Agenda item

Proposal:       Change of use from a former bank (Class A2) to a hot food takeaway (Class A5); installation of extraction/ventilation equipment and other minor external alterations.

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(The site was viewed by the Site Viewing Working Party).

Proposal:       Change of use from a former bank (Class A2) to a hot food takeaway (Class A5); installation of extraction/ventilation equipment and other minor external alterations.

The Committee considered the written report and recommendation of the Head of Planning to grant permission.

The Committee received supplementary information, circulated prior to the meeting, which gave details on the following:

·         A schedule of opening and closing times for nearby takeaway establishments and the Parchment Makers public house;

·         A schedule of opening and closing times for other businesses that access the rear car parking yard; and

·         Details of 12 further objection letters received.

The Committee were also advised that since the supplementary information had been issued, one further letter of objection had been received.

The Committee was addressed by the following deputees:

a)    Mr Comlay and Ms Glanville-Hearson, who objected to the application for the following reasons:

1)    The application would result in unacceptable traffic issues due to the significant increase in vehicular movements in and around the site;

2)    The application would exacerbate existing parking issues;

3)    The opening of a takeaway would lead to an increase in litter on and around the site;

4)    The application would contravene the adopted Core Strategy aims to promote healthy living in the Borough; and

5)    The takeaway would be detrimental to the visual amenity of the area.

b)    Mr Millward, the applicant’s agent, who supported the application for the following reasons:

1)    The on-site parking was sufficient as delivery vehicles would constantly rotate use of the 3 on-site spaces, while customers visiting the store would make use of multiple public transport connections to Havant Town Centre and link trips with use of the town centre facilities;

2)    The applicant would be willing to submit a Delivery Management Plan, to provide assurance on the route to be used by delivery drivers collecting from the store;

3)    The opening hours had been amended to reflect concerns raised by local residents, and the applicant was willing to accept a condition that the 11pm – midnight opening hours for Fridays and Saturdays be temporary for 12 months to see if any issues are caused at these times;

4)    Noise mitigation measures had been considered suitable;

5)    Measures had been taken to significantly reduce concerns over anti-social behaviour at the site;

6)    An internal litter bin would be provided, as well as CCTV cameras both in and outside of the store; and

7)    The takeaway was relocating from North Street and as such, would not constitute an additional takeaway store in Havant Town Centre.]

c)    Councillor Tim Pike, who objected to the application for the following reasons:

1)    Although the Council would normally look to promote opportunities for town centre regeneration, this application would result in unacceptable parking and transport issues that would contravene DM5 and DM11 of the adopted Core Strategy;

2)    Parking on-site was not sufficient for staff numbers and would result in unacceptable parking issues for residents in surrounding areas; and

3)    The site was not suitable for heavy-duty delivery vehicles and this would cause issues in the rear car parking yard.

In response to questions from members of the Committee, the officers advised that:

a)    While the unit was inside the town centre area, it was not classed as a Primary Frontage and therefore there were no restrictions on the loss of an A1 usage;

b)    The Council’s policies aimed to ensure active frontages in town centres, which in turn enhance and benefit these areas;

c)    Noise calculations had been carried out by measuring current background noise and comparing this to predicted noise levels if the application were to be successful. These had been found to create no additional noise in the AP1 testing location and negligible increases in the AP2 testing location;

d)    The site was situated in an area close to existing retail, office and industrial units; and

e)    It was confirmed that the application included 3 parking spaces in the rear car parking yard.

The Committee discussed the application in detail together with the views raised by the deputees.

Some concern was raised over the impact upon the traffic flow and highway safety. However, in view of the comments of the Highways Engineer in the written report, the Committee were advised that there was not sufficient grounds to refuse for this reason.

The majority of the Committee expressed concerns relating to the parking and delivery access to the site, and considered that this would have a detrimental impact upon nearby residential properties. It was therefore

RESOLVED that Application APP/18/00706 be refused for the following reason:

1          The proposed change of use of the premises would give rise to additional vehicular movements to and from the site, and due to the limited parking facilities available would be detrimental to the amenity of nearby residential properties, particularly during the evening period. It is therefore contrary to policies DM5, DM10, DM11 and CS16 of the Havant Borough Local Plan (Core Strategy) 2011, and the National Planning Policy Framework.