Change of use to Temporaroy Emergency Accommodation (Use Sui Generis).

Earlier on in the meeting, as reported under Minute 3 above, Councillor Alexander had declared that he was one of the local Ward Members and that he was pre-determined. He did not sit therefore as a member of the Committee for this item, and he retired from the meeting whilst it was deliberated but exercised his right as a Ward Member to speak on the application.

Also, as reported under Minute 3 above, Councillor P Honeywood, who was present in the public gallery, had declared that he was one of the adjacent Ward Members for the application and that he would speak on the application in that capacity as well as in the capacity of the caller-in.

It was reported that the application sought permission for a change of use of a three-story building at 1 Wellesley Road, Clacton-on-Sea, to temporary emergency accommodation (Sui Generis).

Members were informed that the site was located within a highly sustainable town centre location and had been vacant since 2020, with no reasonable prospect of being brought back into beneficial use and could make a meaningful contribution towards addressing a clearly identified need for emergency accommodation within the District.

The Committee heard that whilst concerns had been raised in relation to residential amenity and the nature of the use, those impacts could be effectively mitigated through a robust Management Plan and planning conditions. The proposal would not result in harm to the character of the area, highway safety, or ecology, and would provide an acceptable standard of accommodation for future occupiers.

Officers told Members that the Council could not currently demonstrate a five-year housing land supply and, as such, the titled balance was engaged. Whilst it was acknowledged that the proposal for temporary emergency accommodation did not constitute conventional housing in the strictest sense, it nonetheless resulted in an overall increase in residential accommodation. On this basis, it was considered appropriate that the titled balance applied in this instance. Having regard to this, the significant social benefits arising from the provision of such accommodation were not considered to be outweighed by any adverse impacts identified.

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 subject to conditions.

At the meeting, an oral presentation was made by the Council’s Planning Officer (AP) in respect of the application.

No updates had been circulated to Members in relation to this application.

Fawaad Shaikh, the agent for the application, spoke in support of the application.

Councillor P Honeywood, one of the adjacent Ward Members and the caller-in, spoke against the application.

Councillor Alexander, one of the Ward Members, spoke in relation to the application.