Agenda item

The Development Management Manager, Regeneration and Economic Development presented the report relating to the application.

A member of the public was in attendance objecting to the development and her points can be summarised as follows:

·  Lack of consultation with residents

·  The provision of more family homes in the area will have an effect on those already living in the borough and especially those families who live on the other side of Upney Station when it comes to the allocation of school places.

·  Objections to the loss of the services provided by the walk-in-centre.  Residents do not want the application to be granted planning permission until an alternative nearby centre has been provided and is fully operational.

·  Residents on Champness Road have just got used to the centre being closed and the through traffic ceasing, this will lead to an increase in traffic which will affect the air quality on Champness Road: her children already suffer from asthma.

Councillor Rocky Gill, Longbridge Ward Councillor, was in attendance made a representation objecting to the application. The main points of which can be summarised as follows:

·  There has been a petition with over 150 residents objecting to the application

·  Lack of consultation with the ward councillors

·  The S106 contributions are insufficient considering the number of school places that will be required and the already long waiting list for school places

·  It will generate significant access and traffic problems

·  The development is contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework as development is not sustainable

·  Members are urged to reject the application on these grounds

The applications agent was present and made the following representation in support of the application

·  The applicant has worked closely with Council Planning Officers and has been guided by the advice and concerns of Council officers

·  The redevelopment of the site and application follows previous planning consent granted by the Council

·  The development and application complies with the Council policies the London Plan, Local Development Framework and the Site Specific Allocations Development Plan Document.

·  Consultation was carried out with residents in the vicinity of the development and the applicant was guided by council officers.

After discussion it was agreed to refuse planning permission for the demolition of the existing medical centre and erection of 2 and 3 storey buildings comprising 4 one-bedroom flats, 8 two-bedroom flats, 3 two bedroom houses, 8 three-bedroom houses, 2 three bedroom flats and 1 four-bedroom house with associated landscape and parking for the following reasons:

1.  The proposed development has been assessed to yield 18 school aged children and does not make a sufficient financial contribution to mitigate the adverse impact of these additional school places on local schools which have no surplus capacity contrary to policy CC3 of the Core Strategy and the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010 as amended.

2.  The vehicular access to the site through Champness Road is inappropriate for a scheme of this size and could result in unreasonable levels of noise and disturbance to neighbouring residential occupiers contrary to policy BP8 of the Borough Wide Development Policies Development Plan Document.