Agenda item

Proposed apartment block, 16 Dalby Road, Melton Mowbray

Reference:	20/00433/OUT
Location:	66 Dalby Road, Melton Mowbray
Proposal:	Proposed apartment block to create 15 apartments

 

The Assistant Director for Planning and Delivery addressed the Committee and provided a summary of the report. He referred to a petition signed by 38 residents who objected to the development. These concerns as well as several other submissions related to the density of the development, overshadowing, overlooking as  well as insufficient parking provision and drainage issues. 

 

Pursuant to Chapter 2, Part 9, Paragraphs 2.8-2.28 of the Council’s Constitution in relation to  public speaking at Planning Committee, the Chair allowed the following to give a 3 minute presentation:

 

·         Karen Matthews, Objector

 

·         Laura McMullan, Agent, Hayward McMullan

 

In response to Member questions, Ms McMullan advised that

 

·         The application was at the outline stage and if required the landscaping scheme could be reviewed with Council Officers to provide a more environmentally friendly scheme including outside space for residents

·         The development was an investment to help finance the charity and would not directly benefit those who were the subject of the charity’s work

 

·         Councillor Alan Pearson – Ward Councillor

 

Members felt there was an opportunity to improve the development  and make it work for the area and the local residents as well as review the parking provision.

 

The Assistant Director for Planning and Delivery reiterated that this was an outline application and there was the opportunity to improve the layout and design when the detailed application was submitted. 

 

Some Members felt they had taken that advice previously and then not been able to amend plans at the detailed stage and been informed that such matters should have been raised at the outline stage.

 

During discussion the following points were noted:

 

·         It was considered that the design needed to be more sympathetic to the street scene and have more emphasis on quality of life for the occupants, less units, landscaping and green open space and sufficient parking  for residents and guests

·         It was felt that the current design was over-intensive and more suited to the city and did not fit in with the surrounding Dalby Road properties

·         Members were minded to refuse on the grounds of being in conflict with policy EN1 and D1

·         It was felt there should be discussions between local residents, the Ward Councillors and Planning Officers to agree a more sustainable development which met the needs of the community, using  Dorian Court as a model

·         The Assistant Director advised that policy EN1 did not fit as a reason for refusal therefore Members were in agreement to use policy D1 only

 

It was reported that Councillor Wood had lost his internet connection during consideration of this application and was not present for the vote.

 

Councillor Holmes proposed to refuse the application on the grounds of over-development of the site and being in conflict with policy D1.  Councillor Glancy seconded the motion.

 

RESOLVED, contrary to the Officer recommendation,

 

That application 20/00433/OUT be REFUSED on the following grounds:

 

The proposed development, by virtue of its scale and extent of accommodation, would represent an overdevelopment of the site, resulting in the inadequate provision of amenity area and/or car parking facilities for future residents. The layout would therefore not satisfy the design requirements set out in Policy D1 of the adopted Melton Local Plan 2008 and part 12 of the NPPF 2019 'Achieving well designed places'

 

(Unanimous)