Apologies were received from Councillor Turner (Councillor Coulter substituted), Councillor Bance (Councillor Clarkson substituted), Councillor Altaf-Khan (Councillor McCready substituted) and Councillor Lygo (no substitute).

Councillors serving on the Committee are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in any item on the agenda.

Councillor McCready made a statement regarding the planning application for Grove Street Summertown. Although he had previously agreed to speak on behalf of the residents objecting to the application, at this meeting he was substituting for Councillor Altaf-Khan, and as a member of the Committee was approaching the issue with an open mind.

The Head of City Development has submitted a report concerning the demolition of existing building. Erection of two storey terrace (with accommodation in roof space) comprising 1 x 4-bed house and 3 x 3-bed houses.  Provision of off street parking, bin and cycle storage. (Amended Plans and Description) – 11/01165/FUL – Grove House Club, Grove Street, Summertown.

This item has been called in from the West Area Planning Committee by Councillors Fooks, Armitage, Campbell, Brown, Wilkinson, McCready, Benjamin, Brundin, Brett, Royce, Young and Wolff for the following reasons:plans appear to be gross overdevelopment, leading to very unsatisfactory quality of accommodation for the residents and unacceptable pressure on the local parking situation.

The Head of City Development submitted a report concerning the following planning application:

Demolition of existing building. Erection of two storey terrace (with accommodation in roof space) comprising 1 x 4-bed house and 3 x 3-bed houses.  Provision of off street parking, bin and cycle storage. (Amended Plans and Description) – 11/01165/FUL – Grove House Club, Grove Street, Summertown.

At its meeting on 5^th July 2011 West Area Planning Committee resolved to support the application and asked that condition 17 be altered to grant entitlement to visitor parking permits.

This item was subsequently called in from the West Area Planning Committee by Councillors Fooks, Armitage, Campbell, Brown, Wilkinson, McCready, Benjamin, Brundin, Brett, Royce, Young and Wolff for the following reasons:plans appear to be gross overdevelopment, leading to very unsatisfactory quality of accommodation for the residents and unacceptable pressure on the local parking situation.

Steven Roberts (Planning) introduced the report. He reminded members that there had been 2 late comments, one of which he had already circulated by email to members of the Committee and one which he submitted at the meeting (attached). In answer to questions from members of the Committee, the following additional information was provided:-

(1)     The Grove House Club was a private members’ club rather than a community facility. In any case, the use of premises ceased when the building was demolished;

(2)     The dimensions of roof terraces varied between 4.8m and  6.4m by 1.3m;

(3)     The smallest bedroom in the 4-bed house measures 3.4m by 3.2m;

Speakers Against

Pamela Gibson and Anne Routledge spoke against the application and made the following points:-

• The proposed communal garden is a small, dark area – it is an inadequate community space;
• Roof terraces are not suitable for children;
• This is substandard family housing;
• The Local Plan gives dimensions for gardens which these do not meet;
• The current building has not been completely demolished yet;
• There is a need for 2 bedroom houses – these could be provided on this site with bigger gardens and off-street parking, and this would blend in better with the rest of the street
• This is overdevelopment of a small site;
• Concern about the lack of parking provision. There is existing pressure on parking in the street;
• The application proposes that new residents of these properties would not be allowed to apply for a parking permit, and banning parking does not reflect the reality of how families live today;
• Consent should be granted only when houses on this site had off-street parking.

Speakers in favour

Henry Venners (Agent for the Applicant) spoke in favour of the application and made the following points:-

• The scheme would complement terraces in the area – the frontage was comparable to other houses nearby;
• The proposal is smaller in height and footprint than the existing building;
• The communal space would be fenced in and would be private, as would the individual gardens;
• There would be little overlooking as there is a large area of separation from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

Minutes of the meeting held on 31^st August 2011 are attached.

Resolved to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 31^st August 2011.

Meetings are scheduled for the following dates, starting at 6pm:-

26^th October

30^th November

22^nd December

25^th January 2012

29^th February

28^th March

25^th April

Resolved to note the following dates:

26^th October

30^th November

22^nd December

25^th January 2012

29^th February

28^th March

25^th April