Change of use from (C3) Dwelling house to 7 bed House in Multiple Occupation (Sui Generis) including the demolition of the existing garage and erection of single storey side extension (resubmission following LU/240/21/PL). This site is in CIL Zone 4 and is CIL Liable as a House in Multiple Occupation.
The Planning Area Team Leader presented the report with updates. Members then took part in a full debate on the application where a number of points were raised and responded to by Officers, including:
· the electric vehicle charging standards for new residential development, and whether this development should have been considered new residential development (rather than change of use) with a condition for more charging points
· the relationship between HMOs and housing land supply, and whether the 7 units of this development translated to 7 houses, 1 house or a percentage of houses in the housing land supply
· the electric vehicle charging standards given that the Council had declared a climate emergency
· the need to future-proof development with regards electric vehicle charging points, especially as the upfront costs of electric car ownership reduce over time, and whether more charging points being made available would encourage greater uptake of electric vehicles sooner
· whether the concerns around parking demonstrated that this application was overdevelopment
· Members’ disappointment that work had begun onsite before planning approval had been given and that the application was in part retrospective
· concerns over the removal of a number of trees from the site and the impact to the quality of life for residents, though appreciation that non-protected trees could have been removed if the property remained a private residence
· the need for HMOs as an affordable place to live in the town
· the electricity infrastructure improvements needed across the District and nationally once a critical number of charging points were installed
· whether there were material planning considerations to refuse the application
· whether there was sufficient vehicle manoeuvring space onsite
· concerns over the size of the amenity space proposed
· recognition of the work done by Officers to work with the developers on the re-submission
· determining the allocation of the parking space with the electric vehicle charging point, considering the placement of windows and proximity to car parking and associated noise and fumes
The Committee
RESOLVED
That the application be APPROVED CONDITIONALLY as detailed in the report and report update subject to the conditions as detailed