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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: