Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 19 February 2015.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 19 February 2015 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

No declarations of interest were made.

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair of the Committee on any matters within the powers and duties of the Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice (questions must be submitted prior to the commencement of the meeting on the cards provided. These are available at the meeting).

Members of the public were invited to put questions to the Chair on any matters within the powers and duties of the Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.

Three questions were submitted as follows:-

(i)            Relating to what the Committee was doing to protect the green belt and green spaces following recent planning applications in Reddish Vale and Cheadle Hulme; how public opinion was taken into account; and what conditions could be applied to a permission to reduce its impact.

The Chair responded that the Committee would always seek to protect and defend the green belt and that it was up to potential developers to establish that very special circumstances existed to outweigh the presumption against development in the green belt. 

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration added that the comments of those making representations with regard to a planning application would be summarised within the report that was considered by the Committee to allow the Committee to make an informed decision on the application in the light of all the facts.  The imposition of any planning conditions was subject to national planning policy in terms of what could be applied to a given permission and the onus was on the developer to ensure that they complied with those conditions.

(ii)          Relating to what steps the Committee was taking to encourage the use of renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions including to ensure that any new buildings incorporated solar panels and why this had not been the case with the recent sixth form college development at Cheadle Hulme High School.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration responded that in assessing an application, the Council must have regard to its adopted Core Strategy development plan and the relevant policy the Council would apply is policy SD-6 [Adapting to the Impacts of Climate Change] and the application in question was accompanied by an energy statement and measures were identified within the application to demonstrate compliance with that policy.

(iii)         Relating to how the Council took public health into account when planning applications were granted in the light of the questioner’s concerns over air quality in Disley and Cheadle Hulme being locations in which there had been two recent successful planning applications for a relief road and at Cheadle Hulme School; and further how this was balanced against the threat of appeal by the applicants.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration responded that health was a material planning consideration and that the Health Impact Assessment undertaken in connection with the development of Stockport’s Core Strategy had highlighted air quality as an issue.  Health was therefore a consideration which needed to be balanced alongside many others as part of the planning application process.  If any application was contrary to policy then the right decision of the Authority would be to refuse planning permission and the threat of an appeal or otherwise would not be a material consideration.

To consider a report of the visiting Team held on 23 March 2015.

The Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing recommendations made by the Visiting Team on Monday, 23 March 2014.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration.

(a)              To consider development applications where members of the public have attended the meeting in order to hear the Committee's deliberations.

(b)              To consider the remaining development applications.

NOTE: Councillors are requested to note that if they withdraw from the meeting during the consideration of a development application upon their return they should not participate any further in the deliberation or vote on that planning application.

Development applications were submitted.

(NOTE: Full details of the decisions including conditions and reasons for granting or refusing planning permission and imposing conditions are given in the schedule of plans. The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration is authorised to determine conditions and reasons and they are not therefore referred to in committee minutes unless the committee makes a specific decision on a condition or reason. In order to reduce printing costs and preserve natural resources, the schedule of plans is not reproduced within these minutes. A copy of the schedule of plans is available on the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/planningdecisions. Copies of the schedule of plans, or any part thereof, may be obtained from the Place Directorate upon payment of the Council’s reasonable charges).

Conversion of existing showroom/office building to provide 6 apartments, including external elevational alterations.

The Committee is recommended to grant planning permission subject to conditions.

Officer contact: Jane Chase on 474 3550 or email: jane.chase@stockport.gov.uk

In respect of plan no. 56766 for the conversion of existing showroom/office building to provide 6 apartments, including external elevational alterations at The Courtyard, Hawthorn Farm, Woodford, it was

RESOLVED – That planning permission be granted.

To convert part of the existing seven bedroomed house into a three bedroom cottage with parking, amenity space and erection of porch.

The Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

Officer contact: Suzanne Broomhead on 0161 218 1982 or email: suzanne.broomhead@stockport.gov.uk

In respect of plan no. 56863 for the conversion of part of the existing seven bedroomed house into a three bedroom cottage with parking, amenity space and erection of porch at Radcliffe Fold Cottage, Werneth Low Road, Compstall, it was

RESOLVED – That planning permission be granted.

Erection of a single detached dwelling.

The Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

Officer contact: Chris Smyton on 0161 474 3657 or email: chris.smyton@stockport.gov.uk

In respect of plan no. 57226 for the erection of a single detached dwelling at 89 Chester Road, Hazel Grove, it was

RESOLVED – (8 for, 3 against) That planning permission be refused on the grounds that the proposed development, by virtue of its siting, layout and design failed to ensure an adequate degree of amenity for neighbouring occupiers and would be detrimental to the character of the area and as such was contrary to the requirements of Policies H-1 'The Design of Residential Development' and SIE-1 'Quality Places', of the adopted Stockport Core Strategy DPD and the Council's adopted SPD 'The Design of Residential Development'.

Demolition of existing garages and erection of 8 no. 1 bedroom apartments in a three storey block with associated parking and landscaping. Replacement parking for 8 cars.

The Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

Officer contact: Jane Chase on 474 3550 or email: jane.chase@stockport.gov.uk

In respect of plan no. 57252 for the demolition of existing garages and erection of 8 no. 1 bedroom apartments in a three storey block with associated parking and landscaping and replacement parking for 8 cars on land between 168-172 and 174-178 Gillbent Road, Cheadle Hulme, Cheadle, it was

RESOLVED – That planning permission be granted.

DC057383

Listed building consent application for the restoration, conversion, extension, alterations and part demolition of former hospital building to provide 38 residential units

The Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

DC057381

Full planning application for the restoration, conversion, extension, alterations and part demolition of former hospital building to provide 38 residential units and erection of 117 new houses, with associated access, parking, landscaping and open space.

The Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

Officer Contact: Jim Seymour on 0161 474 3656 or email: jim.seymour@stockport.gov.uk

In respect of plan no. 57381 for the restoration, conversion, extension, alterations and part demolition of former hospital building to provide 38

residential units and erection of 117 new houses, with associated access, parking, landscaping and open space (Full Planning Application) and plan no. 57383 for listed building consent for the restoration, conversion, extension, alteration and partial demolition of the former Barnes Hospital building to provide 38 no. residential units at the Barnes Hospital Site, Kingsway, Cheadle, it was

RESOLVED – That planning permission be granted.

Two storey side extension and two storey rear extension.

The Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

Officer contact: Anthony Smith on 474 3569 or email: anthony.smith@stockport.gov.uk

In respect of plan no. 57426 for a two storey side extension and two storey rear extension at 487 Chester Road, Woodford, it was

RESOLVED – That planning permission be granted subject to the removal of permitted development rights.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report summarises recent appeal decisions; lists current planning appeals and dates for local enquiries; informal hearings for planning appeals, and enforcement action by Area Committee area.

The Area Committee is recommended to note the report.

Officer contact: Joy Morton on 0161 474 3217 or email: joy.morton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) summarising recent appeal decisions, listing current planning appeals and dates for local inquiries and informal hearings according to area committees.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report provides an update to Members on a variety of matters relating to financial contributions and other obligations placed upon development, in particular following recent changes to national planning practice guidance in relation to such matters.

The Committee is recommended to note the implications of and changes to policy implementation resulting from CIL and the changes to National Planning Practice Guidance as set out in the report.

Officer contact: Richard Wood 0161 474 4386 or email: richard.wood@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on a variety of matters relating to financial contributions and other obligations placed upon development, in particular following recent changes to national planning practice guidance in relation to such matters.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.