Agenda item

The application was for the variation of condition 3 of planning permission SU/10/0537 (relating to the erection of a part four, part five storey building to comprise restaurants (Class A3), drinking establishment (Class A4) and a 95 bedroom hotel (Class C1) to allow the use of a ground floor unit (unit 1) for indoor leisure uses (Class D2).

This application would normally have been determined under delegated powers, however, it was being reported to the Planning Applications Committee at the request of the Executive Head of Regulatory.

Members were advised of the following update:

‘Additional/amended details have been received from the applicant including:

·        Amended layout of the unit;

·        Promotional information concerning the future occupying company, Fairweather Golf;

·        Letter from the letting agency confirming the level of interest in this property since it has been marketed; and

·        Marketing reports and brochures.

The applicant had requested this information (except the marketing reports and brochures) to be forwarded to members of the Planning Applications Committee which has been arranged separately through the Committee team. 

The amended layout of the unit has been required to fit the use around the existing pillars within the ground floor unit.  This has necessitated the moving of the booths closer towards the front of the unit and the siting of one of these booths would effectively block the transparent shop “window” fronting London Road, necessitating the proposed change to Condition 2 below.   The change to the layout drawing necessitates the proposed change to Condition 3 below.

The information from Fairweather Golf provides an overview of the proposed use includes the technology which would be provided for coaching and golfing sessions.

The letter from Lambert Smith Hampton (the letting agents) confirms that letting for the site began in 2007 and has been difficult (for which there has been no success) for a number of reasons including the economic downturn (which delayed the construction of the development until 2011) and its peripheral location (with demand for restaurants taken first by more central sites such as the Atrium).  The current proposal would lead to the filling of the unit (Unit 1) which could serve as a catalyst for the remaining empty units (Units 2-5) of this block.

The marketing reports (in the form of summary reports for 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015) show the range of operators which were contacted (principally for uses within Classes A1, A2, A3 and A4) and the lack of progress with those negotiations.  Four marketing brochures have been provided.

The applicant has also provided their previous objections to applications for changes of use from retail to restaurant uses for Atrium units (fronting Park Street), which have now been filled, because of the adverse effect on the letting of their units.

An application SU/16/0399 to allow a greater range of uses of “retail” (i.e. within Classes A1-A5) uses for Units 2-5 has been submitted.

As this application would provide a new (replacement) planning permission for the development approved under SU/10/0537 and now built, conditions to ensure that the details reserved by conditions under this permission that have been approved [Conditions 4, 8 & 11 of SU/10/0537] and need to be retained and conditions limiting the approved development (as a whole) [Conditions 7 and 12 of SU/10/0537] are proposed to be added.

CHANGE TO CONDITIONS:

2. The glazing at ground floor level for Unit 1 fronting Park Street shall be maintained as transparent glazing (without vinyls) and either provide views into the unit and/or maintain a window display area to the satisfaction of the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: To retain an active frontage to the retail parade and to enhance the vitality and viability of Camberley Town Centre and comply with Policies CP10 and DM9 of the Surrey Heath Core Strategy and Development Management Policies 2012 and Policies TC2, TC3 and TC5 of the Camberley Town Centre Action Area Plan 2014 and the National Planning Policy Framework.

3. The proposed development shall be built in accordance with the following approved plans: 148301 Rev. G received on 17 February 2016 and FW5905/01 received on 28 April 2016, unless the prior written approval has been obtained from the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interest of proper planning and as advised in ID.17a of the Planning Practice Guidance.

ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS:

4. Details of drainage, refuse and cycle storage approved under Conditions 4, 8 and 11 of planning permission SU/10/0537 shall be retained unless the prior written approval has been obtained from the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: To ensure that visual and residential amenities are not prejudiced and to ensure a satisfactory development is retained and to accord with Policies CP2, DM9 and DM10 of the Surrey Heath Core Strategy and Development Management Policies 2012 and the National Planning Policy Framework.

5. Before each subsequent occupation of the premises, the subject of the application, a Travel Plan shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. This shall be implemented in accordance with the details to be submitted and thereafter retained and/or developed to the satisfaction of the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: The condition above is required in recognition of PPG 13 “Transport” and to accord with Policies CP11 and DM11 of the Surrey Heath Core Strategy and Development Management Policies 2012.

6. No self-contained accommodation or ancillary accommodation in the form of a caretakers/managers/staff flat for the hotel shall be created within the development hereby permitted without prior planning permission being granted.

Reason: To ensure that the integrity of the Special Protection Area is not prejudiced as a result of the development and to accord with Policies CP14 of the Surrey Heath Core Strategy and Development Management Policies 2012, Policy NRM6 of the South East Plan 2009 (as saved) and the National Planning Policy Framework.’

Resolved that application 16/0156 be approved subject to the conditions as set out in the report of the Executive Head – Regulatory.

Note 1

The recommendation to approve the application was proposed by Councillor Vivienne Chapman and seconded by Councillor Colin Dougan.

Note 2

In accordance with Part 4 Section D paragraph 18 of the Constitution, the voting in relation to this application was as follows:

Voting in favour of the recommendation to approve the application:

Councillors David Allen, Richard Brooks, Nick Chambers, Mrs Vivienne Chapman, Colin Dougan, Surinder Gandhum, Edward Hawkins, Rebecca Jennings-Evans, Max Nelson, David Mansfield, Robin Perry, Ian Sams, Conrad Sturt, Pat Tedder, and Valerie White.

Councillor Victoria Wheeler abstained.