Planning & Traffic Management Sub-Committee

Wednesday 5 December 2001 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors  Blair,  Calvert, Campbell,  McCormick, McGhee and O'Rourke (for Robertson (Y)).

Chair:  Councillor McGhee presided.

In attendance:  Depute Chief Executive, Miss M McKnight (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Head of Planning Services and Mr A Bruce (for Head of Transportation & Roads Service).

Apologies:  Councillors Morrison (M) and Robertson (Y) .

The following paragraphs are submitted for information only, having been dealt with under the powers delegated to the Sub-Committee.

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PLANNING APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED FOR CONTINUED CONSIDERATION

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(a)

Erection of 87 Dwellinghouses:

Weir Street/Leitch Street, Greenock (IC/01/228)

There was submitted a report dated 23 November 2001 by the Head of Planning Services regarding an application by Cloch Housing Association for the erection of 87 dwellinghouses at Weir Street/Leitch Street, Greenock (IC/01/228), consideration of which had been continued from the meeting held on 7 November 2001 for discussion with the developer on site density and traffic management on Weir Street.

The report recommended that planning permission be granted subject to  a number of conditions.   (Councillor Blair entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business.

After discussion, Councillor McGhee moved that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report.   As an amendment , Councillor O'Rourke moved that planning permission be refused as (1) the proposed development would result in an increase in traffic which would have an adverse impact on road traffic and pedestrian safety to the detriment of amenity currently enjoyed by adjoining residents and (2) the density and style of development proposed is not in keeping with surrounding properties and would have an adverse effect on amenity.

On a vote, 1 Member voted for the amendment and 5 for the motion which was declared carried. 

Decided:  that planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:-

(1)  that the development to which this permission relates must be begun within five years from the date of this permission, to comply with Section 58 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997;

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(2)  that development shall not begin until samples of materials to be used on external surfaces of the buildings or in construction of hardstandings/walls/fences have been submitted to and approved in writing by the planning authority and that development shall thereafter be carried out using the approved materials or such alternatives as may be agreed in writing with the planning authority, to ensure a continuity of building materials in the Weir Street/Leitch Street area;

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(3)  that no development shall commence until the applicant has carried out further testing of ground water and remedial action, including timescales for implementation, agreed with the Head of Planning Services in consultation with SEPA and the Head of Environmental and Consumer Services, to obviate any harmful effects from potential contamination of ground water;

(4)  that the centralised heating plant shall achieve a NR30 (noise rating curve of 30) at the nearest affected house, to ensure that there is no unacceptable impact on the residents from noise generated by the centralised heating plant;

(5)  that no development shall commence until fully detailed landscaping proposals and play area details including details of all play equipment and safety surfacing have been submitted to and approved by the Head of Planning Services;

(6)  that the approved landscaping and play area schemes shall be implemented within the first planting season following completion of the 87 houses and any specimens that in the subsequent 5 years die, become diseased or are damaged shall be replaced in the next planting season with a similar specimen unless the Head of Planning Services gives his prior written consent to any variation that may be sought, conditions (5) & (6) being imposed to ensure the provision and maintenance of quality landscaping and play area schemes; and

(7)  that the houses fronting Leitch Street shall be accessed via footway crossovers designed in accordance with the Council’s Roads Development Guide and shall have driveways with gradients not exceeding 10%, in the interests of road safety on Weir Street and Leitch Street.

(b)

Erection of 10 New Build Flats and Conversion of Outbuildings to 2 Dwellinghouses:

Bogside Farm, Millhouse Road, Inverkip (IC/00/314R)

There was submitted a report dated 27 November 2001 by the Head of Planning Services regarding an application by Mr J Miller for the erection of 10 new build flats and the conversion of outbuildings to 2 dwellinghouses at Bogside Farm, Millhouse Road, Inverkip (IC/00/314R), consideration of which had been continued from the meetings held on 2 May and 6 June 2001 for clarification of ownership of the hedge bordering Millhouse Road and the rear gardens of houses on Swallow Brae.

