Decision details

The Committee received an application for full planning permission.

The application sought approval for reconfiguration and extensions, incorporating dormer windows, and alterations to roof of building to provide14 residential units (net increase of 9) along with bin and cycle storage.

 At 6 February 2019 Planning Committee members triggered the adjourned decision protocol as they were minded to go against officer recommendation and refuse the application. The Committee were minded to refuse due to four reasons listed below:

1.      Units S3, S5 and S6 fail to meet the minimum nationally described space standards required by policy 50 and the development would therefore not provide an adequate level of amenity for future occupiers of these flats. The proposal is therefore contrary to policy 50 of the Cambridge Local Plan 2018.

2.      The proposed development fails to provide any off-street car parking. The car free nature of the development cannot be realistically enforced due to the lack of parking controls on street. The proposal would therefore add additional on street car parking demand contrary to policies 82 and 52(d) of the Cambridge Local Plan 2018.

3.      The applicant has failed to provide sufficient surface water drainage details to demonstrate the site can be appropriately drained. The proposal is therefore contrary to policy 31 of the Cambridge Local Plan 2018.

4.      The proposal for 9 additional units will result in an intensification of the use of the garden which will cause unacceptable levels of noise and disturbance to 186 Mill Road contrary to policies 52 and 53 of the Cambridge Local Plan 2018.

The Senior Planner updated her report by stating:

       i.            Comments had now been received from the Drainage Officer who said that surface water could be controlled through conditions.

     ii.            Proposed a new drainage condition.

No development above ground level, other than demolition, shall commence until full details of green roofs have been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority and these works shall be carried out as approved.  The details shall include details of build-ups, make up of substrates, planting plans for biodiverse roofs, methodologies for translocation strategy and drainage details where applicable.   The green roofs once installed shall be maintained in perpetuity.

Reason: In the interests of responding suitably to climate change and water management (Cambridge Local Plan 2018 Policy 31).

   iii.            An additional plan had been received from the Applicant.

The Legal Advisor referred to the Senior Planner’s report which addressed points raised in the ‘minded to refuse’ decision and said that in his opinion the reasons for refusal were not defendable on policy or planning grounds.

Some Councillors felt the concerns raised in the ‘minded to refuse’ decision were still valid and had not been addressed.

The Committee:

Resolved (by 5 votes to 3) 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 conditions recommended by the officers plus additional drainage condition.