Agenda item

The application has been called in by Councillor Paul Honeywood.

The application site is located on the eastern side of Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea, close to the junction with Pallister Road, within the main town centre. The site lies within the Settlement Development Boundary of Clacton on Sea as defined within the Tendring District Local Plan 2013-2033. The immediately vicinity is made up of three storey terrace buildings with a variety of commercial/retail uses at ground floor and residential flats at first and second floors.

Councillor Fowler returned to the meeting.

The Committee was informed that this application had been called in by Councillor P B Honeywood, the Ward Member.

It was reported that the application site was located on the eastern side of Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea, close to the junction with Pallister Road, within the main town centre. The site lay within the Settlement Development Boundary of Clacton-on-Sea as defined within the Tendring District Local Plan 2013-2033. The immediately vicinity was made up of three storey terrace buildings with a variety of commercial/retail uses at ground floor and residential flats at first and second floors.

The Committee was made aware that this development proposal consisted of a change of use from a residential flat to a six bed House of Multiple Occupation in order to provide accommodation for students (as described by the applicant) attending Tiffany Theatre College, which had relocated to Clacton and with which the applicant had strong links to.

The site was located in a highly sustainable, built up area of Clacton-on-Sea and within easy walking distance to a number of services and the college. The site was within walking distance of Clacton railway station which provided links to Colchester, London and beyond.

The Committee was made aware that the proposal was fully compliant with Policy LP11 and that there  had been no objections from ECC Highways, TDC Housing ( subject to the grant of an HMO licence) or TDC Environment Protection.

For those summarised reasons, the application was therefore recommended by Officers for approval subject to conditions.

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.

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

Melissa Wenn, the applicant, spoke in support of the application.

Councillor  P B Honeywood, the local Ward Member, spoke against the application.

Councillor Fowler left the meeting at this point in the proceedings.

Following discussion by the Committee, it was moved by Councillor Harris, seconded by Councillor Alexander and RESOLVED that, contrary to the Officer’s recommendation of approval, the Assistant Director (Planning) (or equivalent authorised officer) be authorised to refuse planning permission for the development due to the following reasons:-

-       The site was in an unsuitable location for a HMO because within a 100m radius of the site, and if all forms of HMO’s and bedsits were taken into account the proposal would exceed the 10% upper limit as outlined in Local Plan Policy LP11 (a) and will therefore be in conflict with this policy.