Agenda and minutes

            No apologies were reported.

            No declarations of interest were recorded.

            The Planning Manager (Development Management) reminded the Members that applications LA04/2017/2811/F and LA04/2017/2783/DCA had originally been considered by the Planning Committee at its meeting on 16th October, 2018, when the Committee had resolved to grant planning permission, subject to clarification of the consultation response from DfI Roads, satisfactory amendments to the design of the public realm enhancements, the submission of a satisfactory Travel Plan, and securing travel cards for the occupants of the development for five years. 

            He advised the Members that the Planning (Notification of Applications) Direction 2017 provided that, since there had been an objection to the major application from the Historic Environment Division (HED), it had been necessary to notify the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) because the resolution to approve was contrary to the views of a statutory consultee.  He explained to the Committee that, on 26th March, 2019, the DfI had confirmed that it did not consider it necessary for the applications to be referred to it for determination.

            He explained to the Committee that, under Regulation 7(1) of the Planning (Development Management) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015, the Council was required to hold a pre-determination hearing to hear the views of interested parties and for the Committee to seek clarification from those parties on the facts surrounding the development. 

            The Committee was reminded that a decision on the applications would not be reached at that meeting but that they would be formally considered at the Planning Committee later that evening.  The Planning Manager highlighted to the Members that the hearing should focus on the material planning considerations.

            The Planning Manager provided the key aspects of the planning applications to the Committee, including various viewpoints of the proposed building in relation to surrounding buildings.

            The Committee’s attention was drawn to the case officer’s report, which included the original committee report of 16th October, 2018 and the Late Items report from that meeting.  The Planning Manager advised the Members that the reports provided the background to the applications, the consultation responses and the relevant key issues to be considered.

            He advised the Committee that DfI Roads had subsequently withdrawn its earlier objection to the application as reported in the Late Items report, on the understanding that there would be an updated Travel Plan and that public transport travel cards would be provided for each residential unit for the first five years of occupation. He advised that, on that basis, DfI Roads had withdrawn their requirement for on-site parking.

            The Members were advised that HED had objected to the applications as it felt that the proposals would adversely affect the setting of nearby Listed Buildings and that the proposal was out of keeping with the context and character of the setting and both the listed buildings’ relationship with their setting and the detailed design was out of keeping with the listed buildings in terms of scale, form, massing and proportions.

            Since the Planning Committee’s meeting of 16th October, 2018, the Committee was advised that the Council had received further  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.