Agenda item

Report of the Director (Planning & Communities) - A.3 - 24-01716-FUL - Milton Road Car Park, Milton Road, Dovercourt, CO12 3LA

Demolition of the existing Milton Road multi-storey car park and replacement with an at-grade car park, cycle parking, and landscaping improvements.

Minutes:

Earlier on in the meeting as reported under Minute 43 above, Councillors Alexander, Fowler (Chairman) and Smith had each declared for the public record that they had an interest. They therefore withdrew from the meeting and took no part whilst the Committee deliberated and made its decision on this application. The Chair was thereupon occupied by the Vice-Chairman (Councillor White).

 

The Committee heard that this application was before the Planning Committee on the basis that the applicant was Tendring District Council.

 

It was reported that the proposal would result in the demolition of the existing multi-storey car park, to be replaced with a single storey car park providing for 23 spaces. In this instance, the regeneration of a large vacant site within the Dovercourt Town Centre was supported in principle. Further, the proposal was considered to result in a visual enhancement to the area and would also not harm any of the surrounding heritage assets.

 

Members were told that Officers considered that there would not be any significant harm to the amenities of neighbouring residents, and ECC Highways had raised no objections subject to conditions. The proposal resulted in the loss of some existing parking provision, but it was noted that the site was currently vacant and there had been a significant increase in provision at Orwell Road car park directly adjacent; the combination of those factors ensured that there would be sufficient provision overall.

 

Officers therefore told Members that taking all of the above into consideration, the application was considered to comply with local and national planning policies and accordingly was recommended by them for approval.

 

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 Senior Planning Officer (MP) in respect of the application.

 

There were no updates circulated to Members on this item.

 

Michael Carran, the applicant’s representative, spoke in support of the application.

 

Matters raised by Members of the Committee:-

Officer’s response thereto:-

What did the holding objection say?

It is listed on Page 103 of the Agenda in the 3 bullet points provided. Which are:

 

“o Run off rate should be limited to the 1 in 1-year greenfield rate in the first instance, if it has been demonstrated this is unviable, run off rate should be limited to a minimum of 50% betterment of the existing brownfield rate. This should be supported by calculations. The Drainage strategy states that the discharge of 2l/s is a betterment of the existing discharge from the site, however the current brownfield discharge rate and greenfield rate has not been detailed within the document.

 

o The private drainage general arrangement drawing looks to show the rain gardens placed within the parking bays. It also does not correspond with the proposed site layout drawing.

 

o A CV value of 1 should be used within the surface water design calcs as whilst areas of permeable paving has been proposed, there is no infiltration proposed at the site and as such these areas will contribute to the positive drainage system.”

Could you confirm what that means?

The Planning Team have discussed this, and Officers feel that on this occasion, it is something that Officers can get addressed via a planning condition. The applicant was preparing a revised drainage strategy that could address the specific points, but Officers ran out of time to get that included before this Planning Committee.

There are opportunities to provide patches of greenspace that could act as better drainage to what is currently on site at the moment.

Is there any way that we can make sure that people do not jump over the railings?

There is no condition or a way for the Council to stop the public from jumping over the railings from a planning perspective.

The existing situation has the same fencing. There has been an improvement in health and safety.

 

It was moved by Councillor Wiggins, seconded by Councillor Sudra and:-

 

RESOLVED that:-

 

1)    the Head of Planning and Building Control be authorised to grant planning permission subject to the conditions as stated at paragraph 10.2 of the Officer report (A.3), or varied as is necessary to ensure the wording is enforceable, precise, and reasonable in all other respects, including appropriate updates, so long as the principle of the conditions as referenced is retained; and,

 

2)    the sending of any informative notes to the applicant as may be deemed necessary.

Supporting documents: