Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed Councillor Kevin Dowling to his first meeting of the Planning and Highways Regulation Committee following his appointment at the Extraordinary Council Meeting held on 23 February 2012.

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 January 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 26 January 2012 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests which they had in any of the items on the agenda for this meeting.

Personal and Prejudicial Interest

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 and at local libraries and Information Centres).

No public questions were submitted.

To consider a report of the Visiting Team held on Monday, 27 February 2012.

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) containing the recommendations made by the Visiting Team on Monday, 27 February 2012.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Development).                                   

(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.

Officer contact: Emma Curle on 0161 474 3542, e-mail emma.curle@stockport.gov.uk

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 of Place 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).

Development of landfill site to form 163 managed flats comprising of one, three/four storey blocks of flats (139 Units) and one three storey block of twenty-four sheltered flats for elderly persons with associated gas venting systems and construction of vehicular access from Midland Road. (Renewal of Outline Planning Permission DC002039).

The Committee is recommended to grant planning permission

In respect of plan no. 43068 for the development of landfill site to form 163 managed flats comprising of one, three/four storey blocks of flats (139 Units) and one three storey block of twenty-four sheltered flats for elderly persons with associated gas venting systems and construction of vehicular access from Midland Road (renewal of Outline Planning Permission DC002039) at land at Midland Road and Geneva Road, Bramhall, it was

RESOLVED – That consideration of this item be deferred until the next meeting of the Planning and Highways Regulation Committee on 5 April 2012 for further information relating to the previous Section 106 Agreement and commuted sums and the implications for the renewal of the outline planning permission DC002039.

Demolition of redundant hospital buildings and submission for outline planning permission (with all matters reserved except the main point of access into the

site) comprising :-

·         Refurbishment and re-use of locally listed Lodge and Administration Buildings for residential use (Class C3) with private amenity space;

·         Redevelopment of the remainder of the site for residential use (Class C3), creation of a protected nature zone, children’s play facility (LAP), car parking, pedestrian and cycle routes, services and infrastructure, highway works, landscaping and associated works.

The Committee is recommended to grant planning permission subject to the preparation of a S106 agreement to secure affordable housing, a commuted sum for open space and recreation provision and the funding of a Traffic Regulation Order on Dialstone Lane.

In respect of plan no. 48004 for the demolition of redundant hospital buildings and submission for outline planning permission (with all matters reserved except the main point of access into the site) comprising:-

·         Refurbishment and re-use of locally listed Lodge and Administration Buildings for residential use (Class C3) with private amenity space; and

·         Redevelopment of the remainder of the site for residential use (Class C3), creation of a protected nature zone, children’s play facility (LAP), car parking, pedestrian and cycle routes, services and infrastructure, highway works, landscaping and associated works at Cherry Tree Hospital, Cherry Tree Lane, Great Moor, it was

RESOLVED - That the Service Director (Place Development) be authorised to determine the application subject to the conditions contained in the report, and

·           The completion of a section 106 agreement to secure affordable housing;

·           A commuted sum for open space and recreation provision;

·           The funding of a Traffic Regulation Order on Dialstone Lane; and

·           The inclusion of a training and employment clause.

Erection of detached house

The Committee is recommended to grant planning permission

In respect of plan no. 48518 for the erection of detached house at 49 Broomfield Road, Heaton Moor, it was

RESOLVED – (Eleven For, one abstention) That planning permission be granted subject to the inclusion of an appropriate material condition (red bricks) and the removal of permitted development rights.

The proposed development is a new build Extra Care Home for over 55s. The accommodation will provide 55 one and two bed flats of which 50% will be affordable for rent and 50% shared ownership/private sale. There will also be communal facilities including a bistro, hairdressers and lounge which will be accessible to the public. The grounds will also be landscaped to provide a mixture of hard and soft landscaping for both public and private use. There will also be an on site car park providing 27 spaces.

The Committee is recommended to grant planning permission

In respect of plan no. 48627 for the proposed development of a new build Extra Care Home for over 55s, the accommodation would provide 55 one and two bed flats of which 50% would be affordable for rent and 50% shared ownership/private sale and communal facilities including a bistro, hairdressers and lounge which would be accessible to the public, landscaping of the grounds to provide a mixture of hard and soft landscaping for both public and private use, and an on site car park providing 27 spaces at Mallard Court, 107 Finney Lane, Heald Green, it was

RESOLVED – (1) That consideration of this item be deferred until the next meeting of the Planning and Highways Regulation Committee on 5 April 2012 for further information relating to the highways and car parking proposals, the scale of the building and tree preservation orders.

(2) That the Highway Engineer be invited to attend the meeting of the Committee when the application is considered in order to comment on the application.

(3) That the Service Director (Place Management) be requested to submit a report to a future meeting of the Committee with regard to reviewing the process for Tree Preservation Orders in the borough.

At 8.17pm, it was

RESOLVED – That the meeting be adjourned.

At 8.22pm the meeting resumed

Change of use to soft-play facility and facility for children with complex needs.

The Committee is recommended to grant planning permission subject to the permission being limited to use as a children’s play facility within the D2 assembly and leisure Use Class.

In respect of plan no. 47435 for the change of use to soft-play facility and facility for children with complex needs at Plot 3, 1 Pepper Road, Bramhall Moor Lane, it was

RESOLVED - That the Service Director (Place Development) be authorised to determine the application upon completion of a Section 106 Agreement in relation to the preparation of a travel plan and provision of recreation and amenity open space.

Single storey side extension (Re-submission of DC047964)

The Committee is recommended to grant planning permission

In respect of plan no. 48450 for the single storey side extension (re-submission of DC047964) at 26 Ricroft Road, Compstall, it was

RESOLVED – That planning permission be granted.

Erection of new detached dwelling at the rear of 3 Hill Top Avenue with associated hard standing areas. Removal of trees and alteration to existing hedging.

The Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

In respect of plan no. 48542 for the erection of new detached dwelling at the rear of 3 Hill Top Avenue with associated hard standing areas, removal of trees and alteration to existing hedging at 3 Hill Top Avenue, Cheadle Hulme, it was

RESOLVED – (1) (Eleven For, one against) That planning permission be granted.

(2) That the Service Director (Place Development) be requested to include this development upon completion as part of the ‘Review of the Outcomes Tour 2012’.

Application for retention and refurbishment of 2 modular teaching blocks and 2 storage containers.

The Committee is recommended to grant planning permission

In respect of plan no. 48690 for the application for retention and refurbishment of two modular teaching blocks and two storage containers at St James Catholic High School, St James Way, Cheadle Hulme, it was

RESOLVED – That temporary planning permission be granted for a three year period and that an informative should be added to the decision notice inviting the School to submit a future development plan for the site. 

Single storey rear extension and internal alterations

The Committee is recommended to grant planning permission

In respect of plan no. 48812 for the single storey rear extension and internal alterations at 4 Brantwood Road, Cheadle Hulme, it was

RESOLVED – That planning permission be granted.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Legal & Democratic Services)

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, 0161 474 3217, joy.morton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Legal & Democratic Services) 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 Service Director (Place Management).

The report details a proposed policy for dealing with obstructions and three policies creating a unified policy and licencing approach for uses of the highway that the Council is willing to consider. The policies recognise the need to address and balance the needs of a number of stakeholders including pedestrians, people with disabilities, residents, businesses and local traders and seeks to make controls more efficient and the response to problems more effective.

The Committee is requested to comment on the report.

Officer contact: Andrew Suggett/ Sue Stevenson/Graeme Vout, 0161 474 4351, andrew.suggett@stockport.gov.uk / sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk / graeme.vout@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Committee to comment on the draft Obstruction Policy for Highways, the draft Highways Café Policy, the draft Control on Skips, Containers, Scaffolding and Hoardings on the highway and the draft Advertising Boards and Trade Goods Obstructions Policy.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The amount of control the Council had for containers on the public highway.

·         The Council was responsible for ensuring that the public highway was kept free of obstructions.

·         Members had previously expressed support for the removal of advertising boards and other unauthorised advertisements from the highway and concern was expressed that such a commitment had been omitted from the current report.

·         The obstruction of advertising boards on footpaths and verges of the highway to pedestrians, wheelchair users and people with prams.  A Member asked how this issue would be monitored and enforced, and support was expressed for a zero tolerance on advertising boards in the borough.  Support was also expressed that ‘A boards’ and street cafes added to the character of the areas and supported local traders.

·         Contact details for the Highways Department should be placed on each permit issued for skips.

·         Concern was raised with regard to outdoor seating cafes and how there was a need to control businesses who obstructed the highways with tables.

·         Councillors raised concern about the lack of consultation in relation to the draft highways café policy and draft advertising board policy and considered that further consultation should be undertaken on these policies.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the comments be referred to the Service Director (Place Management) for consideration as part of the consultation.