Minutes:
61.1 Item 7A
Application DC/21/03629
Proposal Full Planning Application – Change of Use office building to Parish Meeting Room, erection of front entrance canopy, construction of solar PV panels with associated landscaping and parking.
Site Location EYE – 6 Cross Street, Eye, Suffolk, IP23 7AB
Applicant Mid Suffolk District Council
61.2 The Case Officer presented the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members including: the location of the site, the proposed site layout, and the officer recommendation of approval.
61.3 The Case Officer responded to questions from Members on issues including: the parking arrangements and wider parking issues, disability access to the building, whether consideration had been given to convert the existing building to affordable housing instead of offices, the need for office accommodation in the town, the type of solar panels to be fitted, and whether the concerns regarding access to the Public House had been addressed.
61.4 Members considered the representation from Councillor Richard Berry who spoke on behalf of Eye Town Council.
61.5 The Town Council representative responded to questions from Members on issues including: the double yellow lines adjacent to the parking area.
61.6 Members considered the representation from Kevin Whyte who spoke on behalf of the Agent.
61.7 The Agent, and the applicants representative Kate Parnum, responded to questions from Members on issues including: whether the external area outside of the red line on the plan would be altered, and whether the disabled parking spaces would be available only for visitors to the building, the ownership of the site, the output of the solar panels, and whether the car parking spaces would be for private use of the office space only.
61.8 Members considered the representation from the Ward Member, Councillor Peter Gould.
61.9 The Ward Member responded to questions from Members on issues including: the wider parking issue in the town and whether these could be addressed alongside the proposed timescales for the building, the proposed number of additional electric vehicle charging points, and the number of car parking spaces in the adjacent car park.
61.10 Members debated the application on issues including: the potential increase in employment opportunities, the sustainability of the project, the level of support from the Town Council and Ward Member, and the parking issues.
61.11 Councillor Passmore proposed that the application be approved as detailed in the officer recommendation.
61.12 Councillor Meyer seconded the motion.
61.13 Members continued to debate the application on issues including: the safety of the disabled parking spaces, the appearance of the solar panels, disability access to the building, parking issues within the town, the environmental benefits of the diversification of the building, and the benefits to the community.
61.14 Councillor Passmore and Councillor Meyer agreed to the following additional conditions and informatives:
- A note of disabled access and internal arrangement.
- A note to request that the final parking to be agreed as per the condition takes into account Public House and forthcoming parking review.
- Confirmation that the details for solar panels condition details shall be considered by both planning and heritage officers.
61.15 By a vote of 7 votes for and 1 against
It was RESOLVED:
That the Chief Planning Officer be authorised to GRANT Planning Permission subject to conditions as summarised below and those as may be deemed necessary by the Chief Planning Officer:
· Standard time limit (3 yrs for implementation of scheme);
· Approved Plans (Plans submitted that form this application);
· Notwithstanding the submitted information – Parking Layout to be agreed and implemented prior to first use/occupation;
· Proposed sustainability measures to be fully implemented prior to first use/occupation;
· Precise details and specification of Solar Panels to be agreed prior to installation;
· Render Colour to be agreed prior to application;
· Proposed Biodiversity enhancements to be fully implemented prior to first use/occupation.
With the following additional conditions and informatives:
· For avoidance of doubt, level access for disabled use details shall be agreed (including any handrails) and carried out.
· A note of disabled access and internal arrangement.
· A note to request that the final parking to be agreed as per the condition takes into account Public House and forthcoming parking review.
· Confirmation that the details for solar panels condition details shall be considered by both planning and heritage officers.
Supporting documents: