Decision details

The Committee received an application for full planning permission.

The application sought approval for the demolition of nos.23-25 Hills Road and the re-development of this plot with a four-storey building with a mansard roof form, containing a retail unit (A1) on the ground floor level and student accommodation (C2) on the upper floors.

The Committee received a representation in objection to the application from Mr Gawthrop.

The representation covered the following issues:

       i.          His residents’ association had experience of 16 – 18 year old foreign students in Linwood Road. They congregated in the street and disturbed residents (this had been reported to Environmental Health Officers).

     ii.          2 Linwood Road did not have an on-site warden.

   iii.          If no amenity space was provided at 23-25 Hills Road then it was likely students would congregate in the road.

The Committee received a representation in objection to the application from Ms Josselyn.

The representation covered the following issues:

       i.          There was no onsite external amenity space at 23-25 Hills Road, therefore students were likely to congregate in the road which could:

·       Block the narrow Cambridge Place entry point, particularly for service vehicles.

·       Lead to anti-social behaviour such as smoking and drinking.

     ii.          Parking / drop-off spaces for service vehicles should be provided.

   iii.          Policy 50 of the Local Plan should be considered.

   iv.          Strict control of the building process was required, the current conditions were impossible to enforce.

Mr McKeown (Applicant’s Agent) addressed the Committee in support of the application.

The Committee:

Resolved (by 4 votes to 2) to reject the officer recommendation to approve the application.

Resolved (by 4 votes to 0) to refuse the application contrary to the officer recommendations for the following reason:

The development fails to make proper provision for servicing of the proposed student accommodation units and in so doing fails to provide for the adequate management and maintenance of the development.  The development is therefore contrary to policy 3/7 of the Cambridge Local Plan 2006.