Decided: that planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:-

(1)  that the development to which this permission relates must be begun within five years from the date of this permission, to comply with Section 58 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997;

(2)  that development shall not begin until samples of materials to be used on external surfaces of hardstandings and fences have been submitted to and approved in writing by the planning authority and that development shall thereafter be carried out using the approved materials or such alternatives as may be agreed in writing with the planning authority–, to ensure that the development is finished in materials sympathetic to the residential development surrounding the site;

(3)  that none of the flats and houses hereby approved shall be occupied until the parking layout detailed on the docquetted site layout plan has been completed to the satisfaction of the planning authority, to prevent on street parking on Millhouse Road to the detriment of road safety;

(4)  that the road improvements detailed on plans 181/RD/101(Oct 2001), 181/RD/102(Oct 2001) and 181/RD/103(Oct 2001) shall be provided prior to construction of any of the flats and houses hereby approved being commenced;

(5)  that any foliage overhanging the footway or street lighting shall be cut back to the satisfaction of the Head of Planning Services in consultation with the Head of Transportation and Roads Service; and

(6)  that coloured surfacing shall be incorporated over the narrowed section of carriageway along with the preceding 15m on both approaches, conditions (4) - (6) being imposed in the interests of pedestrian and vehicular safety on Millhouse Road.

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PLANNING APPLICATIONS

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There were submitted reports by the Head of Planning Services on the following applications which were submitted, together with letters of objection and support where submitted, and dealt with as follows:-

   (a)

Formation of Timber Decking to Rear of Dwellinghouse (in retrospect):

5 Hilltop Crescent, Gourock (IC/01/315)

Decided: that planning permission be granted subject to the condition that the existing mature hedging and trees on the north boundary between Hilltop Crescent and Larkfield Road/Garvie Avenue, Gourock shall not be lopped, topped, felled, removed or disturbed in any way without the prior approval of the Head of Planning Services, to ensure that the privacy of adjacent properties is protected.

   (b)

Change of Use of Light Industrial Unit to Educational Use:

Unit 3, Fort Matilda Industrial Estate, Greenock (IC/01/242)

Decided:  that planning permission be granted.

   (c)

Change of Use from Shop Unit to Dwellinghouse:

151 Finnart Street, Greenock (IC/01/290R)

Decided:  that planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:-

(1)  that the development to which this permission relates must be begun within five years from the date of this permission, to comply with Section 58 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997; and

(2)  that development shall not begin until samples of materials to be used on external surfaces of the new ndwellinghouse and the new boundary wall on Finnart Street have been submitted to and approved by the Head of Planning Services in writing, to ensure that the external finishes are appropriate for the locality and maintain the visual quality of the area.

   (d)

Change of Use from Plumber’s Showroom/Offices to Tanning and Beauty Salon:

5 South Street, Greenock (IC/01/299)

Decided:  that planning permission be granted.

   (e)

Variation to Existing Planning Consent to Sub-Divide and Alter Farm Steading to Form 3 Dwellinghouses and Erection of Garage (in retrospect):

North Denniston, Kilmacolm (IC/01/283)

Decided:  that planning permission be granted subject to the condition that prior to the 3 houses being occupied a visibility splay of 215 x 4.5 x 1.05m at the access road onto the A761 shall be achieved, the first 10m of the access road adjoining the A761 shall be surfaced in impervious material and provision for wheely bin storage outwith the public road shall be made, in the interests of road safety on the A761.

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ADVERTISEMENT APPLICATION

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There was submitted a report dated 26 November 2001 by the Head of Planning Services on an application for the display of a free standing signboard at Wellington Street/Duncan Street, Greenock (CA/01/38).

Decided:  that advertisement consent be refused for the following reasons:-

(1) as the proposal is contrary to Policy DCr(iii), which states:

“No advance directional signs will be permitted unless the location of the premises concerned cannot be otherwise indicated with safety or reasonable clarity to passing traffic”; and

(2)  as the proposed sign would be detrimental to the visual amenity of the area and would act as a precedent for further similar developments.

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PLANNING APPEAL

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There was submitted a report dated 19 November 2001 by the Head of Planning Services advising that following the decision of the Sub-Committee at the meeting held on 5 September 2001 to refuse planning permission for the erection of 8 flats at Bothyhill, Farm Road, Gourock (IC/01/124), an appeal against the refusal of planning permission had been made to the Scottish Ministers.

Noted

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PLANNING APPEAL

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There was submitted a report dated 19 November 2001 by the Head of Planning Services advising that following the decision of the Sub-Committee at the meeting held on 1 August 2001 to refuse planning permission for change of use of store to a repair garage and depository with sublet office space at 10 Robertson Street, Greenock (IC/01/157) and the service of an enforcement notice, appeals against the refusal of planning permission and the service of the enforcement notice had been made to the Scottish Ministers.

Noted