City Council Planning Inquiry

COUNCIL PLANNING INQUIRY

Southampton City Council is today kicking off an inquiry into planning issues. 

The first meeting of several meetings is being held this evening. All meetings will be conducted in public at the Civic Centre so people can go along. It may be possible to address the panel and people are certainly encouraged to make written representations.

I have attached a link this evening’s meeting, which is just setting out the terms of reference.

http://www.southampton.gov.uk/modernGov/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=424&MId=2815&Ver=4

The main meetings are at 5pm and as follows:

9^th January – looking at planning policies towards Houses of Multiple Occupation. (click HERE for a link to the papers)

6^th February – looking at the effectiveness of planning enforcement

6^th March – looking at other planning policies – national and local, including conversion of office and retail to residential use

The inquiry is an opportunity to strengthen and improve the council’s approach to these planning issues.

If you would like to make comments or speak to someone to get more information you can contact Mark Pirnie at the City Council: mark.pirnie@southampton.gov.uk.

Sulphur Plant Approved By Council's Planning Committee

The City Council’s Planning and Rights of Way panel this morning considered the application for the Sulphur Plant in the Western Docks.

I am very disappointed to report that the application was approved. Click here for a link to the Daily Echo’s coverage: http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/10446477.Sulphur_boss_faces_council_over_plans/

I had hoped that the decision could be deferred and further investigation be carried out regarding safety concerns and the environmental impact of the plant. I had asked that independent consultants be engaged to investigate these matters, in light of the fact there have been no other applications of this nature anywhere in the country and that there are no other such plants in the UK. I made those points to the planning committee but sadly the decision was taken to approve the application.

I am now keen to ensure that any other such applications for the docks are properly scrutinised and that local people are informed in the first instance.

The western docks are becoming more and more industrialised and this is a concern for people locally.

In July I will be holding a meeting at the Civic Centre to specifically look at planning issues in the docks, resident communication and how we can do more to shield residents from noise from the docks.

Plans to Demolish Southbrook Rise?

Several weeks ago demolition signs went up around Southbrook Rise in Millbrook Road East. The building has been empty since the City Council moved out of the offices. 

I have had lots of questions from local people wondering what will happen with the site. No one at the City Council's planning department seem to know anything about it however planning approval would been needed if the building was pulled down. I am trying to find out what is going on. It would be a shame if the building was pulling as its a reasonably attractive office block. I am hoping its not going to be another big block of flats without proper parking. Parking in the area is already very difficult and with plans for night time parking charges in the city centre the local area will suffer even more from commuter parking. More flats would be the final straw!

UPDATE: 21/04/13: I recently raised concerns about the possibility of Southbrook Rise in Millbrook Road East being demolished as demolition signs had gone up around the site. I have been in discussion with the planning department at the council and they have now informed me that the site won’t be demolished and that a planning application (13/00467/FUL) has been received for a proposed single storey new building (reception) and internal refurbishment of the whole building. I am still unsure as to why there are demolition signs on the fencing to front of building as they are not proposing to demolish.

Planning Application for Sulphur Plant in the Docks

There has been Daily Echo coverage of a planning application for a Sulphur Pellet Plant in the West Docks and I know residents will be very concerned about possible noise, smells and traffic.

I am hoping that there will be a public meeting very soon and that the company applying for the planning permission will attend to answer questions about the proposed plant.

I can also confirm that the application will be heard by the council's Planning and Rights of Way Panel. This is a public meeting where residents can speak and raise their concerns in person. It is likely to be on 28th May and I have persuaded that council to extend the deadline for resident comments to 10th May. 

The planning reference is 13/00123/FUL and the full details can be found HERE on the City Council's website.

Residents were not informed about the application by the council, as because this is an application in the docks, they are not legally required to do so. I think this is quite wrong. The planning reports talk about the impact of the plant, citing individual addresses, and yet those properties were not contacted! I am asking that in future the council contact residents when there are docks applications that might impact local people. 

We have the threat of the Helius Biomass power station and now this new application and so residents are rightly concerned and should in my view be properly kept informed. In this case it was only because of an eagle eyed local resident who saw it on the council's website, that the application came to light.

