Agenda item
Demolish Penrhosgarnedd Centre and erect a new community
centre and extend Ysgol y Faenol, new access road together with car parking
LOCAL MEMBER:
Councillor Menna Baines
Link to relevant background documents
Minutes:
Demolish Penrhosgarnedd Centre and erect a new
community centre and extend Ysgol y Faenol, new access road together with car park
Attention was drawn to the late observations form that had been received
The Members had
visited the site.
(a) The Planning Manager
elaborated on the background of the application and noted that this was an
application to rearrange and combine the sites of Ysgol
y Faenol and the Community Centre in Penrhosgarnedd. It was noted that the site was located in a residential area,
with the majority within the development boundary of Bangor Sub-regional Centre
as defined by the Anglesey and Gwynedd Joint Local Development Plan. It was highlighted
that the proposal included the following features:
·
demolishing the existing
community centre
·
creating a new car park on
the site of the community centre - the school's main vehicular entrance will
move to the entrance of the car park, which will include 60 parking spaces and
seven drop-off spaces.
·
creating a new link road
leading from the car park to the existing school site (this would be outside
the city's development boundary) - there will be four disabled parking spaces
near the building
· closing the main
entrance to pedestrians, and creating a new entrance 55m to the west
·
demolishing the external
buildings to the rear of the school
·
constructing extensions to the existing building, to include extra space for a new
community centre.
It was reported that Policy ISA 2 of the LDP was supportive of
providing new community facilities and it was considered that the proposal met
all of that policy's criteria. Although
the footprint of the new building would be approximately a third larger than the
existing buildings, it was considered that the design
was an architectural improvement to the existing unremarkable buildings. Due to the urban nature of the site, it was not considered that the proposal was likely to cause
unacceptable long-term detrimental impact to residents nearby or the community
in general, although unavoidably, there would be some increase in noise and
disturbance. It was
reiterated that any harmful impacts could be managed by imposing
appropriate conditions on the development.
In response to late observations
from Sport Wales, it was suggested that a desk exercise had
been implemented by Sport Wales and that they were not familiar with the
site. It was
reiterated that the proposal improved the resources, was a substantial improvement
to the play area and was acceptable in terms of visual amenities.
(a) It was proposed and seconded to approve the
application.
(b) In
response to a question regarding the lack of response of some
agencies and whether the committee should proceed without their comments,
it was reported that the situation of not receiving comments was quite common
and the likelihood was that a response or comment would have been received if
these agencies had concerns. The
Planning Manager did not have an opinion on the suggestion that some of these
agencies were unable to respond due to work pressures.
(ch)
In response to a question regarding
respecting the archaeological condition, the Planning Manager noted that the
applicant was aware of this condition.
(c) In
response to a question regarding light pollution and the likely impact on the
natural environment abutting the development, reference was
made to paragraph 5.8 of the report where it was noted that the
developer intended to install LED lights on poles and on bollards designed to
mitigate light pollution. It was explained that there was potential for light pollution
to be a nuisance to residents and cause harm to wildlife. It was considered
reasonable to impose a condition on any planning permission to submit a
detailed lighting plan to ensure that no unacceptable harm would derive from
this aspect.
(dd) In response to a comment from Sport Wales that
the development would be responsible for the loss of a playing field and a
games court, along with the statutory need to protect a minimum requirement in
terms of the size of the playing field, the Planning Manager noted that much of
the site as it stood was unsuitable for holding sports on it as it was on a
slope. It was
reiterated that the concerns had been addressed and that the provision
submitted with the plan would be a substantial improvement - an increase of
300m2.
(e) During the ensuing
discussion, the following main observations were noted by members:
·
That assurance was needed that the community centre would continue as a
site that would be open to the public after school hours and for periods beyond
the school timetable.
·
That the development was an
exciting project
·
That this was an opportunity
to tidy the site
·
That the plans improved road
safety
RESOLVED to
approve the application and to delegate powers to the Senior Officer to approve
the application, subject to the expiry of the second consultation period with
Sport Wales and additional conditions relating to the introduction of a
lighting plan and traffic management plan and to the conditions noted below:
1.
Time (five years)
2.
In accordance with the plans
3.
Agree on final materials and colours
4.
Transport conditions
5.
Submit and agree a detailed
Environmental Construction Method Statement for the period of developing the
site, including restrictions on the site's working hours.
6. Submit and agree
upon a Detailed Boundary Plan
7.
Must adhere to the Ecological Survey
recommendations
8.
Before the new school
becomes operational a Demolition Plan must be
submitted and agreed for the existing community centre that will include a
timetable for the demolition work and for restoring the land.
9.
Archaeological Condition
10.
No development within the
designated Wildlife Site without prior permission from the Local Planning
Authority.
Notes
1.
Welsh Water
2.
Highways
3.
Natural Resources Wales
4.
Standard advice regarding
SUDS
Supporting documents: