Agenda item

To consider report PES/406aof the Head of Economy and Planning.

RECOMMENDATION to PERMIT.

The Committee considered report PES/406a of the Head of Economy and Planning which proposed as follows:

Refurbishment of existing units to include respraying of cladding, new entrance canopies, PVS on the roofs, internal refurbishment of Unit D and associated car park and landscape works (amended description).

Councillors A Belben and Burrett declared they had visited the site.

The Group Manager (Development Management) provided a verbal summation of the application, which sought permission for internal changes (to Unit D) and external refurbishment works to the four commercial buildings at a site in the Manor Royal Business District.  The Officer updated the Committee that, since the publication of the report, the following correction to the response from the GAL Planning Department was required: ‘Detailed comments that the amenity area to the north would be exposed to high levels of aircraft noise if a second runway as shown on the Gatwick Masterplan (plan 21) was to be delivered.’  The Officer then gave detail of the various relevant planning considerations as detailed in the report.

The Committee then considered the application and in doing so sought further information regarding water consumption at the site.  It was explained that the proposed internal refurbishments to Unit D would not normally be subject to planning control.  However a restrictive condition was imposed on the development in 1984 which removed permitted development rights for alterations to the units – planning permission was therefore required, and so it was necessary for the applicant to demonstrate water neutrality.  This was to be achieved by the replacement of dated and inefficient water fittings and the removal of two sinks and an outside tap.  A new shower and additional WC were to be installed, however the floorspace and the use of the building were not proposed to be increased so there was no increase in demand. Calculations suggested that the average water consumption per person per day was to reduce from 87 litres to 68 litres.

Following a discussion regarding the management of parking at the site, a Committee member proposed an amendment to condition 9 which aimed to ensure the parking was used only by those vehicles in connection with the occupation of the units.  The amendment was moved and seconded and was agreed by the Committee.

RESOLVED

Delegate the decision to permit the application to the Head of Economy and Planning, subject to the conditions set out in report PES/406a (including the amended condition 9 set out below) and to await receipt of satisfactory comments from Natural England on the appropriate assessment.

‘9. The revised parking layout shall not thereafter be used for any purpose other than the parking/turning of vehicles in connection with the occupation of the units and those areas shall not be used for any outside storage of any goods or refuse associated with the business units.

REASON: To ensure that adequate and satisfactory provision is retained for the accommodation of vehicles clear of the highways in accordance with Policy CH3 of the Crawley Borough Local Plan 2015-2030.’