Park Hotel Building To Stay

The Park Hotel Today

For some years the Park Hotel in Shirley Road has been empty and boarded up, with local residents uncertain about the future of the building. Owners, Orchard Homes have been unable to reopen it as a pub and possible options for the site have included pulling it down and building a block of modern flats or a convenience store with flats above. Neither option is popular with local residents, nor is leaving the building empty, as it has become a bit of an eyesore. There was also a fire recently and there are concerns that it may happen again.

Residents and Councillors have met with directors from Orchard Homes on two occasions to see if an agreement could be reached about how the site might be redeveloped. The most popular choice was to see the building retained and converted to residential use and last week Orchard Homes presented some architects plans to the Freemantle Triangle Residents Association. The plans would see the outer walls and roof of the building retained and a second floor added to the single story part of the building fronting onto Shirley Road. 

As a local councillor I often find myself opposing inappropriate planning applications. It is a rare but welcome thing to have a developer making the effort not just to engage with the local community but also to come up with a design that is sympathetic to the neighbourhood and its heritage. 

My grandfather used to drink in the Park Hotel in the 1950s and 60s. It was managed for a while by my former colleague on the Council, Matthew Dean and I have spent many an evening there over the years. including helping clean it out when Matt first moved in. I think it would be a dreadful shame to see it bulldozed and I am very encouraged by the plans put forward by Orchard Homes. 

I found this old advert for the Park Hotel in a Southampton football programme from August 1963. It shows the old organ and the bar. I hope that the building can be saved and I will be supporting Orchard Homes' planning application when it is submitted. 

The Park Hotel 50 years ago (click to enlarge)

           

UPDATE: Orchard Homes have now submitted their planning application which can be seen here.

Millbrook Road East Planning Application

A planning application has been submitted for 6 houses and 8 flats at the corner of Cracknore Road and Millbrook Road East (84-88 Millbrook Road East -12/00862/FUL).

A few local residents have been in touch with me asking about this application and were all concerned that the Council had not advertised it effectively locally.


I have asked that the consultation deadline for residents' comments be extended to 10th August and the Council has agreed to this.

I have also agreed with the Council that the application will be decided by councillors at the public Planning and Rights of Way meeting in the future, rather than by council officers.

Click HERE for details of the application and type 12/00862/FUL in the application reference.


If you have comments on the application please send them in to the Council. If I can be of any help please get in touch.

New Banister School Agreed By City Planners

Today the Council's Planning and Rights of Way Panel considered the planning application for the new Banister School.

The new school will be open in September next year and will cater from a growing number of primary age pupils in area. The existing school is now very old and is long past its sell by date. It has for some time been the aspiration of many, including myself, to rebuild the school and extra government money secured last year by the City Council makes this possible. The new school is very good value for money and will be the quickest school build done in recent history in Southampton: just over 18 months from the decision to the school being open.

A large number of local residents were at the meeting and several spoke. It was good that everyone at the meeting was in favour of the new school although some valid local concerns were rightly raised.
A lot of work has gone on in recent weeks to try and get the best possible scheme, taking account of the views of neighbours.

As a result of local residents petitioning the City Council, several trees will be saved which were previously going to be lost. 3 lime trees will be protected. Also the planners asked that further consideration be given to saving the horse chestnut tree by Archers Road and if it is possible then the tree will also be kept.

The school has resolved to do everything possible to tackle concerns about congestion, with a 'Park and Stride' scheme planned, whereby parents who must drive drop their children away from Archers Road and walk them to school.

Maximum car parking has been secured on the site and the City Council agreed to make efforts to find temporary parking nearby during the construction phase so that teachers don't park in residential streets.

Also agreed today at the planning meeting was the application for the new Wordsworth School and a remodelled Moorlands School. Funding and sign off for the 3 schools was agreed at the end of last year by Conservative Councillors. It is great to see the schemes progressing.

New HMO Planning Rules

Over the last few days I have had quite a few queries from local residents who are keen to understand the specifics of the new HMO (House In Multiple Occupation) planning rules that were introduced on 23rd March this year. 


Questions about these new planning rules also came up at the Highfield Residents Association AGM last week. 


The City Council have produced a very helpful section on their website with all the details. Click HERE for this. Also HERE is an article I wrote back in January setting out our thinking behind the changes.

