Planning and Building Committee Report for November

REPORT OF THE PLANNING & BUILDING COMMITTEE

HELD 6^th NOVEMBER 2003

(By Graham France)

With no less than thirty-four applications for planning permission to be considered and nine submissions for building permits reported upon, this was a very busy meeting, lasting just over one-and-a-half-hours, chaired as usual by the Hon Richard Cockwell.  Members attending were the Hon Norma Edwards, Les Harris, Mike Harris, Brian Summers and Mike McLeod; one member of the public (the writer) also attended.

First of the applications was in respect of a house at 2 Gleadell Close for Derek Donnelly – this had been earlier deferred due to lack of information and Jim Robison, the Building Adviser, told members further details were still awaited.  Members felt concerned that the delay would prejudice progress of work within the time scale required by the terms of the building licence and Antony Lancaster (Environmental Planning Officer) undertook to do what he could to get the submission ready for a decision at the next meeting of the Committee.

There were twelve applications for renewal of temporary planning permission and in four cases the Committee resolved to grant permanent consent: these were in respect of two Portakabins on the Lookout Industrial Estate (now clad and roofed to give a more permanent appearance), the Wyseplan now used for residential accommodation by a family member at 8 Racecourse Road (similarly upgraded), and the 4.9metre-high aerial at the Jetty Centre which had been shown not to cause any interference or disturbance to other electrical equipment in the area since its installation last year.

A letter had been received from Mr L Morrison of Port Howard asking the Committee to grant full planning permission instead of renewing the temporary consent for the mobile home sited at 108 Davis Street. Members carefully considered this request but felt that such was the condition of the structure they could not agree but extended the temporary approval until the end of October 2005.

New applications

These began with a Government application for approval to carry out external alterations and provide car parking at Cemetery Cottage on Snake Hill.  This and the following submissions all received planning permission with the majority having conditions attached: roofing over a container at “Leif’s” on John Street for Leif Pollard; two additional mussel lines consisting of floating buoys and ropes to the existing mussel farm between Darwin and Goose Green for Falklands Fresh Limited (a temporary approval was granted here);  an extension of the new car park for FIDC between Lifestyles and K3 at Lookout Industrial Estate; a garden shed at 19 Callaghan Road for Mr Harris; the amended design for their dwelling at 2 Anderson Drive for Mr and Mrs R Larsen; a house for Mr T Jaffray and Miss C Mitchell at 24 Hansen Hill; a canopy and wind-break wall at the entrance to their K3 store on Lookout Industrial Estate for Kelper Stores; the erection of a 1.8 metre-high perimeter fence on the east, south and west boundaries of his property at 17 Biggs Road for Mr Andrew Williams; surfacing and drainage of the car park with a barrier adjacent to Gilbert House on Ross Road for FIG; a dwelling at 3 Gleadell Close for Mr T Whistler and Miss L Roberts; rear bathroom and kitchen extensions with demolition of a chimney at 8 and 9 Ross Road (Police Cottages) for FIG; the siting of the bow section of the “Charles Cooper” in the western area of the Dockyard for the F.I. Museum and National Trust; Derek Howatt’s proposals to extend his house to form a garage and storeroom with internal alterations at 4 Racecourse Road; a four-bedroom two-storey house at the Old BFFI Site in West Stanley for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Government House); and the extension to his house at 6A Brisbane Road for Mr M K Summers.

An application for planning permission for the erection of “Cisco Aironet 1400 series Wireless bridge” submitted by Government’s Computer Section attracted a lot of discussion.  Members felt concerned at the quality of information provided and although they approved the submission asked that more details be provided such as the height, location and elevations of the several masts proposed.

Mrs J Jaffray submitted an application showing the amended siting of her approved mobile home at 3 Fitzroy Road East.  Members were informed that when being placed on the site it became “bogged” and agreed it could remain, there having been no formal objection received, and granted a five-year temporary consent.  Miss Shona Strange sought planning permission for a loft conversion at 6B Ross Road West but it was decided that this was “permitted development” and needed a building permit for which an application had been submitted.

Members were advised that a Government application for permission in principle for five additional building plots also four flats with services and parking facilities on the Old BFFI Site had been withdrawn.  A new outline application for eight additional building plots has now been submitted and is due to be considered at the December meeting.

The last application to be reviewed was submitted by Goodwin Offshore Limited and was for the erection of first-floor office accommodation above the existing building at the Chandlery Estate on Airport Road.  The Committee was advised that the officers had serious concerns on the proposed means of escape in case of fire, which would need to be resolved before a building permit could be issued.  However, as a planning-only application this did not prevent the grant of planning permission and was duly granted.

Following the Building Adviser’s report on progress with applications for building permits, the Committee heard from Antony Lancaster on the public consultation over Planning Guidance Notes.  Some requests had been received for copies from members of the public but no comments had been submitted to his office.  It was decided to refer the document to Executive Council for approval with the recommendation that it be reviewed after twelve months.

There were no applications for Off-Street Parking Grants and with no Part II subjects for discussion without the press and public present, the meeting closed shortly after 10.30am.  The next regular meeting is scheduled to be held on Thursday, 4^th December in the Liberation Room commencing at 9am.  Meanwhile, there is to be a special meeting of the Committee on Wednesday 12^th November, commencing at 9am, to discuss Mr Lancaster’s report on the Development Plan Consultation.

Graham France                                                                           7^th November 2003