Issue - meetings

[NOTE 1: The Planning Officer advised the Committee of a correction to Condition 14 as set out below:

Corrected Condition 14:

The development hereby permitted shall not be first occupied until the proposed modified vehicular access onto Church Street East and new loading bay on Church Street East shall be have been constructed and provided in accordance with the approved plans listed in this notice and thereafter shall be permanently maintained and thereafter the visibility splays shall be kept permanently clear of any obstruction over 0.6m high.

Reason: To ensure that the development does not prejudice highway safety nor cause inconvenience to other highway users and in the interests of public safety and amenity.]

[NOTE 2: The Planning Officer advised the Committee of a correction to Condition 2 as set out below:

Corrected Condition 2 (approved plans):

A-P—01-20 Rev.P01 (Proposed Basement Plan) received by the LPA on 21/11/2019

A-P-01-20 Rev.P023 (Proposed 1^st Floor Plan) received by the LPA on 02/03/2020

A-E-S1-21 Rev.P012 (Proposed South Bay Elevation – Chertsey Road) received by the LPA on 21/11/2019 10/03/2020

A-E-S2-21 Rev.P012 (Proposed South Bay Elevation – Chertsey Road) received by the LPA on 21/11/2019 10/03/2020

Additional Plan:

A-E-E2-20 Rev. P01 (Proposed Courtyard Elevations) received by the LPA on 11/12/2019]

[NOTE 3: The Planning Officer advised the Committee that Network Rail had provided comment since the report had been published and had raised no objections to the application.]

[NOTE 4: In accordance with the procedure for public speaking at Planning Committee, Dr Anthony Fraser attended the meeting and spoke in objection to the application and Mr Sam Brown spoke in support.]

The Committee considered an application for the demolition of all existing buildings including existing footbridge to Victoria Way Car Park and redevelopment of site to provide a new building ranging from 5xto 28x storeys plus basement level comprising up to 366 residential units (Use Class C3), commercial (Use classes A1/A2/A3) and community uses (Use Classes D1/D2) at ground floor and first floor level and associated internal and external amenity spaces, basement level car parking, cycle parking, bin storage, ancillary facilities, plant, new public realm, landscaping and highway works.

Councillor T Aziz, Ward Councillor spoke in objection to the application. He was supportive of a sensible development of this site, however he felt that this application did not represent that. Councillor T Aziz commented that he would not be able to support this application based on the bulk, mass and size, lack of parking and lack of affordable homes provision.

A number of other Councillors commented that there appeared to be a lack of a strategic plan for the town centre with this 28 storey building that would be out of character and have an overbearing effect on the surrounding buildings. The majority were in agreement that this site needed to be developed but they were concerned by the cumulative views impact with regards to the bulk, mass and height. It was noted that the application had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6