Agenda item

Application No. 19/00341/FULPP - Giffard Drive Surgery, Nos. 68-70 Giffard Drive, Farnborough

Minutes:

The Committee considered the Head of Economy, Planning and Strategic Housing’s Report No. PLN1935 (as amended at the meeting) regarding the demolition of an existing bungalow and the erection of a two-storey extension to the existing doctors’ surgery with provision of additional car and cycle parking at Giffard Drive, Farnborough.  Before considering the application in detail, the Committee received representations in accordance with the scheme for public representation from Mr Patrick Boyle against the application and Dr Ian Stuart in support of the application.  Councillor Veronica Graham-Green also spoke in support of the application.

 

It was noted that the recommendation was to refuse permission for the following reasons:

 

1.    It was considered that, due to the proximity, footprint, height and massing of the resultant building, the proposal would represent an unneighbourly over-development of the site which would result in an increased sense of enclosure, loss of light and outlook, and an overbearing impact on the neighbouring residential properties at No. 72 Giffard Drive and No. 8 Brabon Road.  The proposal therefore conflicts with policies IN1 (Infrastructure and Community Facilities) and DE1 (Design in the Built Environment) of the Rushmoor Local Plan (2019);

 

2.    In the absence of any confirmed arrangement to provide additional off-site car parking facilities in perpetuity, the development was unacceptable in highway terms in that inadequate car parking provision was provided.  In addition, the submitted travel plan did not set out adequate targets to reduce the use of the private car.  The proposal would therefore be likely to result in conditions prejudicial to highway safety and conflicts with the objectives of policy IN2 of the Rushmoor Local Plan (2019) and the Council’s adopted Car and Cycle Parking Standards 2017.

 

The Committee was advised that, in coming to the recommendation to refuse planning permission, consideration had been given to the evidence of the need for additional health facilities in this location, with written support, including from the North East Hampshire and Farnham Clinical Commissioning Group.  However, whilst having regard to these considerations, the recommendation to refuse was reached on balance having regard to the massing and impact of the building on neighbouring properties.

 

In discussion, Members took account of the changes which had been made to the original planning application following its refusal in January 2019, in particular the reduction in the size, massing and impact of the building.  There was general consensus that these changes were a significant improvement.  In respect of the additional off-site staff car parking facilities, the Committee was advised that there was a written understanding between the Surgery and the Council to use Blunden Hall car park and that planning permission could be granted subject to a legal agreement to secure these spaces in perpetuity.

 

Having considered all the issues in detail and, taking into account the community need for additional healthcare facilities, the Committee agreed, on balance, to approve the application for the reason that the revised planning application had reduced the size, massing and impact of the resultant building to such a degree to make it acceptable.

 

RESOLVED: That, subject to the completion of a satisfactory Section 106 legal agreement, the Head of Economy, Planning and Strategic Housing be authorised, in consultation with the Chairman, to grant planning permission.