Agenda item

5d.

24/00725/FUL Alterations including extensions to provide enhanced community facilities to the existing building

Adeyfield Day Centre, The Driftway, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4EA

The Case Officer, Sally Robbins, introduced the report to Members and said that the application had been referred to the committee due to it being a council-owned building with neighbour objections.

It was proposed by Councillor Guest and seconded by Councillor Bristow toGRANT the application.

Vote:

For:                 Against:                       Abstained:

8                      0                                  2

Resolved: That planning permission be GRANTED.

RECOMMENDATION

That planning permission be GRANTED

Conditions and Reasons:

 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:

            8442/DW/CH/020 Rev. B

            8442/DW/CH/005

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

 3.        Development may not be begun unless:

            (a) A biodiversity gain plan has been submitted to the planning authority; and

            (b) The planning authority has approved the plan in writing.

                        The biodiversity gain plan must include:

            (a) Information about the steps taken or to be taken to minimise the adverse effect of the development on the biodiversity of the onsite habitat and any other habitat;

            (b) The pre-development biodiversity value of the onsite habitat;

            (c) The post-development biodiversity value of the onsite habitat;

            (d) Any registered offsite biodiversity gain allocated to the development and the biodiversity and the biodiversity value of that gain in relation to the development;

            (e) Any biodiversity credits purchased for the development; and

            (f) Any such other matters as the Secretary of State may by regulations specify.

The Biodiversity Gain Plan shall be prepared in accordance with the Small Sites Metric dated 27 November 2024 and prepared by Conor McCabe.

The development shall not commence until a Landscape Ecological Management Plan (LEMP) / Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP), prepared in accordance with the approved Biodiversity Gain Plan and including:

            (a) A non-technical summary;

            (b) The roles and responsibilities of the people or organisation(s) delivering the LEMP / HMMP

            (c) The planned habitat creation and enhancement works to create or improve habitat to achieve the biodiversity net gain in accordance with the approved Biodiversity Gain Plan;

            (d) The management measures to maintain habitat in accordance with the approved Biodiversity Gain Plan for a period of 30 years from the completion of development; and

            (e) The monitoring methodology and frequency in respect of the created or enhanced habitat to be submitted to the local planning authority, has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the local planning authority.

                        Notice in writing shall be given to the Council when the:

            (a) LEMP / HMMP has been implemented; and

            (b) Habitat creation and enhancement works as set out in the LEMP / HMMP have been completed.

                        No occupation shall take place until:

            (a) The habitat creation and enhancement works set out in the approved LEMP / HMMP have been completed; and

            (b) A completion report, evidencing the completed habitat enhancements, has been submitted to, and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

The created and/or enhanced habitat specified in the approved LEMP / HMMP shall be managed and maintained in accordance with the approved LEMP / HMMP.

Monitoring reports shall be submitted to local planning authority in writing in accordance with the methodology and frequency specified in the approved [HMMP].

            Reason: To ensure the development delivers a biodiversity net gain on site in accordance with Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as inserted by Schedule 14 of the Environment Act 2021) (or as subsequently amended), Policies CS26 and CS29 of the Dacorum Borough Core Strategy (2013) and the National Planning Policy Framework (2024).

            These details are required prior to commencement to ensure that the ecological and biodiversity enhancements can be achieved before construction works begin and to ensure statutory requirements are fulfilled.

 4.        The development hereby permitted shall be constructed in accordance with the materials specified on the application form.

            Reason: To make sure that the appearance of the building is suitable and that it contributes to the character of the area in accordance with Policies CS11 and CS12 of the Dacorum Borough Core Strategy (2013).

 5.        The guest bedroom hereby permitted shall not be occupied at any time other than for purposes ancillary to the primary use of the community facility known as The Driftway and shall not be independently occupied.

            Reason:  For the avoidance of doubt and to ensure that the development does not result in an increase in recreational pressure at the Chilterns Beechwoods Special Area of Conservation, to accord with Core Strategy (2013) Policy CS26, paragraph 194 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2024) and the requirements of the Habitats Regulations 2017.

Informatives:

 1.        Planning permission 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.