Issue - meetings

The Committee received an application for full planning permission.

The Committee noted a change to the text of the proposed reason for refusal to make the significance of the SPD a little clearer. The proposed text is as follows:

The conversion of 67 Norfolk Street from retail to residential would further fragment the unique character and identity of this Local Centre. The Grafton Centre immediately to the west of Norfolk Street is anticipated to receive significant investment following the Council’s approval of the Grafton Area of Major Change – Masterplan and Guidance in Feb 2018. The application fails to consider the unit in this context or demonstrate that its viability would not be enhanced as a result. As such the loss of the unit is contrary to Policy 6/7 of the Cambridge Local Plan (2006), Paragraph 23 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2012) and National Planning Practice Guidance (2014).

The application sought approval for Change of Use from retail to residential flat including external alterations

Ben Pridgon (Applicant’s Agent) addressed the Committee in support of the application.

The Committee made the following comments in response to the application:

     i.        Stated that they had supported a previous decision to reject the change of use application as the applicant had not demonstrated that the current retail use of the site was unviable.

    ii.        Suggested that the application for consideration today contained the required viability information.

   iii.        Supported the view that foot fall in this area was unlikely to provide a sufficient customer base to support a retail unit.

  iv.        Stated that the variety of uses such as residential and retail added to the character of the area. 

The Committee:

Resolved (by 6 votes to 1) to reject the officer recommendation to refuse the application.

Resolved (by 6 votes to 1) to grant the application contrary to the officer recommendation for the following reasons:

The Committee previously refused the application due to insufficient evidence regarding viability. It was the view of the Committee that the applicant had now demonstrated good reason for the loss of this unit.

Resolved (by 6 votes to 1) to delegate authority regarding conditions to officers.