Agenda and minutes

To note the appointments of Councillor Taylor as Chair and Councillor Lewis as Vice-Chair made by Council at the Annual Meeting on 22^nd May 2017.

The appointments of Councillor Taylor as Chair and Councillor Lewis as Vice-Chair made at the Annual Meeting of the Council were noted.

To note the appointment of the Planning Policy Sub-Committee made by Council at the Annual Meeting on 22^nd May 2017.

Councillors Taylor (Chair), Lewis (Vice-Chair), D. Brown, Dee, Lugg.

The appointment of Councillors Taylor (Chair), Lewis (Vice-Chair), David Brown, Lugg and Dee to the Planning Policy Sub-Committee made at the Annual Meeting of Council were noted.

Councillor Walford declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in application17/00224/REM due to the proximity of, and the impact of the application upon his home. He retired to the Public Gallery during the consideration of this item.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 4th April 2017.

The minutes of the meeting held on 4^th April 2017 were confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Please note that any late material relating to the application detailed below will be published on the Council’s website as a supplement in the late afternoon of the day of the meeting.

Late material in respect of Agenda item 7, Former Debenhams Playing Field, Estcourt Road/Estcourt Close had been circulated.

Application for Determination:-

Approval of reserved matters of appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for the provision of new student accommodation (up to 200 beds) and associated highways, parking and ancillary works, pursuant to outline planning permission ref. 15/01190/OUT at the former Debenham’s Playing Field, Estcourt Road./Estcourt Close.

The Principal Planning Officer presented the report which detailed an application for the approval of reserved matters of appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for the provision of new student accommodation (up to 200 beds) and associated highways, parking and ancillary works, pursuant to outline planning permission ref. 15/01190/OUT.

He advised Members that this application for approval of reserved matters for the student accommodation represented the last of the three main parts of the University development of this site submitted for reserved matters approval and he noted that the previously granted outline permission had included means of access.

He referred Members to the late material which contained information relating to the soft landscaping proposals, the comments of the Environment Agency and the proposed finished floor levels.

He had requested further clarification on the finished floor levels and had received further information that afternoon which indicated that the increase in levels to secure the suggested maximum finished floor levels for the buildings were larger than originally thought likely, and he set out the respective approximate increases for each building and that the proposed building floor levels/storeys would be larger than a normal residential property. He noted that given the considerable separation distances from the proposed buildings to the existing residential properties neighbouring the site, it was likely that the impact of levels increases would remain acceptable, but that the matter still required resolution, potentially by condition, in accordance with the Officer recommendation

Stephen Marston, Vice-Chancellor of the University, addressed the Committee in support of the application.

Mr Marston thanked the Committee for the opportunity to speak in support of the application. He stated that the application was the final part of the development of the Oxstalls Campus. The application would provide an additional 200 student bedrooms and further student accommodation would be provided on the Blackfriars site.

He advised that it was envisaged that a further 2,000 students would attend the Business School and the total would increase to 4,000 students.

The growth of the University would bring major benefits to the City. He noted that many students preferred to live in Cheltenham at the present time due to the lack of critical mass in Gloucester but he believed that this would change as a result of this application.

He referred to the curvilinear layout of the buildings and the landscaping proposed, including the planting of 64 new trees, and he noted that discussions were continuing on tree planting and floor levels.

He noted that seven objections had been received, most of which referred to the location and height of the buildings. He advised that the buildings would be sited as far as possible from residential properties without impinging on the flood zone.

He referred to concerns regarding issues such as behaviour, noise and traffic and he confirmed that the University was fully committed to compliance with the proposed conditions. He advised that the windows had been designed to reduce noise transmission.

He asked Members to support this application which would make  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider the report of the Senior Planning Compliance Officer which identifies new Section 106 Agreements entered into, contributions received during the 2016/17 financial year and outlines future arrangements for Section 106 monitoring.

The Chair advised Members that due to the cancellation of the April meeting Mr Andrew Birchley, who had now left the Council’s employment, had been unable to thank Members in person for their support over the eleven years he had served the Council and he had asked that the Chair convey his thanks to the Committee.

The Head of Planning presented the report which presented details of new Section 106 agreements entered into, contributions received during the 2016/17 financial year and outlined future arrangements for Section 106 monitoring.

Councillor David Brown asked who would be the contact for enforcement and Section 106 matters. The Head of Planning advised that it would be the City Centre Improvement and Environment Manager or himself.

RESOLVED that the report be noted and that the thanks of the Committee be conveyed to Andrew Birchley.

To consider a schedule of applications determined under delegated powers during the months of March and April 2017.

Consideration was given to a schedule of applications determined under delegated powers during the period 1^st March to 30^th April 2017.

RESOLVED that the schedule be noted.

Tuesday, 4^th July 2017 at 6.00pm

Tuesday, 4^th July 2017 at 6.00pm.