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Decision details

17/1351/FUL - Doubletree Hotel

Decision Maker: Planning

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decisions:

The Committee received an application for full planning permission.

 

The application sought approval for removal of glass pyramid structure to roof of existing leisure centre, re-cladding of the facades and erection of single storey extension (net gain of 10no additional bedrooms and leisure facilities).

 

The Senior Planner reported a further representation received from the Federation of Cambridge Residents Association which raised no new issues and updated her report with a

pre-committee amendment:

 

Additional condition:

 

17. Prior to first occupation of the hotel bedrooms hereby permitted, the replacement leisure facility shall be completed in accordance with the approved plans and shall be available for members other than resident guests of the hotel to use in accordance with a membership system.

 

Reason: To guard against the loss of the leisure facility in accordance with Cambridge Local Plan (2006) policy 6/1.

 

The Committee received a representation in objection to the application from a resident of Wordsworth Grove.

 

The representation covered the following issues:

     i.        Various residents associations objected to the application.

    ii.        The Hotel had made seven planning applications since 2010, most had been refused.

   iii.        The application did not meet Local Plan criteria.

  iv.        Extending and cladding the application would harm the character of the area.

   v.        Specific objections:

·        Building on the riverfront.

·        Loss of views of the area.

·        Design, scale and massing.

 

Ms O’Gorman (Applicant’s Agent) addressed the Committee in support of the application.

 

Councillor Bick (Market Ward Councillor) addressed the Committee about the application on behalf of Councillor Cantrill (Newnham Ward Councillor).

 

The representation covered the following issues:

     i.        The application was sited in a quintessential / historic part of Cambridge.

    ii.        Referred to Councillor Cantrill’s input into previous applications.

   iii.        Planning permission had been refused in 2013 based on the provision of leisure facilities. The Senior Planner’s said the current provision was not different but the table on P305 of the Officer’s report showed there would be less. Councillor Cantrill expressed concern over the apparent loss of facilities and suggested Local Plan policy 6/4 should be defended.

  iv.        The 10m addition to the river frontage was concerning. This would impact on views in the Conservation Area as referenced by the Planning Inspector in an earlier application. The extension would have a negative impact on the setting, sense of place and character of the (sensitive) area.

 

The Committee:

 

Resolved (by 5 votes to 2) to grant the application for planning permission in accordance with the officer recommendation, for the reasons set out in the officer report, and subject to the amended conditions recommended by the officers.

Report author: Charlotte Burton

Publication date: 01/02/2018

Date of decision: 10/01/2018

Decided at meeting: 10/01/2018 - Planning

Accompanying Documents: