Issue - decisions

The Committee received an application for full planning permission.

The application sought approval for the refurbishment of Gresham House to provide an additional 10 hotel bedrooms, extension to rear of Gresham House to provide an additional 21 hotel bedrooms, (subterranean) basement to Gresham House and provide a gym, dance studios and subterranean day spa facilities and a plant room, front extension to Gonville Hotel to provide a new dining area, and associated external works and landscaping. The Committee noted the updated information in the amendment sheet.

The Committee received representations in objection to the application from residents of Gresham Road and Gresham Place.

The representations covered the following issues:

     i.        Residents whose properties front onto Gresham Road will be directly opposite the new building.

    ii.        The area is a conservation area and has some listed building.

   iii.        Properties are small with limited outdoor space.

  iv.        Main windows will face onto Gresham Road.

   v.        Scale and mass out of keeping with area.

  vi.        Would be overlooked by hotel bedrooms.

 vii.        Light from hotel would be intrusive.

viii.        Proposal would generate more traffic in a small street.

  ix.        Turning vehicles would be dangerous as this was popular cycle route.

   x.        Road was a bottleneck

  xi.        Cycles would be in danger from cars and in turn, would be dangerous to pedestrians.

 xii.        Light and noise from planned location of the plant room would be intrusive.

Mr Brown, the applicant’s agent, addressed the Committee in support of the application.

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 report, and subject to the conditions recommended by the officers.