Parking Requirements for New Developments

On Monday the city council approved revised parking requirements for new developments. In the past, the Labour government planning rules meant new developments were prevented from having proper parking and this led to blocks of flats being built with little or in some cases no parking. This has caused massive problems for local residents. The new government rules now allow councils to set their own local parking standards for developers.

On Monday we brought in changes that will mean at least one space can be provided per one bed flat and more parking for larger flats and houses.
The full details can be found HERE.

Helius To Extend Consultation on Power Station

Helius Energy have announced that they intend to amend their Biomass scheme. They are now intending undertake further public consultation in the Summer.

I reported to residents in a recent newsletter that the city Council's Planning Panel would be meeting to discuss their scheme on Tuesday 24th May.

In light of Helius's statement the council has decided to defer the item from the Council’s Planning Panel. When a new date is determined I will update residents. It is my intention when the matter does finally come before the panel, for comment, to speak against the scheme.

Council Leader Says 'No Thanks!'

The Daily Echo front page today carries the story that Conservative Council Leader, Royston Smith has vowed to oppose the proposed Power Station in the Western Docks. This is a tremendous boost for the campaign to stop the Helius application.

No to Power Station!

As your local ward councillors, Brian Parnell, Michael Ball, and I will do all we can to fight the proposed Helius power station in the Western Docks.

The Conservatives on the city council will be objecting to Helius, the city council’s planning department and the Infrastructure Planning Commission (the decision makers).

We will be raising residents’ concerns of about:

- The size and mass of the proposed building and its impact on the community
- Noise levels
- Air quality
- Pollution
- The fuel source
- Traffic consequences during both construction and operation

We will also do everything we can to raise awareness in the local community.

If would like to speak with us about this issue or any other matter please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Meetings Regarding Proposed Power Station

The Infrastructure Planning Commission is holding two further consultation meeting regarding the application by Helius for a bio mass power station in the Western Docks.

Please get in touch if you want to raise anything with Brian, Michael or me on this matter.

Southampton set to embrace new housing powers

Southampton City Council is set to embrace new powers which will allow it to protect family homes and control where excessive concentrations of houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) spring up in the city.

Last week the council received government guidance on new ways to control HMOs – rented homes where three or more unrelated people live.

The council is now looking at the best way to use these new powers, named Article 4, which means it will be able to refuse new HMOs in Southampton, where they are appropriate.

Article 4 powers allow local authorities to implement strict planning rules in specific areas. The rules require landlords to attain planning permission before turning homes into rented HMOs.

These powers would allow us to look carefully at areas in the city where there are problems or issues with houses of multiple occupancy. We can also look at areas where there are concerns from residents about protecting where they live in the future.

It means we can insist that landlords apply for planning permission if they change the use of a house into a HMO.

As well as exploring how it will use Article 4, the council is also working with communities and organisations to make sure plenty of houses remain as family homes in Southampton.

We want to embrace diversity in Southampton and make sure we cater for all. However we must protect family homes and make sure Southampton is a place where families can live and enjoy. To do that we need to make sure there are lots of family homes for our residents to choose from. That is why as well as looking at these new powers, we are also working with people like private landlords and the University of Southampton, who we are supporting with their accommodations strategy.

The Conservatives Will Overhaul Labour's Failed Planning System

Today I met with Shadow Housing Minister, Grant Shapps to discuss the new Conservative Green Paper on planning.

Our broken planning system is in desperate need of an overhaul and local communities need to be put in the driving seat.

I am particularly pleased by two key changes an incoming Conservative Government would make.

Stopping Retrospective Planning Applications

Firstly, we would extend permitted development rights so that simple changes to residential properties would not need planning permission. We would at the same time seriously restrict retrospective planning applications, allowing them only where genuine mistakes are made. This would have two effects. It would mean that simple, non controversial planning matters would not have to go through the rigmarole of the planning process, thereby freeing up money and resources which could be better spent on enforcement. It would mean that rogue developers would no longer be able to bypass local planning authorities, developing properties and then only applying for planning permission when challenged or when threatened with enforcement action. I come across this sort of abuse on a regular basis in my role as a councillor and it is of huge concern to local people.

Reforming the Planning Appeals Process

Secondly, we would reform the planning appeals process, which currently undermines democratic decision making by local council planning panels and which allows developers to run rings around planning officers. We would limit the grounds for planning appeals to where correct procedures were not followed and where decisions contravene local planning rules.

