Agenda item

Proposal Description: Demolition of existing buildings and construction of 14 apartments and a 40-space public car park. Application includes access, parking, cycle storage, refuse storage, landscaping and other associated works.

The application was introduced. Members were referred to the update sheet which provided additional information regarding several matters including;

1. A consultation from the housing team which was set out in full within the update sheet.
2. A change to the wording of the reason on condition 19, to now read as follows:

19. The development hereby permitted shall not be occupied until after the 1st of January 2026.

Reason: To accord with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, and Policy CP11, CP16 and CP21 of the Winchester District Local Plan Part 1 in relation to the Appropriate Assessment.    

3. The following additional conditions were proposed: 

20. Prior to commencement of the first dwelling above slab level, details of a phasing plan for the construction and completion of the housing, access and car park hereby permitted, including a timeframe to transfer the car park to Winchester City Council, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall thereafter be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

Reason: To ensure the timely delivery of the car park in accordance with policy NA1 alongside housing phasing which cannot be occupied until January 2026. 

21. Prior to the commencement of the use of the car parking area, details shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority for the external lighting and CCTV for the car parking area. Details should include siting and appearance, and luminance levels and timings of lighting switching on and off and any dimming of lighting proposed. Development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

Reason: To protect the appearance of the area, the environment and local residents from light pollution. 22. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the measures set out within the Ecological Impact Assessment Carried out by Ecology Solutions dated February 2023 (Ref. 10103M.EcoAss.vf). Details shall include swift boxes, house martin boxes and hedgehog gaps.  Thereafter, the compensation measures shall be maintained and retained for the lift time of the permission in accordance with the approved details.

Reason: To provide adequate mitigation and enhancement for protected species

During public participation, Alistair Harris spoke in support of the application and answered members' questions.

Councillor Power spoke as a ward member and expressed several points on behalf of residents which could be summarised as follows.

1. She extended her thanks to the committee for visiting the site the previous day.
2. She supported the revised plans, despite acknowledging the loss of amenity, jobs, and essential infrastructure for house martins.
3. She noted the proposed conditions to provide for house martin cups, advocating for them to be built-in rather than added on, as this approach lasted longer. She suggested that, wherever possible, swift bricks be incorporated.
4. She mentioned the absence of swifts but noted their presence nearby on Broad Street and advised of their reduced numbers due to modern building construction.

The committee proceeded to ask questions and debate the application which were responded to by Planning Officers and the councils Head of Programme: Place.

RESOLVED

The committee agreed to grant permission for the reasonsand subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report and the update sheet. In addition, it was agreed to request the installation of integrated bird and bat boxes as part of the development and that officers consider the proposals regarding letterboxes when submitted.