Issue - meetings

The Committee received an application for full planning permission for the erection of a 217 bed hotel with ancillary ground floor retail (Use Class A1/A3) floor space, associated landscaping and public realm improvements and a 20 space car park.

Mike Derbyshire (Applicant’s Agent) addressed the Committee in support of the application.

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report.

     i.        Raised concern over the lack of parking and disabled parking provision. If parking wasn’t provided customers were likely to park in the surrounding residential area displacing the issue.

    ii.        The disabled spaces closer to the station were not appropriate for hotel customers; they were located too far away. Asked if a condition to provide more disabled spaces could be included.

   iii.        Commented that the building design was aesthetically poor. The blank flank wall also appeared overbearing.

  iv.        Queried why a sprinkler system had not been included in the plan. Asked if it this could be addressed at a later date.

In response to Members’ questions the Senior Planning Officer said the following:

     i.        The development had provided only limited parking to encourage sustainable methods of transport. One disabled space had been provided on the site which equated to the policy requirement of 5%. 24 additional blue badge disabled spaces were available to use off-site in the square closer to the station.

    ii.        The design of the building had gone before the Design Quality Panel twice; they were content with it and considered it appropriate. The ‘hit and miss’ brick work added detail, the flat high wall had been purposely designed to enclose the square.

   iii.        108 cycle spaces were available for customers to use off-site in the square, 1000 more cycle spaces were available closer to the entrance of the Station.

  iv.        Stated that the issues surrounding disabled parking provision could be addressed through delegated authority.

   v.        Confirmed a sprinkler system could be addressed in the conditions.

The Committee:

Updates at Committee:

1) Reference to installation of sprinklers to be included as alternative in condition 41 (fire hydrants) 2) Further reference to disabled parking provision to be included in condition 52  with respect to need to ensure that disabled parking needs are addressed and managed  in accordance with the number of accessible rooms provided in the hotel

Resolved (by 13 votes to 1) to grant the application for planning permission subject to the updated conditions, and changes referenced above and subject to S106 and/or S278 agreement in accordance with officer recommendation. Any further changes to conditions, including additional condition to remove PD change of use rights from hotel, to be agreed under delegated powers.