Issue - meetings

The Committee received an application for full planning permission for the erection of a building comprising of 9,723m² of floor space for B1 (office) use, with 742m² of ancillary retail (A1/A3) floorspace, 396m² of cycle storage and 267m² of back of house use. In addition the proposal sought permission for associated landscaping, public realm improvements and a 125 space car park.

The Committee noted the amendments contained within the amendment sheet.

Neil Waterson (Applicant’s Agent) addressed the Committee in support of the application.

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

     i.        Welcomed the changes made to the application as they responded to the issues raised when the application last came to Committee.

    ii.        Referred to the response provided by Cam Cycle at paragraph 6.24 of the Officer’s report which expressed concerns regarding sharp turns and lack of alignment for the cycle routes across Milton Avenue and asked for trees to be planted slightly further away from the cycle path.

   iii.        Questioned whether doors opened inwards and if this was in compliance with fire regulations.

  iv.        Questioned if the reduction of car parking spaces after 10 years was a realistic expectation. 

   v.        Raised concerns about members of the public putting tables and chairs onto the pedestrian and cycle route.

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

     i.        The alignment of the cycle way would be secured through a s106 agreement so that it would be a free flowing cycle route.

    ii.        Trees were proposed to be set back by 0.5m from the cycle route and this was considered to be sufficiently set back.

   iii.        Doors would open inwards and only the front entrance doors would be rotating doors.  

  iv.        Car parking was not raised as an issue when the application last came to committee. 

The New Neighbourhoods Development Manager confirmed that an informative could be added to address the concerns regarding doors and fire regulations.

The Committee:

Resolved (unanimously) to grant the application for planning permission in accordance with the officer recommendation, for the reasons set out in the officer report, subject to the amendments detailed in the amendment sheet, conditions recommended by the officers and with the additional informative:

That the applicant is advised that they will need to address Building and Fire Regulations in regard to inward opening doors for publicly accessible buildings.