Agenda item

Application Number: 20/1048 - 22-30 Sturt Road, Frimley Green, Camberley, Surrey, GU16 6HY

Minutes:

The application was for the erection of a residential development of 160 dwellings, including the conversion of the pumphouse building into residential dwellings, to provide 36 no one bedroom and 48 no two bedroom flats; 30 no two bedroom, 37 no three bedroom and 9 no four bedroom houses, along with associated estate roads and accesses onto Sturt Road, car parking, bin and cycle storage, local area of play and external landscaping following the demolition of all other buildings.

 

Members were advised of the following updates on the application:

 

“Representations

 

Two further objections received neither raising any new objections.

 

Consultee responses

 

The Council’s Climate Change Officer has raised no objections to the proposal indicating that proposed Condition 34 and energy efficiency proposals in place indicates a suitable response to deliver compliance with current policies to achieve Carbon Dioxide reductions at the site.

 

Clarification

 

In first sentence of Paragraph (iv) of the Second Update report, additional text (in bold)  is added:

 

‘…at around 17-32 dwellings per hectare per hectare for houses and flats typically at a density of 55 dwellings per hectare.’

 

The affordable housing review mechanism is to be undertaken at 50% sales.”

 

As the application had triggered the Council’s public speaking scheme, Mr Alister Mogford and Mr David Whitcroft, on behalf of the Mytchett, Frimley Green & Deepcut Society, spoke in objection to the application. Ms Zena Foale-Banks spoke as the agent on the application, and was assisted by Mr David Gilchrist, Berkeley Homes; Mr Mayler Colloton, Clague Architects; Mr Phil Bell, Motion Transport Planning; and Mr Matt Fitzpatrick, Abbey Consultants in respect of answering questions from the Committee.

 

Members had reservations in respect of the scheme in regards to its density, cumulative scale and mass and some felt the proposal entailed overdevelopment. There were also concerns expressed in respect of the parking layout and the lack of sufficient readily accessible, designated amenity space in respect of the flatted developments.

 

In addition, as it was felt that the proposed bus stop improvement scheme in regards to the southbound bus stop (to the east of Sturt Road) was narrow and unsuitable as to location, it was sought by Members that informative 1 of the Officer recommendation be amended to advise the applicant that they were encouraged to engage in dialogue with the County Highways Authority with a view to the installation of a southbound layby bus stop next to the main entrance of Frimley Lodge Park. This was in order to ensure visual and residential amenities were not compromised and to promote alternative modes of transport to the car. 

 

The officer recommendation, including the amended informative, was proposed by Councillor Edward Hawkins, seconded by Councillor Robin Perry and put to the vote and lost. As the officer recommendation was lost, as per paragraph 18.3.6 Part 4 Section D of the constitution an alternative proposal was sought.

 

Following much debate, it was considered by some Members that the proposed parking layout of the proposed scheme had the potential to make parking dominant in the streetscene, which was in conflict with the guidance in Section 6 of the Council’s Residential Design Guide. In order to further protect visual amenity, it was agreed that condition16 would be bolstered or a new condition added; to require the applicant to provide soft landscaping specifically with the goal of screening the proposed parking spaces and to reduce the dominance of parking within the streetscene.

 

The proposal to grant the application with the amended condition 16, or if deemed appropriate a new condition; in addition to the amended informative 1, and the conditions and informatives in the Officer report was proposed by Councillor Edward Hawkins, seconded by Councillor Robin Perry and put to the vote and carried.

 

RESOLVED that application 20/1048 be granted subject to the conditions and informatives in the officer report, as amended.

 

Note 1

It was noted for the record that Councillor Helen Whitcroft declared that one of the public speakers on the application was her father and she had spoken to the Mytchett, Frimley Green & Deepcut Society in respect of the application. However she came into the meeting with an open mind.

 

Note 2

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

 

Voting in favour of the officer recommendation to grant the application, with amended informative 1:

 

Councillors Graham Alleway, Shaun Garrett, Edward Hawkins, Charlotte Morley, Robin Perry and Darryl Ratiram.

 

Voting against the officer recommendation to grant the application, with amended informative 1:

 

Councillors Peter Barnett, Cliff Betton, Mark Gordon, Graham Tapper, Helen Whitcroft, Valerie White and Victoria Wheeler.

 

Voting in favour of the alternative proposal to grant the application subject to the conditions and informatives in the officer report, with the amended informative 1 and amended condition 16:

 

Councillors Graham Alleway, Shaun Garrett, Mark Gordon, Edward Hawkins, Charlotte Morley, Robin Perry and Darryl Ratiram.

 

Voting against the alternative proposal to grant the application subject to the conditions and informatives in the officer report, with the amended informative 1 and amended condition 16:

 

Councillors Peter Barnett, Cliff Betton, Graham Tapper, Helen Whitcroft, Valerie White and Victoria Wheeler.

 

 

Supporting documents: