Shisha lounge refused and bungalows approved by Peterborough city council planning committee

Peterborough City Council Planning and Environmental Protection Committee held their online meeting this week (Thursday).
Here is a summary of their four decisions from applications made:

24 Park Road, Peterborough.
Proposal: Construction of timber-framed outbuilding to rear for use as Shisha lounge, single storey side extension, increase height of rear wall to 2.5m and relocation of external staircase.The application site is currently a small cafe/restaurant unit within terrace of shops. The application site has a yard area to the rear accessed via the kitchen to the rear of the unit. The site is located within the city centre conservation Area. The car park of the Bull Hotel, a Grade II Listed Building, lies to the rear of the site. There appears to be flats and storage areas at first floor in the surrounding units. The site lies within the designated city centre boundary.
Permission was sought for: the construction of timber-framed outbuilding to the rear for use as Shisha lounge (this also extends across the rear of Nos20-26); construction of a single storey side extension located to the rear; an increase in height of the site’s rear boundary wall to 2.5 metres; and relocation of an existing external staircase, also to the rear.
This application was a re-submission of a previous application which was withdrawn.
The Executive Director of Place and Economy recommended that Planning Permission isrefused for the following two reasons:
The proposal, by virtue of the increase in height of the rear wall of the site to 2.5 metres, would result in an incongruous, unnecessary addition to a structure located within the City Centre Conservation Area and abutting a Grade II Listed Building. The proposal would therefore have a detrimental impact to the character and setting of those designated heritage assets. This is contrary to licy the Peterborough Local Plan (2019).
The proposed shisha smoking area, by way of its open-sided construction and proximity to windows serving residential properties, would result in unacceptable levels of noise and smoke nuisance to the occupiers of those neighbouring residential properties. The proposal would therefore result in unacceptable detriment to their amenity. This is contrary to the Peterborough Local Plan (2019).
One objection to this application was received by the Council from local residents.

Peterborough City Council Planning and Environmental Protection Committee decision: REFUSED

Land adjacent to the verge south of War Memorial and adjacent to slip road, Eastfield Road, Peterborough

Proposal: Permission is sought for the installation of an 18m telecommunications tower with  wrapround cabinet at base and associated ancillary works

The proposed site is a grass verge located on Eastfield Road, close to the junction with Eye Road and within approximately 70m of the A1139 (Frank Perkins Parkway). The application site is adjacent a footway and cycle path, and is opposite the War Memorial. To the southwest of the site there are residential properties, with the closest residential property to the southeast being 435 Eastfield Road location approximately 33m away at the closest point. To the north of the application site, there are residential properties of Eastfield Road and Eye Road, the closest being 408 Eastfield Road located approximately 48m away at the closest point. To the east and southeast of the site separated by the Frank Perkins Parkway, there are some commercial units and a large car park.

The application seeks determination as to whether the prior approval of the Local Planning Authority is required for the installation of a wrapround cabinet at base and associated ancillary works. The original scheme submitted was for a 20m monopole, but after discussions between the LPA and the Agent this has been reduced to 18m.mUpon assessment of the proposal, it is considered that the proposed development will not result in an unacceptably harmful impact in terms of its siting and appearance. The Executive Director of Place and Economy recommends that prior approval is required and granted subject to various conditions:
Six objections to this application were received by the council from local residents.

Peterborough City Council Planning and Environmental Protection Committee decision: GRANTED (by majority)

Garages To the rear of 266 Eastern Avenue, Dogsthorpe, Peterborough.
Proposal: Conversion of existing garages to form three bungalows.
The application site comprises a garage courted located within a residential area. There are 23 garages within this court, accessed via a private road that connects to Eastern Avenue, with all boundaries of the site surrounded by gardens of adjacent residential properties.

Proposal permission was sought to convert the existing garages into three single storey residential properties, to be used for affordable rented tenure. The three units would be split as follows: Two two-bed/three-person dwellings; and one one-bed/single-person dwelling. Amended plans have been received and consulted upon, given that the original proposal submitted to the Local Planning Authority was considered to be adversely harmful to the amenity of surrounding neighbours, specifically numbers 95, 97 and 99 Poplar Avenue through rear-facing windows that would appeared prominent across the rear gardens of these neighbouring dwellings.
Background A planning application was submitted in 2014 for the construction of two two-storey, two-bed affordable residential dwellings, as a semidetached pair. Whilst officers recommended approval of this application, this application was called in to the Peterborough Planning Committee, who overturned the recommendation of approval into refusal. There was one refusal reason, which was: The application scheme represents overdevelopment of the site by virtue of a cramped form of development, at odds with the established built form of the surrounding area. As such, the proposal would result in an overbearing impact, unacceptably harming the amenities of neighbouring occupants.

11 letters of representation have been received from the occupiers of five neighbouring properties. Ten of these letters represent objections to the proposed development, with one letter providing comments on a neutral stance.
The Executive Director of Place and Economy recommended that Planning Permission is granted subject to conditions.
Peterborough City Council Planning and Environmental Protection Committee Decision: GRANTED (by majority)

Forge Cottage, The Green, Glinton, Peterborough.

Proposal: Variation of condition (approved drawings) of planning permission.
The application site comprises a detached dwelling located within the Glinton Conservation Area. The dwelling is served by a large garden forward of its front elevation, which once occupied a detached garage, but which has since been demolished. Within the surrounding area, there are numerous Listed Buildings.

Permission is sought to vary condition (approved drawings) of planning permission, ‘Demolition of existing garage and erection of annex’. - The amendments to the plans include the alterations of the external materials of the annex.

A separate planning application for a different annex, which included a basement, was recently considered by officers. However, further to the applicant being advised that this proposal was not acceptable given that the proposed annex was tantamount, the application was later subsequently withdrawn.
The Executive Director of Place and Economy recommended that the amendment to an existing Planning Permission is granted subject to conditions.

No objections to this application were received by the Council from local residents.

Peterborough City Council Planning and Environmental Protection Committee decision: GRANTED (unanimous)