall be submitted to the City Council as local planning authority and agreed in writing.  The scheme shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details prior to occupation of any flat. (In the interests of the amenities of nearby occupiers, and in accordance with policy PS10 of the City of Leicester Local Plan, this is a PRE-COMMENCEMENT condition). 

4.         Prior to the commencement of development details of drainage, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. No flat shall be occupied until the drainage has been installed in full accordance with the approved details. It shall be retained and maintained thereafter. (To ensure appropriate drainage is installed in accordance with policy CS02 of the Core Strategy. This is a PRE-COMMENCEMENT condition).

5.         Prior to the commencement of development details of a Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. No flat shall be occupied until the system has been implemented in full accordance with the approved details. It shall be retained and maintained thereafter. (To reduce surface water runoff and to secure other related benefits in accordance with policy CS02 of the Core Strategy, this is a PRE-COMMENCEMENT condition).

6.         No part of the development shall be occupied until secure and covered cycle parking has been provided in accordance with written details previously approved in writing by City Council as local planning authority. The cycle parking provision shall be retained thereafter. (In the interests of the satisfactory development of the site and in accordance with policies AM02 and H07 of the City of Leicester Local Plan). 

7.         Prior to the first occupation of each unit, the occupiers of each of the flats shall be provided with a ‘Residents Travel Pack’ details of which shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the City Council, as the local planning authority in advance. The contents of the Travel Pack shall consist of: information promoting the use of sustainable personal journey planners, walking and cycle maps, bus maps, the latest bus timetables applicable to the proposed development, and bus fare discount information. (In the interest of promoting sustainable development, and in accordance with policy AM02 of the City of Leicester Local Plan and policy CS14 of the Core Strategy).

8.         Notwithstanding any details shown on the submitted plans, prior to the occupation of any part of the development, all parking areas shall be surfaced and marked out in accordance with details which shall first have been submitted to and approved in writing by the City Council as local planning authority. These areas shall be retained for parking thereafter and not used for any other purpose.  (To ensure that parking can take place in a satisfactory manner, and in accordance with policy AM12 of the City of Leicester Local Plan and Core Strategy policy CS03.)

9.         Prior to the occupation of any part of the development the refuse bin storage and refuse collection provision shall be provided and available for use in accordance with details which shall be first submitted to and approved in writing by the City Council as local planning authority.  The areas shall be retained and kept available for that use thereafter. (In the interests of the amenities of the surrounding area, and in accordance with policies H07 and PS10 of the City of Leicester Local Plan and Core Strategy policy CS03)

10.      Prior to the occupation of any part of the development, a parking management plan shall have been submitted to and approved in writing by the City Council as local planning authority. The development shall then be managed in accordance with the approved parking management plan. (To ensure that parking can take place in a satisfactory manner, and in accordance with policies AM01 and AM12 of the City of Leicester Local Plan and Core Strategy policy CS3.)

11.      The external elevations on the rear elevation shall be constructed in facing bricks to match those existing. (In the interests of visual amenity, and in accordance with Core Strategy policy CS03.)

12.      The flats and their associated parking and approach shall be constructed in accordance with 'Category 2: Accessible and adaptable dwellings M4 (2) Optional Requirement. On completion of the scheme and prior to the occupation of the dwelling a completion certificate signed by the relevant inspecting Building Control Body shall be submitted to the City Council as local planning authority certifying compliance with the above standard. (To ensure the dwelling is adaptable enough to match lifetime's changing needs in accordance with Core Strategy policy CS6)

13.      This consent shall relate solely to the amended plans ref. no. RPD/JAN/2019/006/06 and RPD/OCT/2019/006/WM received by the City Council as local planning authority on 25/10/2019, and plan no. RPD/JAN/2019/006/01 received by the City Council as local planning authority on 03/05/2019. (For the avoidance of doubt)

            NOTES FOR APPLICANT

1.         As the existing building abuts the highway boundary, and barriers, scaffolding, hoarding, footway closures, etc. required in connection with the change of use works to be undertaken will require a license. This should be applied for by emailing Licensing@leicester.gov.uk.

2.         With regards to the Travel Pack the contents of the pack are intended to raise the awareness and promote sustainable travel, in particularly for trips covering local amenities. The applicant should seek advice from Leicester City Council's Travel Plan Officer.

3.         No permission is granted or implied for alterations to the external appearance of the property other than those shown on the approved plans, for which a separate planning permission may be required.

4.         In respect of condition 9, the applicant is advised to contact Waste Management on Waste.management@leicester.gov.uk to discuss the specific requirements for this development.

5.         To meet condition 12 All those delivering the scheme (including agents and contractors) should be alerted to this condition, and understand the detailed provisions of Category 2, M4(2). The Building Control Body for this scheme must be informed at the earliest opportunity that the units stated are to be to Category 2 M4(2) requirements. Any application to discharge this condition will only be considered if accompanied by a building regulations completion certificate/s as stated above.

6.         The City Council, as local planning authority has acted positively and proactively in determining this application by assessing the proposal against all material considerations, including planning policies and any representations that may have been received. This planning application has been the subject of positive and proactive discussions with the applicant during the process.

The decision to grant planning permission with appropriate conditions taking account of those material considerations in accordance with the presumption in favour of sustainable development as set out in the NPPF 2019 is considered to be a positive outcome of these discussions.