For far too long rogue developers have 'played the system' using a bureaucratic and centrist planning system to run roughshod over local people and to get around local planning decisions.

Southampton needs more powers to manage Houses in Multiple Occupation

From meeting many residents associations over recent years I know that local people are concerned about the numbers and concentrations of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in Southampton.

Whilst HMOs play an important role in the city economy, meeting housing needs and providing choice, high concentrations are often associated with anti social behaviour, noise nuisance, parking problems and the loss of family housing.

Southampton is a student city with a growing student population. Also as a port city there is a substantial transient population. Given that, there is a considerable demand for HMO accommodation. However this demand needs to be careful managed to protect the character of communities and the residents who live there. In my view the objective should be the creation of balanced communities.

As it stands councils like Southampton have very few powers to manage HMOs. It is great news that the Government is now conducting a review on possible changes to planning laws relating to HMOs. These changes could give Southampton City Council much greater powers. The Government review has come after years of hard work and lobbying by local residents groups and the City Council.

The Communities and Local Government department published its ‘Studentification Paper’ over a year ago which argued strongly in favour of the Government changing the planning laws. It also highlighted the excellent work being done in Southampton by the City Council and the two universities to tackle issues relating to HMOs.

Currently planning permission is not required to convert a family house into an HMO. One of the options in the Government’s consultation is to require planning permission. If the change goes through the Council would be able to refuse inappropriate applications or attach specific condition to any planning approvals that are granted. Such conditions might include a requirement for adequate bin storage or parking provision. Such conditions are a regular feature for new blocks of flats but because of current planning laws they aren’t required for HMOs. Even garages and quite minor extensions require planning permission, so why not HMOs? In Northern Ireland HMOs require planning permission and it works well there, so why not here?

This is a change which I have been campaigning for, for some considerable time. In parts of Portswood and the Polygon now, some roads are already over 90% HMOs. It is therefore important that the Government acts quickly and proactively.

I have written to the Government pushing for urgent action.

Planning and Rights Of Way

Click HERE for a link to Tuesday's (4th December) Planning and Rights of Way agenda.

There is only one Freemantle application being considered. This is 117 - 119 Millbrook Road East.

Click HERE for a link to the Council's planning website.

IKEA Coming to Southampton

After a marathon planning meeting last night, city councillors finally gave approval for Swedish furniture giant, IKEA to build a superstore in Southampton.

The store will be built on the former Pirelli site in West Quay Road and will be a huge boost to the city economy creating 500 jobs.

This is fantastic news for Southampton and is one of a number of major city developments which will boost the city. Cruise giant Carnival are also to have their head office located in the area, on the West Quay Phase 3 site and this secures a further 900 jobs in Southampton. Plans to redevelop Northern Above Bar are also making progress.

The only hurdle in the way for IKEA remains the threat of the government over ruling Southampton's decision. This happened before and the secretary of state blocked a previous move from IKEA to come to the city. I am hopeful that this won't happen again.

Read more about the plans HERE.

New College Application Passed

Linden Homes' scheme for 200 flats and some offices on the New College site off the Avenue was given approval this evening. The Planning Panel was split 4-2 on the decision, which was taken at half past six, three and a half hours after the item was due to be considered on the planning agenda.

I along with a number of concerned residents spoke at the meeting. Concerns about parking, over development and design of the buildings (which resemble Lego bricks) were knocked back by councillors in the teeth of local opposition.

The development goes against the recently adopted council policy of providing more family housing. Despite councillors of all parties voting in September to ensure that at least 30% of new developments are family houses, Lib Dem and Labour councillors voted to approve the Linden scheme which includes 91% flats.

On the positive side Linden Homes agreed to put the new development on Combined Heat and Power.

Planning Meeting 9th October

Click HERE to see the list of planning applications being considered by the City Council's Planning and Rights of Way panel on next Tuesday.

Applications in Freemantle Ward being considered are:

117-123 Paynes Road - 41 flats

118 Waterloo Road - 12 flats

Update 09/10/07 - The Waterloo Road application was rejected by the panel. The Paynes Road application was approved. I am very please the Waterloo Road one was turned down as the design was awful.