Agenda item

Bus Station, 44 High Street, Lymington (Application 16/10754)

17 sheltered apartments for the elderly; retail unit; communal facilities; access; underground car parking; bin store; landscaping; demolition of existing (Amended plans and description)

 

RECOMMENDED:

 

Refuse

 

 

Minutes:

Details:

17 sheltered apartments for the elderly, retail unit; communal facilities; access; underground car parking; bin store; landscaping; demolition of existing (amended plans and description)

 

 

 

 

Public Participants:

Mr MacFarland – Applicant’s Agent

Mr Simpson – Objector

Town Cllr Sutherland – Lymington and Pennington Town Council

 

 

 

 

Additional Representations:

Lymington and Pennington Town Council confirmed their objection.

 

1 further letter of objection on the same grounds as set out in the report.

 

The Highways Authority expanded their comments as set out in the update circulated prior to the meeting.

 

 

 

 

Comment:

Cllrs Penson, Rostand and White disclosed non-pecuniary interests as members of Lymington and Pennington Town Council which had commented on the application.  They concluded that there were no grounds under common law to prevent them from remaining in the meeting to speak and to vote.

 

The officer’s recommendation was amended by revised wording for the first 3 reasons for refusal, as set out in the update circulated prior to the meeting.

 

 

 

 

Decision:

Refused

 

 

 

 


Refusal Reasons:

As per report (Item 3(b)), with the first 3 reasons for refusal amended to read:

 

1.    The proposed development would result in a combination of buildings that would be of an excessive size by virtue of their height, width, depth, overly large roof profiles, close proximity to the site boundaries and lack of meaningful green space in this area which would not respect local distinctiveness. The site lies within the Lymington Conservation Area close to many listed buildings and the proposals would fail to recognise this sensitive context and fail to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of the Conservation Area. As a result the proposals would fail to comply with policies CS1, CS2 and CS3 of the Core Strategy for the New Forest District outside the National Park, policy DM1 of the Local Plan Part 2 (Sites and Development Management DPD), Lymington Local Distinctiveness SPD, Lymington Conservation Area Appraisal and the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

2.    The proposed development would have an adverse impact on the setting of adjacent heritage assets in the form of a number of grade II listed buildings, in particular buildings at nos. 30, 31, 32, 33, 36 and 37 High Street, Londesborough House and the Nat West Bank High Street. These buildings would suffer direct harm to their setting from the rear and in views across to and from these buildings. As a result the development would fail to comply with policy CS3 of the Core Strategy for the New Forest District outside the National Park, policy DM1 of the Local Plan Part 2 (Sites and Development Management DPD) and the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

3.    Notwithstanding the applicant’s commitment to make the required affordable housing contribution, in the absence of a mechanism to ensure the agreed contribution is paid, the proposed development would fail to make any contribution toward addressing the substantial need for affordable housing in the District. The proposal would therefore conflict with an objective of the Core Strategy for the New Forest District outside the National Park 2009 and with the terms of Policies CS15 and CS25 of the Core Strategy.

 

 

 

 

 

Supporting documents: