Agenda item

Councillor Guest declared a personal interest as it was in her ward. She said that she had been approached by the person speaking in objection but had given no view and had told them how to register to speak.

The Case Officer, Colin Lecart, introduced the report to Members.

Dr Robert Baker-Glenn spoke in objection to the application.

It was proposed by Councillor Stevens and seconded by Councillor Hobson to GRANT the application in line with the officer’s recommendation.

Vote:

For: 6                           Against: 4                    Abstained: 1    

Resolved: That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

 1.        The development hereby permitted shall begin before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

            Reason:  To comply with the requirements of Section 91 (1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended by Section 51 (1) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

 2.        The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans/documents:

            DBC/019/007

            Reason:  For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

3.        Before being brought in to use the new parking areas hereby approved shall be surfaced in porous paving or similar durable bound material and arrangements shall be made for surface water from the site to be intercepted and disposed of separately into a soakaway so that it does not discharge onto the highway.

Reason: To avoid the carriage of extraneous material surface water from the site into the highway so as to safeguard the interest of highway safety in accordance with Policy CS31 of the Core Strategy (2013).

 4.        No work (including site clearance) in relation to the development hereby approved shall be undertaken until full details setting out how retained trees shall be protected, in accordance with BS5837:2012 (Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction), have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  Details shall include:

            o          A scaled Tree Protection Plan showing the approved development layout and retained trees (surveyed in accordance with BS5837:2012), to include their accurate crown spreads and root protection areas (RPAs).

            o          The position and specification of tree protection fencing in accordance with BS5837:2012 (as applicable).

            o          The position and specification of ground protection in accordance with BS5837:2012 (as applicable).

            There shall be no excavation, changes in levels, storage of materials or access within the RPA of retained trees unless previously specified and agreed.

            The works must then be carried out according to the approved details.

Reason:  In order to ensure that damage does not occur to trees and hedges during building operations in accordance with saved Policy 99 of the Dacorum Borough Local Plan (2004), Policy CS12 of the Dacorum Borough Core Strategy (2013) and Paragraph 170 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2019).

Informatives:

 1.        Planning permission consent has been granted for this proposal. Discussion with the applicant to seek an acceptable solution was not necessary in this instance. The Council has therefore acted pro-actively in line with the requirements of the Framework (paragraph 38) and in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) (Amendment No. 2) Order 2015.

2.         Obstruction of public highway land: It is an offence under section 137 of the Highways Act 1980 for any person, without lawful authority or excuse, in any way to wilfully obstruct the free passage along a highway or public right of way. If this development is likely to result in the public highway or public right of way network becoming routinely blocked (fully or partly) the applicant must contact the Highway Authority to obtain their permission and requirements before construction works commence. Further information is available via the website https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/highways-roads-and-pavements/business-and-developer-information/business-licences/business-licences.aspx or by telephoning 0300 1234047.