Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Gordon Blair, Amanda Hampsey, Daniel Hampsey, Paul Kennedy, Dougie Philand and Peter Wallace. 

There were no declarations of interest intimated. 

Report by Head of Development and Economic Growth

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.  He advised that due to a personal commitment he would require to leave the meeting, should it still be in progress, around 1:30pm.  Having sought advice from Iain Jackson, Clerk to the Committee, it was agreed that the meeting be adjourned at an appropriate point in proceedings and reconvened at a later time, if required. 

For the purposes of the sederunt Mr Jackson, read out the names of the Members of the Committee and asked them to confirm their attendance. 

It was noted that, in advance of the meeting, interested parties had confirmed that they would make presentations to the Committee.  Mr Jackson read out the names of those representatives and asked them to confirm their attendance.  Mr Jackson sought clarity as to whether there was anyone else in attendance that wished to speak.   Alastair McLuskey advised that he would like to speak as an objector.  Having confirmed that Mr McLuskey was included in the list of objection comments received by the Planning Authority, Mr Jackson advised that Mr McLuskey would be permitted to speak at the relevant time. 

The Chair explained the hearing procedure that would be followed and invited the Planning Officer to present the case. 

PLANNING

On behalf of the Head of Development and Economic Growth, Emma Jane, Planning Officer, made the following presentation with the aid of power point slides.

SLIDE 1 – Opening slide - Location Plan

Thank you Chair and Good morning, everyone.

Firstly, Chair, prior to presenting, I would like to draw member’s attention to the supplementary report that has been provided by officers yesterday. This report was provided to update members on the various matters that have arisen subsequent to the PPSL meeting in October. This report covered the following;                 

• Firstly to advice members that following the publication of the main report of handling, officers received further representations. Two of these were verbally addressed during the October PPSL presentation. However, we have since received two further objections. This has resulted in a total of 30 representations - (29 objections and 1 representation). Out of the 4 subsequent representations 1 was from a new party and the remaining 3 were from existing objectors. The supplementary report covers the contributors and comments that were not previously addressed within the main report of handling.

• I would also like to advise members that further additional information was submitted by the applicant on the 5^th of February. The additional information submitted includes updated plans and elevations to provide clarity on the extent of the proposed development. The only changes to the plans is a change to the yellow hatch which shows the extent of the proposed developments footprint and the updated location and root protection area of the neighbouring copper beech tree, there have been no physical alterations to the design of proposals. Further to this the applicants have also submitted an updated design & access statement and an updated drainage plan. The only change to the design & access statement is that a section has been added to include an analysis of built form to open space on sites within the Hillhouse Conservation Area and also a section including examples of two storey side extensions, the conclusions within this statement have also been updated to reflect this. The drainage drawing has been updated to reflect the root protection area as shown on the tree constrains plan provided within the applicant’s arboricultural report so that the proposed drainage alterations are out with this area.

• I would also like to advise members that for clarity during the PPSL presentation in October it was noted by officers that there was an error within the main report of handling in regards to the total built element on the site resulting from the proposals. This has been double checked and the main report of handling as published is correct. For clarity the supplementary report also reiterates these sizes.

• I would like to further update members that the proposed Tree Preservation Order for the copper beech tree within the garden grounds of 2a Upper Colquhoun Street, Helensburgh, which is the neighbouring property to the application site, will be the subject of a provisional tree protection order as of tomorrow.

• Lastly the supplementary report also addresses two tree reports which have been submitted subsequent to the October PPSL meeting, one by the objectors and one by the applicants. The supplementary report also details the officer’s response to this additional information and an updated recommendation and conditions based on this. I will go into more detail on this shortly.

SLIDE 2 - Aerial image of site

This slide shows an aerial image of the application site which is bounded by the red dashed line, the yellow dashed line represents the boundary of the Helenburgh Hill House Conservation Area and the green circle represents the approximate location of the neighboring copper beech tree. The existing massing and built development on the site can also been seen on this slide with the existing house sited towards the rear of the plot with a large front garden. The site gently slopes downhill from North to South and is bounded by mature hedges. The site measures approximately 2165sqm and was historically subdivided and a modern dwelling was built within the rear garden grounds. The site is bounded to the West by B listed Whincroft (also known as 2 & 2a Upper Colquhoun Street). Further to this located on the opposite side of the street is A listed Brantwoode and located on the street behind the site is A listed Red Towers (not shown on this plan).

SLIDE 3 – Tree survey objectors

This slide includes an extract from objector’s arboricultural report showing the Copper Beech tree’s location, canopy spread and root protection area. Within the supplementary report officers go into more detail on the contents of this however to summarise; This report is based on the British Standard in regards to Trees in Relation to Design, Demolition and Construction. The British standard sets  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.