Proposed retention of existing frontage and ground floor commercial unit, demolition of rear outbuildings and construction of a part two/part three storey building, to form 7no. one-bedroom self-contained units and 1no. studio self-contained unit and first floor commercial unit with associated cycle storage and refuse stores to rear.

 It was reported that this application was before the Planning Committee as it had been called in by Councillor I Henderson.

The Committee heard that the proposal was for the construction of a new part two/part three storey building to provide 8 units of residential accommodation and 1 additional commercial unit (ground floor commercial unit as well as the existing shopfront to be retained). The site was located within the settlement development boundary of Harwich and Dovercourt and the Dovercourt Conservation Area.

Members were told that the proposed scheme had been amended in line with extensive consultation with ECC Place Services Heritage Officers and was considered by Officers to be of a size, scale and design in keeping with the Conservation Area. Subject to conditions and mitigation there were no Officer concerns raised regarding the impact on the environment, neighbouring residential properties, the recently approved car park, area and the proposal was acceptable to Officers in regard to Highways and Parking impacts.

Members were reminded that the application had been previously before the Planning Committee in April 2022, for the same scheme. The Committee had approved the granting of planning permission subject to the completion of a legal agreement within six months relating to the following matters:

-       Financial Contribution towards RAMS

-       Open Space

-       Highway Contribution towards residents parking

The Committee was told that while the legal agreement had now been completed, the time period had exceeded the six-month deadline, and therefore the application had been returned before Members to renew the authority to issue planning permission. In addition, while the previous recommendation had secured a financial contribution towards Open Space this had since been reviewed and the Council’s Open Space team no longer required any such contribution given the local need and available facilities.

The Committee had before it the published Officer report containing the key planning issues, relevant planning policies, planning history, any response from consultees, written representations received and a recommendation of approval.

An update sheet had been circulated to the Committee prior to the meeting to show the correct front page which the location of the application A.4 which was as follows:-

There were no public speakers on this application.