Eight flats at 25 The Grove, Coulsdon

The site and surroundings

The site contained a completed two-storey building with basement and roof accommodation, eight flats, sloping land and a poor public transport accessibility level.

“Site and Surroundings Figure 3: Site Location Plan 3.9 The application site is located on the north-west side of The Grove and originally comprised a two-storey detached dwelling with accommodation in the roof and a detached garage at the front of the site. The topography of the site slopes…”

“The original dwelling has now been demolished and replaced with a two storey building with a basement level and accommodation in the roof space and which contains 8 self-contained flats.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the development’s benefits and acceptable living conditions outweighed limited policy conflicts and the absence of significant harm.

“Taking all matters into account, including the delivery of additional housing, the acceptable living conditions provided, the limited nature of the identified policy conflicts, and the absence of significant harm to character, neighbour amenity or highway safety, the benefits of the development are considered to outweigh the shortcomings identified.”

“Officers have carefully considered the differences between the approved and as-built schemes, including the design, landscaping and accessibility arrangements, and have assessed these matters on their individual planning merits in reaching the recommendation set out in this report. The recommended planning conditions will secure targeted remedial action, setting out clear timescales for enforceability.”

Officer report

Consultation and objections

Four neighbours objected, while the Tree Officer raised no arboricultural objection subject to landscaping details.

“SUMMARY OF KEY REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION 4.1 The application is recommended for approval for the following reasons: • The principle of the development is acceptable, • The proposed development is acceptable in terms of its design, • The quality of accommodation proposed is acceptable for future occupiers, • The impact on neighbouring residential amenity is acceptable, • Trees, landscaping, and biodiversity matters are acceptable, • Parking and highway matters are…”

“The following sections of this report summarise the officer assessment and the reason for the recommendation. CONSULTATION RESPONSE 5.1 The views of the Planning Service are expressed in the MATERIAL PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS section below. The following were consulted regarding the application: Tree Officer • No arboricultural objection raised. • Details regarding landscaping should be provided.”

Officer report

Concerns raised

Representations raised concerns about character, scale, overlooking, privacy, landscaping, refuse arrangements, construction compliance and health and safety.

“OFFICIAL • The development on this site is not in accordance with the planning application and that there are health and safety concerns with the construction. MP Chris Philp [objecting] on the following grounds: ‘The development that has been built is intrusive and oppressive due to its size, height, depth, height and massing and fails to respect the local character 2.”

“Concerns about the adequacy of the waste and recycling storage and collection arrangements.’ The following issues were raised in representations that are material to the determination of the application, and they are addressed in substance in the next section of this report: Objection Officer comment Character and design Not in-keeping with the area Acknowledged and addressed in paragraphs 8.13 - 8.25.”

Officer report

Who addressed the committee

A written objector, a speaker opposing the application, the agent supporting it and the referring ward councillor addressed the committee.

Members considered the application

After hearing the speakers, members deliberated and proposed approval with the report’s conditions and amended privacy screening requirements.

“After the speakers had finished, the Committee deliberated.”

“The motion to GRANT the application based on the officer’s recommendation was proposed by Councillor Srinivasan, subject to the conditions set out in the report and an amendment to the privacy screening condition to require submission of full details of balcony balustrading and screening. This was seconded by Councillor Davis.”

Minutes

The vote

The motion to grant permission was carried with five votes in favour, none against and three abstentions.

“The motion to GRANT the application was taken to a vote and carried with five members voting in favour, no members voting against and three Members abstaining.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee granted permission subject to the reported conditions, legal agreement and amended privacy screening condition.

“The Committee RESOLVED to GRANT the application for 24/04074/FUL - 25 The Grove, Coulsdon, CR5 2BH, subject to the conditions and legal agreement set out in the officer report and the amended privacy screening condition.”

Minutes