The Chair welcomed Members of the Planning Committee, Officers and viewing members of the public to the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from:

Councillor Brian Kenny

Councillor George Davies

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 8 September 2022.

Resolved –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 September 2022 be approved.

Members of the Committee were asked whether they had any personal or prejudicial interests in connection with any application on the agenda and if so to declare them and state the nature of the interest.

No such declarations were made.

The Chair proposed to vary the order of items to accommodate the members of the public present. He proposed dealing with items in the following order:

APP/21/02188 Car park SW of Cherry Tree Shopping Centre

APP/22/01037 Allandale, Farr Hall Road

APP/21/01924 9 Pipers End, Heswall

APP/21/02378 114 Rake Lane, Liscard

The performance reports in order

This was agreed and the minutes are presented in that order.

The Principal Planning Officer presented the report of the Director of Regeneration and Place in relation to the above application for consideration.

Lead Petitioner Rebecca Lowe addressed the Committee along with Malcolm Goode as a blue badge holder.

Ward Councillors D Kenny and J Williamson addressed the Committee.

The Applicant’s Agent, Derek Maynard Smith and Mr Daley spoke in favour of the application and answered questions.

On a motion by Councillor P Stuart and seconded by Councillor P Martin, it was –

Resolved (unanimously) –

That the application be refused on the grounds that the ANPR cameras have an intrinsic role in the management arrangements of the car park which is undermining the vitality and viability of Liscard town centre. The development is therefore contrary to section 7 of the National Planning and Policy Framework and policy SH1 of the Wirral Unitary Development Plan. 

The Principal Planning Officer presented the report of the Director of Regeneration and Place in relation to the above application for consideration.

Lead Petitioner Keith Pritchard addressed the Committee on behalf of local residents objecting to this proposal.

Councillor A Hodson spoke in objection on behalf of the Heswall Society.

The Applicant, Michael Mansfield, addressed the Committee.

The Chair, seconded by Councillor K Hodson, moved that the application be rejected on the following grounds:

1 – The proximity of plot 1 to trees protected by a Tree Preservation Order is likely to result in pressure from future occupiers for the removal or significant pruning of these trees to secure reasonable natural light to rooms and gardens, or to remove perceived dangers to life or property, to the detriment of the health and amenity value of the trees and the wider character of the area. As such, the application is contrary to saved policies GRE1 and GR7 of the Wirral Unitary Development Plan.

2 - The proximity of plot 1 to trees protected by a Tree Preservation Order would be likely to result in a poor standard of internal and external amenity at the rear of this dwelling and within the private garden due to the sense of enclosure and shading caused by the proximity and scale of the trees and the extent of their canopies. As such, the application is contrary to saved policy HS4 of the Wirral Unitary Development Plan and paragraph 130 f) and 131 of the National Planning Policy Framework, which seeks to ensure developments create a high standard of amenity for existing and future users of land and buildings.

This was lost with 5 in favour, 7 against

On a motion by Councillor S Foulkes and seconded by the Chair, it was –

Resolved (7:5) – that planning permission be granted with 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).

2. The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the approved plans received by the local planning authority on 30 June 2022 and listed as follows: 21-042-110, Rev M, 21-042-111 Rev E,21-042-112 Rev C, 21-042-113 Rev B, 21-042-120 Rev F, 21-042-123, Rev B, 21-042-121 Rev F, 21- 042-122 Rev B, 21-042-151 Rev E, 21-042-150 Rev E, 21-042-152 Rev B and 21-042-153 Rev B.

Reason: For the avoidance of doubt and to define the permission.

3. No surface water and/or land drainage shall be connected directly or indirectly to the public sewerage network.

Reason: to prevent hydraulic overloading of the public sewerage system, to protect the health and safety of existing residents and ensure no pollution or detriment to the environment and to comply with Policy WA1 (Development and Flood Risk).

4. The balcony screens hereby permitted shall be installed before the balconies are first bought into use. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 90.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report of the Director of Regeneration and Place in relation to the above application for consideration.

Councillor A Hodson spoke against the application.

Jeremy Forsey spoke as the applicant.

In line with Standing Order 9.1, in the Council’s Constitution the Chair asked Members to indicate if they wished to continue to deal with all items on the agenda in full, dispose of them briefly or defer them.

Resolved (unanimously) –

That the meeting continue until the conclusion of the agenda.

Councillor K Hodson moved, seconded by Councillor M Jordan, that the application be refused on the following grounds:

That the proposal would result in an unneighbourly form of development due to its scale and close proximity to habitable windows within the neighbouring property 9 Pipers End. This would result in an unacceptable loss of light and overbearing impact which would have a harmful and detrimental impact upon the amenities of existing and future occupiers. The proposal is therefore considered to be contrary to the Wirral Unitary Development Plan policy HS4 and the National Planning and Policy Framework.

This was voted on and lost (4:8).

On a motion by Councillor P Stuart and seconded by Councillor J McManus, it was –

Resolved (8:4) – that planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

1. The development must be begun not later than the expiration of three years beginning with the date of this permission.

Reason: To comply with Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended by the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

2. The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans: Proposed Site Layout Ref F1528-3C rec 08.09.2022 Proposed Floor Plans Ref F1528-1 rec 06.07.2022 Proposed Elevations Ref F1528-2A rec 31.08.2022 Proposed Double garage Ref F1528-4 rec 06.07.2022 Badger Pathways V2 rec 16.08.2022

Reason: For the avoidance of doubt having regard to WMBC UDP Policy HS4 (New Housing Development) and TR9 (Requirements for Off-Street Parking)

3. The materials to be used on the external surfaces of the development (brickwork, cladding and roofing materials along with materials used in any hard surface) shall be as outlined on the following plans and documents, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority: Proposed Elevations Ref F1528-2A rec 31.08.2022

Reason: To ensure the appearance of the development is satisfactory having regard to WMBC UDP Policy HS4 (New Housing Development)

4. The two en-suite windows on the western side elevation and the en-suite and kitchen window on the eastern elevation will be of the development hereby permitted must be; a) non-opening unless the parts of the window which can be opened are more than 1.7 metres above the floor of the room in which the window is installed, and; b) fitted with glass which has been rendered permanently obscured to Group 5 level of privacy or equivalent. Thereafter, those window(s) must be retained to this specification throughout the lifetime of the development.

Reason: To preserve  ...  view the full minutes text for item 91.

Councillor P Martin moved that this item be deferred to the next meeting as objections had been received regarding the consultation process and the ability of objectors to attend the meeting. Councillor S Foulkes suggested that the reason for deferral should be due to the late hour and to make sure that Members had sufficient time to consider the matter fully. This was moved by Councillor P Martin and seconded by Councillor P Stuart.

Resolved (unanimously) –

That the matter be deferred until the next scheduled meeting of the Planning Committee.

The Chief Planner presented the report of the Director of Regeneration and Place which updated Members on the performance of the Development Management Service with regard to determining planning applications. The report outlined performance against government targets in terms of the speed of processing all applications.

Resolved –

that the report be noted.

The Chief Planner presented the report of the Director of Regeneration and Place which updated Members on the performance of the Development Management Service regarding planning appeals, including the percentage of the Council’s decisions overturned (on appeal) by the Planning Inspectorate. It was noted that there were no concerns raised on the performance.

Resolved –

That the report be noted.

The Chief Planner presented the report of the Director of Regeneration and Place which updated Members on the performance of the Development Management Service with regard to its planning enforcement activity for the period of 1st January 2022 to 31st March 2022, and 1st April 2022 to 30th June 2022.

Resolved –

That the report be noted.