Agenda item

(Councillors Carson and Nicholl took no part in the discussion or decision-making of the application since they had not been in attendance at the meeting on 12th March, when it had originally been considered)

(Councillors Carson and Nicholl left the meeting at this point)

            The case officer reminded the Committee that it had considered the major application at its meeting on 12th March, when it had agreed to defer consideration to enable the Committee to receive a briefing on the Travel Plan for the site, and to undertake a site visit in order to acquaint Members with the site and the surrounding residential streets.

            He advised the Members that the briefing on the Travel Plan and the site visit had both taken place on 21st March, with representatives from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Roads in attendance.

            The case officer reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 12th March, a number of members had raised concerns relating to the parking provision to serve the proposal and the impact that it would have on traffic flow and on the amenity of nearby streets.

            He explained that, in light of further discussions with DfI Roads, a condition had been added to ensure that there was designated parking to serve the proposed children’s hospital.  The Committee was advised that the condition would ensure that 97 car parking spaces would be permanently retained as dedicated car parking for visitors and patients of the Children’s Hospital.  He clarified to the Members that these 97 spaces would be in addition to the 24 new spaces, which were included as part of the application.

            The Members were advised that Condition 11.10 within the original report of 12th March had been amended to ensure that the Travel Plan was agreed and implemented prior to the operation of the Children’s Hospital.

            The Committee’s attention was drawn to the Late Items pack, where the Planning Service had detailed that the timeframe for the Travel Plan for the entire hospital should be implemented within twelve months from the commencement of development, and not six months as detailed within the report.  Further late items included details of correspondence between the agent and the Planning Service to clarify the wording of conditions relating to car parking and the Travel Plan for the site, a Briefing Note which had been submitted by the agent further to the Committee’s site visit, and clarification from DfI Roads in relation to its position on parking at the site.  The case officer advised the Members that the Planning Service’s response to each correspondence was addressed within the pack.

            The Committee received representation from Ms. K. Brookes, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, and Ms. U. Somerville, Aecom.  Together they outlined to the Committee that:

·        they appreciated the previous concerns raised relating to parking and had had significant engagement with DfI Roads and the Planning Service since the previous Committee meeting, resulting in the two conditions referenced by the case officer;

·        this was the first time that a site specific Travel Plan would be developed for the RVH campus;

·        the focus of the Travel Plan was on staff, it would be reviewed annually and it would contain a mixture of incentives and penalties; and

·        they would like the Committee to consider extending the implementation period for the Travel Plan to “within 18 months from the demolition of Bostock House”, instead of 12 months.

            The Chairperson advised the Committee that Mr L. Walsh, DfI Roads, was in attendance.  In response to a Member’s question regarding the encouragement of active travel, specifically cycling, contained within the Travel Plan, Mr. Walsh advised the Committee that the Eastern Division of DfI Roads was currently undertaking a gap analysis of the cycle network in Belfast to identify safe routes for cyclists.

            The Committee granted approval to the application, subject to the imposing of the conditions as set out within the case officer’s report and within the Late Items Pack, and delegated power to the Director of Planning and Building Control for the final wording of the conditions.

            (Councillor Nicholl returned to the Committee table at this point)

            (Alderman McGimpsey and Councillor Hutchinson left the meeting at this point)