Agenda and minutes

Members will disclose any pecuniary and any other significant interests they may have in relation to the matters under consideration.

None.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 01 June 2022 (already circulated by email).

The minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on the 01 June 2022 were approved as a correct record.

The Schedule of Appeals lodged and decided between 15 May 2022 – 15 June 2022, is attached.

The Head of Planning and Regeneration gave the details to the committee of the five appeals decided as listed in the agenda pack. Two appeals had been dismissed by the Inspector and an enforcement notice quashed.

The committee noted the Schedule of Appeals lodged and decided between 15 May – 15 June 2022, as set out on pages 3-40 of the agenda pack. Any member requiring any further details or clarification on any appeal was invited to contact the relevant case officer.

Background Papers:

In preparing the reports on this agenda the following documents have been used:

1.            The Wyre Borough Local Plan (2011-2031)

2.            Draft Revised Joint Lancashire Minerals and Waste Local Plan

3.            Joint Lancashire Minerals and Waste Local Plan

4.            Statements of Government Policy/guidance (NPPF, NPPG, Ministerial Statements etc.)

5.            Supplementary Planning Guidance and evidence base documents specifically referred to in the reports

6.            The application file (as per the number at the head of each report)

7.            The forms, plans, committee reports and decisions as appropriate for the historic applications specifically referred to in the reports

8.            Any additional information specifically referred to in each report.

These background documents are available on line, or for inspection by a written request to Planning Services, Civic Centre, Breck Road, Poulton-le-Fylde, FY6 7PU.

Reports of the Head of Planning Services on planning applications to be determined at this meeting:

Demolition of existing building and erection of a 66 bedroom care home with associated access, parking and landscaping.

The application was brought before members for determination at the request of Councillor Lady Atkins.

A site visit occurred to enable members to understand the proposal and its setting beyond the plans submitted.

An update sheet with additional information was published on the council’s website, this information only having become available after the original agenda was published. The committee considered the update sheet, which contained an updated consultation response from the Lead Local Flood Authority, Lancashire County Council, which maintained its objection on surface water drainage. It also contained additional neighbour responses, amendments to the report (paragraphs 3.6 and 9.19), additional and revised plans to satisfy a number of drafted conditions, and amendments to conditions 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 15, 18, 21, and 24.

The Acting Planning Development Manager introduced the report. He also gave a verbal update to the committee, information which had only been submitted the morning of the meeting. He told the committee that the applicant had conducted a search for the unknown surface water culvert, and had found its location. This therefore meant that Condition 12 was still relevant, requiring the applicant to submit a full detailed drainage strategy which would need officer approval before any work was carried out. He also informed the committee that there had been a third bat survey, as was referenced in the report, and they had received the confirmation of this final survey indicating there were no bats in the building.

Claire Howes, the agent, spoke in favour of the application. She was asked to clarify the staffing numbers for the care home, car parking spaces and issues and the ground heat source location.

Members raised the following points:

·         The response from the town council

·         Car parking, including the ratio of beds to parking spaces and Wyre’s own policy on this

·         Visiting hours

·         Electric charging points

The Head of Planning and Regeneration responded to the points raised. He explained that the car parking proposal was in accordance with the council’s transport and accessibility policy and indeed the 25 proposed spaces were in excess of the policy requirement, and that the Highway authority had no comments on this matter. It would therefore be unsubstantiated in this case to use the matter of car parking as a reason for refusal, particularly as a previous decision relying on this reason without sufficient substantiation had been overturned on appeal.

Following discussion and a proposal by Councillor Le Marinel, seconded by Councillor Ballard, it was resolved that the application be approved in principle, subject to the conditions scheduled below and to a section 106 agreement to secure financial contributions towards health care provision and sustainable travel and that the Head of Planning Services and Regeneration be authorised to issue the decision following the completion of a S106 agreement to his satisfaction.

Schedule

Conditions:

1.    The development must be begun before the expiration of three years beginning with the date of this permission.

Reason: This condition is required to be imposed pursuant to  ...  view the full minutes text for item PA.14

Change of use of a dwelling (C3) to a childrens care home (C2) for the care of a maximum of 2no children (up to the age of 18 years old) with a maximum of 3no staff present at the property at any time.

The application was brought before members for determination at the request of Councillor Kay.

A site visit occurred to enable members to understand the proposal and its setting beyond the plans submitted.

An update sheet with additional information was published on the council’s website, this information only having become available after the original agenda was published. The committee considered the update sheet, which contained additional and amended floor plans, and additional neighbour responses.

The Acting Planning Development Manager introduced the report. He indicated to members that the report referenced a recent appeal on a similar change of use application, and emphasised to members that officers were assessing these types of applications on their own merits. The application referenced in the report had been refused on the grounds that the timing of the shift changes would result in unacceptable harm; however, for this application, the timing of the shift changes were at peak hours and therefore more acceptable to officers.

Adrian Rose, the agent, was granted permission by the Chair to speak in favour of the application.

Members asked questions of the agent to clarify the timing of shift changes and whether any staff meetings would occur on the property.

Members discussed the size of the house and number of bedrooms in relation to the proposed occupancy of up to two children and maximum of three members of staff.

The Head of Planning and Regeneration responded to the matters raised by members. He advised the committee that some of the concerns raised were matters for other regulatory authorities and that they were non-material considerations and could not be relied upon to substantiate a reason for refusal.

Following discussion, and as proposed by Councillor Ballard, seconded by Councillor Moon, it was resolved that the application be approved, subject to the conditions scheduled below.

Schedule

Conditions: -

1.           The development must be begun before the expiration of three years beginning with the date of this permission.

Reason: This condition is required to be imposed pursuant to Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by Section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

2.           The development shall be carried out, except where modified by the conditions to this permission, in accordance with the Planning Application received by the Local Planning Authority on 26.04.2022 including the following plans/documents:

·                         Location plan received on 31.03.22

·                         Revised site plan received on 30.05.22

·                         Floorplan drawing received on 31.03.22

The development shall be retained hereafter in accordance with this detail.

Reason: For the avoidance of doubt and so that the Local Planning Authority shall be satisfied as to the details.

3.           The premises shall be used for a children's residential home (C2 use) only and for no other purpose (including any other purpose in Class C2 of the Schedule to the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987, (or in any provision equivalent to that Class in any statutory instrument revoking and re-enacting that Order with or without modification).

Reason: The  ...  view the full minutes text for item PA.15