Agenda item

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

RECOMMENDATION to PERMIT.

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

Installation of external wall insulation to properties on the Creasys Drive estate, Broadfield.

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

The Principal Planning Officer provided a verbal summation of the application, which sought permission for the fitting of energy-efficient insulation to the external walls of 48 dwellings owned by Crawley Borough Council.  The Officer updated the Committee that, since the publication of the report, minor amendments were required to conditions 3, 4, 5, and 6.  It was brought to the Committee’s attention that the schedule of materials and finishes had not yet been finalised as discussions between the applicant and the Local Planning Authority were ongoing, so the recommendation was to be amended in order to delegate authority to the Head of Economy and Planning to permit the application.  The Officer then gave detail of the various relevant planning considerations as detailed in the report.

The Committee then considered the application.  Committee members discussed the proposed materials to be fitted over the insulation, and it was confirmed that the intention was to ensure that all replacement materials were of the same durability and were as weatherproof as the existing materials.  It was possible that some materials (such as tiles) could be re-used, but those that could not would be replaced – wooden cladding, for example, was likely to be replaced with UPVC cladding.

A Committee member sought clarity over the ownership of the properties in receipt of the proposed insulation.  The Officer confirmed that the 48 properties affected by the application were all Council-owned homes, some of which were terraced with or connected to privately-owned homes which were not included in the insulation project.  In response to a further query as to whether the owners of those homes had been offered the insulation in order to create a greater positive environmental impact, officers agreed to seek this information from the applicant (the Council’s Crawley Homes team).  Previous similar schemes had involved dialogue with local homeowners so it was possible there had also been communication on this occasion.

It was confirmed that the blocks of flats within the area were not covered by the current application.  It was suggested that insulation of the blocks could be explored as part of a further stage in the process – however the mix of Council-owned and privately-owned flats was likely to make the process of insulating the blocks more complex.

RESOLVED

Delegate the decision to permit the application to the Head of Economy and Planning, subject to receipt of a satisfactory schedule of materials and finishes and the conditions set out in report PES/406d – with conditions 3, 4, 5, and 6 amended as follows:

‘3. No development, including site or setting up works of any description, shall take place on or adjacent to Nos. 14 Carman Walk, 8 Tatham Court and 11 Bevan Court unless and until the existing trees adjacent to those sites have been protected by fences in accordance with the details shown on the Proposed Tree Protection Measures (SHDF W1B F58 – Tree) drawing.  Within the areas so fenced off the existing ground level shall be neither raised nor lowered and no materials, temporary buildings, plant machinery or surplus soil shall be placed or stored thereon without the prior written approval of the Local Planning Authority.  If any trenches for services are required in the fenced off areas they shall be excavated and backfilled by hand and any tree roots encountered with a diameter of 25 mm or more shall be left unsevered.  These measures shall remain in place until the works at these properties have been fully completed and all associated materials and equipment has been removed.

REASON:  To ensure the retention and maintenance of trees which are an important feature of the area in accordance with Policy CH7 of the Crawley Borough Local Plan 2015 - 2030.’

‘4. The development hereby approved to each house shall be carried out in accordance with the details set out in the email from the applicant dated 31 August 2022 regarding unloading locations and timeframes, resident engagement and the provision of barriers, minimum footpath widths and alternative temporary footpath provision unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

REASON: In the interests of amenity and in accordance with Policy CH3 of the Crawley Borough Local Plan 2015-2030.’

‘5. The development shall be carried out in strict accordance with the schedule of materials and finishes received on (DATE TBC) unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

REASON: To enable the Local Planning Authority to control the development in detail in the interests of amenity by endeavouring to achieve buildings of visual quality in accordance with Policy CH3 of the Crawley Borough Local Plan 2015-2030 and the Urban Design Supplementary Planning Document.’

‘6. The development shall be implemented in accordance with the details provided in the submitted document titled ‘Appendix 1’ dated July 2022, the submitted document titled ‘6.1: Archetypes Performance – Measures Modelled in the Assessments’ dated June 2022, and the submitted document titled ‘6.2: PHPP Assessment’ dated June 2022 unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

REASON: In the interests of environmental sustainability, in accordance with Policy ENV6 of the Crawley Borough Local Plan 2015-2030 and the Planning & Climate Change Supplementary Planning Document.’