Agenda item

RESOLVED

That planning permission be GRANTED for the alteration and conversion of the existing garage/workshop at 35 David's Road, SE23, to provide:

•           Two 2 bedroom live/work units, including the construction of a single storey extension to the rear incorporating a terrace, a first floor extension and a new second storey, incorporating a roof terrace and dormer.

Subject to Conditions and Informatives outlined in the report. 

And a requirement that officers should formulate a condition for the:

Prevention of future occupiers of each unit applying for more than one parking permit per unit.

The Planning Officer, gave an illustrative presentation recommending the grant of planning permission for the alteration and conversion of the existing garage/workshop at 35 David's Road, SE23, to provide two 2 bedroom live/work units, including the construction of a single storey extension to the rear incorporating a terrace, a first floor extension and a new second storey, incorporating a roof terrace and dormer.

The committee noted the report and that the main issues were:

Principle of Development

Housing and Standard of Accommodation

Design

Transport

Impact on Adjoining Properties

Sustainable Development

Following members’ enquiries relating to Live/Work units reverting to residential use, and the window design, the Officer advised that the workshop floor spaces of the live/work units would be finished and ready for occupation before the residential floor space was occupied, and the residential use would not precede commencement of the business use. The Officer also stated that the business floor space of the live/work unit would not be used for any purpose other than for purposes within Class B1 in the Schedule to the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987, or in any related legislation. The Officer also confirmed the additional height of the rear section was considered to improve the amount of daylight and sunlight received by the first floor habitable rooms, and the rear extension and additional windows would allow more natural light to reach the workshop area of the westerly unit.

The applicant addressed the Committee describing the lodged complaint with the ombudsman, explaining where the Council had failed to:

·        Take into account the improvements at 35 David’s Road.

·        Notify him about his neighbour’s planning application for a house extension.

·        Take into account his own planning permission to build two live/work dwellings, with combined workshops before approving his neighbour’s application.

The applicant advised the Committee that the application site measured 21.6m in length and 5.5m wide, and increased slightly to 6m wide at the rear, adjoined to Havelock Walk.

Two residents, addressed the Committee, advising that they were representing the neighbours to the application site. Residents were opposed to the proposal because of concerns relating to loss of outlook, tunnelling effect on rear windows and parking.

The DMTL clarified the role of the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) decision, with respect to the planning application. He confirmed there was no amenity compromise with respect to the existence of the LGO decision. The DMTL advised that the Officers’ recommendation was based solely on the planning merit of the scheme, and the Committee members must only give consideration to the planning merit of the scheme. 

Officer advised that no undue loss of daylight, sunlight, outlook or privacy would be generated upon any neighbour as a result of the proposal. The amenity impact to adjoined occupiers was therefore considered to be acceptable. The Officer confirmed the implemented previous approval included 2x off street parking spaces, and this current proposal originally included one off-street car parking space.

The legal representative advised the Committee with regard to conditioning a restriction on parking to one car per household.

Members voted on the recommendation in the report with a result of 1 abstention and 6 in favour of the proposal.

The Committee

RESOLVED

That planning permission be GRANTED for the alteration and conversion of the existing garage/workshop at 35 David's Road, SE23, to provide:

·        Two 2 bedroom live/work units, including the construction of a single storey extension to the rear incorporating a terrace, a first floor extension and a new second storey, incorporating a roof terrace and dormer.

Subject to Conditions and Informatives outlined in the report,

And a requirement that officers should formulate a condition for the:

·        Prevention of future occupiers of each unit applying for more than one parking permit per unit.