ITEM NO:
Location:
Great Ashby Community Resource Centre, Whitehorse
Lane, Great Ashby, Stevenage, SG1 6NH
Applicant:
Mr Davis
North Hertfordshire District Council
Proposal:
Single storey side extension inclusion of sun tubes on
proposed extension roof (minor material amendment
to application number 09/01550/1 granted 29
September 2011 involving change of material from
brickwork to blockwork to front extension and
insertion of solar panels on existing side elevation)
Ref.No:
11/01953/ 1
Officer:
Kate Poyser
Date of expiry of statutory period : 19 October 2011
Reason for Delay (if applicable)
Planning Control Meeting cycle.
Reason for Referral to Committee (if applicable)
The applicant is North Hertfordshire District Council.
1.0
Relevant History
1.1
A neighbourhood centre including a community hall was envisaged in the approved
Master Plan for Gt Ashby in 1994.
1.2
Planning permission was granted for a detached building for use as a church and
community centre with 25 car parking spaces in 2000 ref: 00/01860/1
1.3
Planning permission was granted for a community centre with space for place of
worship and car park as a variation of 00/01860/1 in 2001 under reference No
01/00879/1.
1.4
Planning permission was granted for a single storey side extension to provide
additional hall, meeting room, stores, office and toilets, under reference No.
09/01550/1.
2.0
Policies
2.1
North Hertfordshire District Local Plan No.2 with Alterations
Policy 4 - North East Stevenage
Policy 39 - Leisure Uses
Policy 55 - Car Parking Standards
3.0
Representations
3.1
Great Ashby Community Council - no comments received
3.2
Local Residents - no comments received.
4.0
Planning Considerations
4.1
Site & Surroundings
4.1.1 The Community Centre is part of the neighbourhood centre serving the Great
Ashby housing estate. There is a children's day nursery adjacent to where the
extension is proposed, a row of shops and veterinary surgery. The buildings are
served by a central car park. On the opposite side of Whitehorse Lane is a school.
There are residential properties above the supermarket and in Whitehorse Lane to
the south of the Neighbourhood Centre. There are also residential properties on the
opposite side of Great Ashby Way and Blackdown Close.
4.2
Proposal
4.2.1 The proposal is a variation of the previous application for a single storey side
extension. The amendment is for 7 sun tubes and 2 solar panels on the roof and for
brickwork instead of render to the side (north west) elevation. Please see drawings.
4.3
Key Issues
4.3.1 The key issue relates to the appearance of the development. The proposed
amendments would have no significant effect on nearby residential amenity.
4.3.2 The sun tubes on the elevation facing Great Ashby Way would stand proud of the
roof slope by a little under one metre and they would be publicly visible. However,
while the main bulk of the building is 9 metres high to the ridge, the sun tubes
would be on a single storey wing 5.3 metres to the ridge. In its overall context, I
consider the sun tubes would not have a detrimental effect on the overall
appearance of the community centre and the street scene. The two solar panels
would have even less impact on the appearance of the building.
4.3.3 It is also relevant to take into account that these proposed additions would reduce
the carbon footprint of the building and would be in the interests of sustainability.
4.3.4 The change of facing material to the north west elevation would be the same as the
predominant material on this existing elevation and I can see no objections to this
change.
4.4
Conclusion
4.4.1 There are no sustainable planning objections to raise to this proposal.
5.0
Legal Implications
5.1
In making decisions on applications submitted under the Town and Country
Planning legislation, the Council is required to have regard to the provisions of the
development plan and to any other material considerations. The decision must be
in accordance with the plan unless the material considerations indicate otherwise.
Where the decision is to refuse or restrictive conditions are attached, the applicant
has a right of appeal against the decision.
6.0
Recommendation
6.1
That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:
1.
The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of 3
years from the date of this permission.
Reason: To comply with the provisions of Section 91 of the Town and Country
Planning Act 1990 as amended by Section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory
Purchase Act 2004.
2.
The development hereby permitted shall be carried out wholly in accordance
with the details specified in the application and supporting approved
documents and plans listed above.
Reason: To ensure the development is carried out in accordance with details
which form the basis of this grant of permission.
.
Reason for Decision
The proposed amendments would have no adverse effect on the visual
amenities of the locality or on nearby residential amenity and as such would
comply with the provisions of the relevant development plan as summarised
below.
North Hertfordshire District Local Plan No 2 with Alterations
Policy 4 - North East Stevenage
Policy 39 - Leisure Uses