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87 16/0001/FUL - Lock House, Jesus Green PDF 113 KB
Minutes:
Councillor Tunnicliffe withdrew from the meeting for this item and did not
participate in the discussion or decision making.
The Committee
received an application for change of use.
The application
sought approval to change from residential to commercial A3 use (restaurants
and cafes), erection of extensions and internal and external alterations to the
listed building.
The Committee received representations in objection to the application
from the following:
· A
representative from Jesus Green Association.
· A
local resident.
The representations covered the following issues:
i.
Concern over lack of consultation.
Public consultation on the change of use had been bypassed by using the
planning system.
ii.
Concern over (delivery) logistics
and waste arrangements.
iii.
The proposal reduced the amount of
housing in the area.
iv.
The application for change of use
was made by the tenant not the owner. Activity would spill out onto the lock.
Use of the lock should be controlled through the Master Plan. Private
commercial activity outside of the City Council’s control should not occur on
Jesus Green.
v.
Queried why under-use of the
building (in the application) was not a material consideration.
Mr Martin (Applicant) and Mr Godfrey (Applicant’s Representative)
addressed the Committee in support of the application.
Councillor Bick (Market Ward Councillor) addressed the Committee about
the application.
The representation covered the following issues:
i.
The City Council protected housing through Local
Plan Policy 5/4. The application did not meet the 4 criteria under this policy
to justify a change in use.
a.
The Lock House was already in use as a house in
multiple occupation.
b.
It was suitable for habitation.
c.
Tenants were happy with current privacy
arrangements and amenity space.
d.
The Lock House was constructed for a housing purpose, there was insufficient reason for it to become a
community café.
ii.
The Lock House provides a surveillance opportunity
over the nearby open space to deter anti-social behaviour.
Councillor Gillespie (Market Ward Councillor) addressed the Committee
about the application.
The representation covered the following issues:
i.
He had withdrawn his previous objection as waste
disposal arrangements were now acceptable and local food would be sourced for
the café.
ii.
There was a strong need for a community café and
meeting rooms in the area.
iii.
There was no comparison with the Mid Summer House
situation.
The Committee:
Resolved (3 votes
to 3 – and on the Chair’s casting vote) to reject the officer recommendation to
approve the application.
Resolved (by 3 votes to 1) to refuse the application contrary to the
officer recommendation for the following reason:
The proposal will result in a loss of
residential accommodation and is therefore contrary to policy 5/4 of the
Cambridge Local Plan (2006).