Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Lokhmotova, Thornburrow and Todd-Jones.

Councillors Griffin and Young attended as Alternates.

The Committee minutes list public speakers at Committee. Please view the recording of the meeting on Cambridge City Council - YouTube to see/hear more detail about statements from public speakers and Ward Councillors.

Under paragraph 4.2.1 of the Council Procedure Rules, the Chair used his discretion to alter the order of the agenda items. However, for ease of the reader, these minutes will follow the order of the published agenda.

The Committee received an application for full planning permission.

The application sought approval for the demolition of the existing buildings, garages and hardstanding and the erection of 84 residential units, car parking, landscaping and associated works.

Ben Binns (Applicant’s Representative) addressed the Committee in support of the application.

The Committee:

Resolved (by 6 votes to 0 with 2 abstentions) to:

      i.          approve planning application reference 23/04686/FUL subject to the planning conditions and informatives as set out below with delegated authority to Officers to settle any amendments to those conditions and informatives prior to issuing of the planning permission; and

     ii.          the completion of a s106 Agreement to secure a policy compliant 40% affordable housing scheme and all other planning obligations set out in the initial Officer report presented to Committee on the 27 March 2024, with delegated authority to Officers to settle the final contribution amounts and minor alterations required to the Heads of Terms to secure an Agreement; and

   iii.          delegate authority for the Director of Planning to execute and exchange a Memorandum of Understanding with the Council’s Director of Communities which in the event of a further tranche/s of grant funding being awarded by Homes England, will seek to secure that all additional affordable units being provided on the development are occupied, managed and maintained in accordance with the Approved Housing Scheme pursuant to the Section 106 Agreement.

The Committee received an application for full planning permission.

The application sought approval for the construction of 4 No. dwellings (comprising 4 x 3-bed units) including demolition of existing garages, widening of existing access from Paget Road and associated landscaping.

A resident of Scotsdowne Road addressed the Committee speaking in objection to the application and concluded by asking the Committee to refuse the application.

Jim Pollard (Applicant’s Representative) addressed the Committee in support of the application.

Councillor Lokhmotova, Cambridge City Councillor, addressed the Committee speaking in objection to the application. (Written statement read by Committee Manager).

Councillor Hauk, Cambridge City Councillor, addressed the Committee speaking in objection to the application. (Written statement read by Committee Manager).

Councillor Smart proposed an amendment to the Officer’s recommendation to include obscure glazing on the rear windows.

This amendment was carried unanimously.

Councillor Smart proposed and Councillor Porrer seconded deferring determination of the application.

This proposal was lost (by 6 votes to 2).

The Committee:

Resolved (by 7 votes to 1) to grant the application for planning permission in accordance with the Officer recommendation, for the reasons set out in the Officer’s report, subject to the conditions recommended by the Officer (with delegated authority to Officers to make minor amendments to the conditions as drafted) including the amendment to include obscure glazing.

The Committee received an application for a change of use from a small scale 6 person HMO (Use Class C4) to Sui Generis as an 8 bedroom, 8 person HMO.

Ed Sturdy (Applicant’s Agent) addressed the Committee in support of the application.

Councillor Porrer proposed an amendment to the Officer’s recommendation: Amend Condition 3 to split a minimum of 8 secure covered cycle parking spaces between the front and rear of the property.

The amendment was carried unanimously.

The Committee:

Resolved (by 7 votes to 1) to grant the application for change of use in accordance with the Officer recommendation, for the reasons set out in the Officer’s report, subject to the conditions recommended by the Officer (with delegated authority to Officers to make minor amendments to the conditions as drafted) including the amendment to Condition 3 to split a minimum of 8 secure covered cycle parking spaces between the front and rear of the property.

Councillor Young withdrew from the meeting for this item and did not participate in the discussion or decision making.

The Committee received a s73 application to vary condition 2 (approved drawings) of ref: 23/02630/FUL (demolition of existing dwelling and erection of 1no 5bed dwelling) extensions to the north-west corner of the dwelling, in addition to alterations to the fenestration of the building.

A resident of Cavendish Avenue addressed the Committee speaking in objection to the application.

JinSeok Yang (Architect) addressed the Committee in support of the application.

