| No. | Condition Text |
|---|---|
| 1. | The Local Planning Authority considers the proposal as submitted provides inadequate provisions to communal facilities and the layout results in a poor access to the communal facilities proposed. Communal facilities are important aspect in providing a good standard of environment for the occupiers. The majority of the proposed communal facilities are located at the rear of the ground floor which is a significant distance to the occupants of the upper floors and are particularly hard to access for those occupying the rooms in the second floor. The limited levels of communal facility provision can create an unhealthy environment and will force residents into undertaking more daily tasks within the confines of their room of which there was evidence during the site visit. Lack of access to communal facilities does not provide an adequate standard of accommodation meaning the development does not comply with paragraph 17 of the National Planning Policy Framework which states that the planning system should seek a good standard of amenity for all existing and future occupants of land and buildings. In addition paragraph 9 states that sustainable development includes improving peoples living conditions. |
| 2. | A number of rooms do not provide for a suitable standard of accommodation. The irregular shape, narrowness, and limited floor space of rooms 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, and 14 would not provide adequate quality permanent living accommodation. This combined with the poor quality, distance to, and limited provision of communal areas, would result in these small rooms being where residents would spend the majority of time at the property. It was apparent during my site visit that the occupants of these rooms have families and partners who visit the building and as such contribute to the overcrowded and unacceptable living standards. Room 10 is located next to the stair way where the occupants of 10 rooms would need to pass, this proximity to the stair well is likely to cause unacceptable disturbance to the occupants of the room 10. Rooms 2 and 4 have doors opening directly into the communal outdoor areas and bin store areas, as such these rooms would be blighted by noise and disturbance during summer months when other tenants are outside. As such the proposal and the poor quality of living accommodation provided for the potential 30 plus residents is considered contrary to paragraph 17 of the National Planning Policy Framework. |
| 3. | STATEMENT OF POSITIVE ENGAGEMENT (REFUSALS): In accordance with the NPPF, in determining this application for planning permission, the Borough Council has approached it in a positive and proactive way and where possible has sought solutions to problems to achieve the aim of approving sustainable development. Unfortunately, despite this,The proposed change of use has been refused as it fails to comply with paragraph 17 of the National Planning Policy Framework in that it does not provide the good standard of amenity for all existing and future occupants of land and buildings that is required. In addition the proposal does not conform with the provisions of saved policy HOU23 of the Borough Wide Local Plan. in this particular case the development is not considered to represent sustainable or an acceptable form of development and has been refused for the reasons set out above. |
