Agenda item

To consider Planning Applications received (attached). An updated list may be issued on Friday 26 August 2022 (if applicable).

The Committee considered planning applications received up until 23 August 2022.

The Committee discussed application reference CB/22/03088 – Land South of Chartmoor Road. Whilst recognising its status as employment land, it was felt that in its present form, the application for the erection of 5 business/industrial/distribution units did little to address the concerns of the adjoining residential development. Situated hard up against the common boundary, the proposal would introduce large business units which by virtue of their height, size and scale would have a considerable impact upon the residential amenity of the established residential community. Little in the way of detail had been provided in terms of proposed uses, building heights, hours of operation, and proposed mitigation measures to overcome neighbour concerns.

RESOLVED to recommend to Central Bedfordshire Council that objection be made to application reference CB/22/03088 – Land South of Chartmoor Road on the following grounds: Whilst the town council recognises its local plan designation as employment land, the planning application fails to positively respond to the residential units which share a common boundary. The proposal by virtue of the siting of the industrial units hard up against the common boundary it shares with residential properties located within Hadrian Crescent would result in an unacceptable and overbearing form of development detrimental to their reasonable enjoyment. To assuage other concerns, more information is required regarding end uses, anticipated hours of operation as well as methods to overcome potential light and noise pollution which will have a bearing on any proposed mitigation methods which the applicant should include as part of the development proposal.

The ecological survey fails to make reference to sand lizards (protected species) which are believed to be found hereabouts.

The Committee discussed application reference CB/22/02467 – 13 Wing Road. Concern was raised that as a retrospective planning application, the application description was misleading and required to be changed. It was felt that the proposal is materially larger than the previously approved permission which by virtue of its incongruous design and use of materials has a detrimental impact when viewed from public vantage points. In granting permission 21/03225, Public Protection were insistent that in order to provide sufficient natural ventilation, at least 50% of the structure be left open which clearly cannot be achieved based on the structure in-situ.  To do so would then fail to address the noise issues raised by Public Protection. Concerns were also raised regarding fire safety on the grounds that the secondary route of escape led to third party land in the form of an electricity sub-station. Given the proposed specialist use, it is likely that the proposal would lead to increased traffic movements and additional pressures on already scare parking resources within the area.

RESOLVED to recommend to Central Bedfordshire Council that objection be made to application reference CB/22/02467 – 13 Wing Road on the following grounds: The proposal by virtue of its incongruous design, bulk and use of materials would represent an unacceptable form of development which is clearly visible from the public highway thereabouts. The application fails to provide adequate fire safety egress on the grounds that emergency egress leads directly into an electricity sub-station. As a shisha bar, the proposal is incapable of meeting safe natural ventilation standards and even if it were capable of doing so, this would lead to unacceptable noise and disturbance given the concerns raised by Public Protection by virtue of its juxtaposition to neighbouring residential properties. Given its specialist nature, it is likely that the proposal would result in an increase in vehicles visiting the site which is likely to give rise to an unacceptable increase in parking pressures in an area devoid of sufficient parking provision.

The Committee discussed application reference CB/22/02993 – 9-13 Soulbury Road. It was considered that the proposed residential units would fail to meet minimum usable space standards, the lack of amenity space was also a consideration together with the incongruous parking layout.

RESOLVED to recommend to Central Bedfordshire Council that objection be made to application reference CB/22/02993 – 9-13 Soulbury Road on the grounds that the residential units would fail to meet adequate space standards and provide amenity space to serve the needs of its residents. The proposed parking layout was both insufficient in the number of spaces provided as well as its incongruous design which would make it difficult to safely use.

The Committee discussed application reference CB/22/02568 – Units 13-21 Waterborne Walk. The Committee raised concerns to the fact that reference is made within the application to no on-site parking provision where instead parking to be provided within the multi-storey car park. The fact that the multi-storey car park closes of an evening would compromise its ability to provide unfettered 24-hour parking to residents. Access to the proposal would be shared with vehicular traffic associated with the retail units thereabouts which would create a hazard. The area is characterised by night-time economy uses which could be compromised through the introduction of residential development to the detriment of the town centre.

RESOLVED to recommend to Central Bedfordshire Council that objection be made to application reference CB/22/02568 – Units 13-21 Waterborne Walk on the grounds that the residential development would fail to provide adequate parking provision with the multi-storey car park unavailable 24 hours per day. The proposal would result in potential vehicular and pedestrian conflict as the access is shared with traffic associated with the business units thereabouts. To introduce residential use at this particular location has the propensity to compromise established business uses associated with the night-time economy.  

RESOLVED to recommend to Central Bedfordshire Council that no objection be made to application reference CB/22/02621 and CB/22/02622LB (33-51 North Street) subject to the materials used being sympathetic and in keeping with the character of this landmark building grouping.

RESOLVED to recommend to Central Bedfordshire Council that no objection be made to application reference CB/22/03015 (19 Grove Road), subject to parking standards being met within a road already controlled by way of a resident parking scheme.

RESOLVED to recommend to Central Bedfordshire Council that no objection be made to application reference CB/22/03066 (54 Middleton Way), subject to parking standards being met.

RESOLVED to recommend to Central Bedfordshire Council that no objection be made to application reference CB/22/03237 (54 Dudley Street), subject to parking standards being met.

RESOLVED to recommend to Central Bedfordshire Council that no objection be made to the following planning applications:

1.         CB/22/03006                       13 RICHMOND ROAD

2.         CB/22/03019                       THE BARN, HEATH PARK ROAD

3.         CB/22/03059                       26 SPRINGFIELD ROAD, LINSLADE

4.         CB/22/03169                       1 APPENINE WAY

5.         CB/22/03002                       32 SOUTHCOTT VILLAGE,

                                                                 LINSLADE

6.         CB/22/03205                        3 DUNNOCK DRIVE

7.        CB/22/02567                        UNITS 13-17 WATERBORNE WALK

8.         CB/22/03272                        THOLT-Y-WILL, 105A HEATH ROAD

9.         CB/22/03180                        7 FINCH CRESCENT

10.       CB/22/03267                        40 ROSEBERRY AVENUE, LINSLADE

11.       CB/22/03269                        70A CHURCH STREET

12.       CB/22/03278                        18 CHESHIRE RISE

TREES

1.         CB/TCA/22/00419               COURTLANDS, MENTMORE ROAD

2.         CB/TRE/22/00358               LAVELLHOUSE, 31 HOCKLIFFE STREET

3.         CB/TRE/22/00440               26 HEATH COURT