The Area Development Manager (East) proposed an amendment to the Officer’s recommendation regarding Condition 6:

Within two months of this decision being issued a Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Plan shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The BNG Plan shall target how a minimum net gain in biodiversity will be achieved through a combination of on-site and / or off-site mitigation. The BNG Plan shall include:

(Admin note: The rest of the condition is as per the officer report.)

This amendment was carried unanimously.

The Committee:

Resolved (by 7 votes to 0) to grant the s73 application in accordance with the Officer recommendation, for the reasons set out in the Officer’s report, subject to the conditions recommended by the Officer (with delegated authority to Officers to make minor amendments to the conditions as drafted) including the timescale amendment to Condition 6.

The Committee received an application for full planning permission.

The application sought approval for the construction of a single storey extension at roof level comprising 4 No. self-contained residential flats (Use Class C3), including provision of car parking, cycle parking and associated works.

The Senior Planner updated his report by referring to the removal of Condition 11 (which related to the obscure glazing of third floor windows within the southern elevation) on the Amendment Sheet.

Kieran Rafferty (Applicant’s Agent) addressed the Committee in support of the application.

Councillor Young proposed an amendment to the Officer’s recommendation to include an informative requesting the Applicant to consider installing windows on the north side of the property if considered by Officers to be appropriate.

This amendment was carried by 5 votes to 3.

The Committee:

Unanimously resolved to grant the application for planning permission in accordance with the Officer recommendation, for the reasons set out in the Officer’s report, and subject to the conditions recommended by the Officer as amended by the Amendment Sheet (with delegated authority to Officers to make minor amendments to the conditions as drafted) including the informative requesting the Applicant to consider installing windows on the north side of the property if considered by Officers to be appropriate.

The Committee received an application for full planning permission.

The application sought approval for an all-weather retractable roof canopy with living meadow walls and associated works.

Alison Oughton (Cheffins) spoke on behalf of Magdalene College in objection to the application.

A Cambridge Past, Present & Future Representative addressed the Committee speaking in objection to the application. (Written statement read by Committee Manager).

A Director of Beaufort Place Ltd addressed the Committee speaking in objection to the application and concluded by asking the Committee to refuse the application.

A local resident addressed the Committee speaking in support of the application and concluded by asking the Committee to approve the application.

Will Nicholls (Planning Consultant) addressed the Committee in support of the application.

A member of hotel staff addressed the Committee speaking in support of the application and concluded by asking the Committee to approve the application.

Councillor Martinelli, Cambridge City Councillor, addressed the Committee speaking in support of the application. (Written statement read by Committee Manager).

Councillor Ashton, Cambridge City Councillor, addressed the Committee speaking in support of the application. 

Councillor Hossain, Cambridge City Councillor, addressed the Committee speaking in support of the application. (Written statement read by Committee Manager).

Councillor Bick, Cambridge City Councillor, addressed the Committee speaking in objection to the application and concluded by asking the Committee to refuse the application. (Written statement read by Committee Manager).

The Committee:

Resolved (4 votes to 4 – and on the Chair’s casting vote) to refuse the application as per the Officer recommendation.

The Committee received a s73 application to vary conditions 2 (approved plans) and 13 (obscured glazing) of planning permission 17/2261/FUL (erection of two detached, three-storey, four-bedroom family homes with single storey elements to the front and rear following demolition of existing detached house and garage) with fenestration alterations and addition of roof lantern.

Councillor Smart proposed an amendment to the Officer’s recommendation to check proposed materials and ascertain they were not flammable.

This amendment was carried unanimously.

Councillor Porrer proposed an amendment to the Officer’s recommendation to obscure the dormer window or not at Officer discretion.

This amendment was carried unanimously.

The Committee:

Unanimously resolved to grant the s73 application in accordance with the Officer recommendation, for the reasons set out in the Officer’s report, and subject to the conditions recommended by the Officer (with delegated authority to Officers to make minor amendments to the conditions as drafted) including the following amendments:

      i.          to check proposed materials and ascertain they were not flammable; and

     ii.          to obscure the dormer window at Officer discretion.

The Committee noted the Officer’s report.

The Committee noted the appeals list.