Demolition of existing public house.  Erection of 3 storey building to provide retail store on ground floor and 1x3 bedroom, 1x1 bedroom and 2x2 bedroom flats on upper floors.  Provision of plant enclosure, service yard, 9 x retail car parking spaces, 7 x residential car parking spaces, cycle parking, bin storage, landscaping and communal open space.

Item deferred from meeting of 8 December 2011.

Officer recommendation: Approve with conditions.

11/02594/FUL - Demolition of existing public house. Erection of 3 storey building to provide retail store on ground floor and 1 x 3 bedroom, 1 x 1 bedroom and 2 x 2 bedroom flats on upper floors. Provision of plant enclosure, service yard, 9 x retail car parking spaces, 7 x residential car parking spaces, cycle parking, bin storage, landscaping and communal open space - Approved with conditions

11/0297/FUL - Alterations to frontage of existing building to provide new shop front and creation of a ramped access. - Refused

11/02595/FUL - Installation of plant and associated fencing - Refused

11/02596/FUL- Installation of an ATM - Application withdrawn by applicant

11/02591/ADV - Display of 4 externally illuminated fascia signs and one internally illuminated hanging sign - Approved with conditions

The Head of City Development submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) which gave details of the following planning applications:

11/02594/FUL - Demolition of existing public house. Erection of 3 storey building to provide retail store on ground floor and 1 x 3 bedroom, 1 x 1 bedroom and 2 x 2 bedroom flats on upper floors. Provision of plant enclosure, service yard, 9 x retail car parking spaces, 7 x residential car parking spaces, cycle parking, bin storage, landscaping and communal open space -

11/0297/FUL - Alterations to frontage of existing building to provide new shop front and creation of a ramped access.

11/02595/FUL - Installation of plant and associated fencing

11/02596/FUL- Installation of an ATM

11/02591/ADV - Display of 4 externally illuminated fascia signs and one internally illuminated hanging sign.

The Development Control Team Leader explained that the applications had been deferred from the previous meeting in order to obtain clarity on concerns raised about highway and pedestrian safety. Farakh Hamid from Oxfordshire Highways spoke to the meeting to clarify the response given and to answer any further questions.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking Mr Afzal, a local business owner, spoke in objection to the developments raising concerns on highways safety and lack of need for the development. Gemma Brickwood, Simon Peter and Nathan Hanks (on behalf of the applicants) spoke in support of the proposal. The Committee was also advised that the applicant had withdrawn application 11/02596/FUL to install a cash machine.

The Committee considered all submissions both written and oral and it was:

Resolved 

In respect of 11/02594/FUL to:-

(1)   Support the development in principle, subject to the conditions in the officer’s report, but defer the application in order to complete an accompanying legal agreement as outlined in the officers’ report and to delegate to officers the issuing of the notice of planning permission on its completion.

(2)   Impose a further condition requiring that no occupation of the building shall occur until measures have been put in place in, accordance with Highway Authority specifications, to provide for alterations to the junction of Weirs Lane and Abingdon Road and/or the carriageway and pavements of Weirs Lane up to the first bridging point of the River Thames to improve pedestrian safety in crossing the roads in order to mitigate against the pedestrian and highway safety implications of the approved development.

(3)   To impose a further condition requiring the applicant to construct a brick wall on the side of the site bordering 10 Weirs Lane.

In respect of 11/0297/FUL to refuse planning permission for the following reasons:

(1)   The proposal would be an inadequate use of the site

(2)   The number of car parking spaces would be too large and of concern for highway safety

(3)   The proposal would not be in keeping with the character and appearance of the area.

(4)   The development would not provide much needed housing in the area.

In respect of 11/02595/FUL to refuse planning permission for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79

The Head of City Development has submitted a report which details a planning application for the demolition of existing public house.  Erection of 3 storey building to provide retail store on ground floor and 1x3 bedroom, 1x1 bedroom and 2x2 bedroom flats on upper floors.  Provision of plant enclosure, service yard, 9 x retail car parking spaces, 7 x residential car parking spaces, cycle parking, bin storage, landscaping and communal open space.

Officer recommendation: Approve subject to conditions.

The Head of City Development submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) detailing a planning application for the demolition of existing public house,  erection of 3 storey building to provide retail store on ground floor and 1x3 bedroom, 1x1 bedroom and 2x2 bedroom flats on upper floors.  Provision of plant enclosure, service yard, 9 x retail car parking spaces, 7 x residential car parking spaces, cycle parking, bin storage, landscaping and communal open space.

The Planning Officer advised that late comments had been received from Keith Taylor MEP raising concerns about air pollution, and from Kemp & Kemp on behalf of Mr Afzal of the local Nisa store advising that in their opinion the proposal would result in the closure of the Nisa store and post office contained within it. The recommendation for approval remained.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking Judy Chipchase and Mohammad Afzal spoke in objections to the development raising concerns over the proposed use for the site and environmental concerns. Simon Peter, Matthew Roe, William Rankin and Andy Garlick spoke in support of the applications stating that the development would improve the local area.

The Committee considered all submission both written and oral and it was:

Resolved to defer consideration of the application pending further advice from Oxfordshire County Highways on matters relating to the impact on traffic and pedestrian movement as a result of the development.