Issue - meetings
Pyrles Lane Nursery Development
Meeting: 24/02/2016 - District Development Management Committee (Item 56)
56 EPF/2254/15 Pyrles Lane Nursery, Loughton 
PDF 211 KB
(Director of Governance) To consider the attached report for the outline consent for the demolition of the existing tree/plant Nursery and the erection of up to 36 dwellings, of which 15 will be affordable units (DEV-021-2015/16).
Additional documents:
- DEV-021 Pyrles Lanes Nursery Map, item 56
PDF 385 KB
- Webcast for EPF/2254/15 Pyrles Lane Nursery, Loughton
Minutes:
The Principal Planning Officer presented a report for the demolition of the existing Nursery and the erection of up to 36 dwellings, 15 of which would be affordable units, at Pyrles Lane Nursery in Loughton. This was an application for outline planning consent and was before the Committee as it was considered a ‘major’ application where the Council was the land owner.
The Principal Planning Officer stated that the application site was triangular in shape with a narrow access road onto Pyrles Lane, and was located between Pyrles Lane, Hillyfields and the Hillyfields open space recreation area. The site was approximately 1 hectare in size, and was used by the District Council as a nursery site/grounds maintenance depot with various glasshouses, portacabins and parking areas. Part of the site had been designated for allotment use but this had not happened for some time. There was a footpath adjacent to the site which linked Pyrles Lane and Hillyfields, but the site was not within the metropolitan Green Belt or a Conservation Area.
The Principal Planning Officer reported that the application was a revised proposal following the refusal of an earlier application in 2013. The application sought permission to demolish the existing nursery and depot site and erect 36 dwellings, a mixture of flats and houses, of which 15 would be affordable units. The application also included associated landscaping, parking and infrastructure. The revisions to the scheme included the provision of a wider access road, a reduction in the amount of accommodation provided, and an increase in parking spaces to 75. The maximum height of the proposed flats was 12.5 metres and 12 metres for the town houses. This was an outline application with all matters reserved, but the highways access had been detailed and the application included a revised Transport Assessment, Ecological report and Drainage report.
The Principal Planning Officer informed the Committee of some revisions to the published planning conditions. Condition 35 should read two years, not three years, for the development to commence from the date of the ecological study. In addition, there was an additional condition (36) to make the existing footpath hard surfaced along the whole length for use by residents.
Planning Officers had concluded that the reasons for refusal for the previous application on the grounds of highway safety and parking provision had been carefully addressed in this application. Consequently, it was recommended that outline planning permission be granted.
The Committee noted the summary of representations received in relation to this application. There had been 49 letters of objection received, including from Loughton Town Council and the Loughton Residents Association. The Highways Authority had no objections on policy or safety grounds to the proposed access road, and the District Council’s Building Control section had confirmed that the proposed access road was wider than the minimum recommended for the access of Fire vehicles. A number of different agencies had no objections subject to the provision of standard conditions relating to trees, drainage, contamination, ecology, infrastructure and archaeology. ... view the full minutes text for item 56
Meeting: 29/07/2013 - Cabinet (Item 37)
37 Acquisition of 79 Pyrles Lane, Loughton PDF 89 KB
(Asset Management & Economic Development Portfolio Holder) To consider the attached report (C-020-2013/14).
Additional documents:
Decision:
(1) That a virement of £15,000 within the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme be approved to facilitate the purchase of the freehold of 79 Pyrles Lane, Loughton for £250,000.
Minutes:
The Portfolio Holder for Asset Management & Economic Development presented a report on the potential acquisition of 79 Pyrles Lane in Loughton.
The Portfolio Holder reported that, on 27 September 2011, the Council had agreed a supplementary capital estimate of £239,000 for the purchase of 79 Pyrles Lane, Loughton - this being £235,000 plus legal costs of £4,000 - to assist with the sale of Pyrles Lane Nursery for residential development. However, a planning application for the residential development was refused on 15 May 2013 by Area Planning Subcommittee South and it was intended to proceed with the purchase to address the reasons for refusal. Since September 2011, the price of residential property in this area had risen and the vendor had agreed a revised purchase price of £250,000 plus legal costs. Authority was therefore sought to vire an additional £15,000 from the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme, using monies allocated for the Council’s Housebuilding Programme..
A local Member for Loughton Roding suggested that the property in question had already been sold, but the Portfolio Holder indicated that the Council had not been made aware of this and was proceeding with the purchase as previously agreed.
Decision:
(1) That a virement of £15,000 within the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme be approved to facilitate the purchase of the freehold of 79 Pyrles Lane, Loughton for £250,000.
Reasons for Decision:
To address the reasons for refusal of the planning application for a residential development, which would facilitate the sale of the Pyrles Lane Nursery site and thereby generate a capital receipt for the Council.
Other Options Considered and Rejected:
To not purchase 79 Pyrles Lane, Loughton , but this would reduce the Council’s ability to address the planning reasons for refusal and would adversely impact on the Council’s ability to obtain best value for the site.
Meeting: 22/07/2013 - Cabinet (Item 33)
33 Acquisition of 79 Pyrles Lane, Loughton PDF 89 KB
(Asset Management & Economic Development Portfolio Holder) To consider the attached report (C-020-2013/14).
Additional documents:
Meeting: 27/09/2011 - Council (Item 75)
75 REPORT OF THE CABINET - SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATE - PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNCIL'S PYRLES LANE NURSERY SITE, LOUGHTON
To consider the attached restricted report.
Additional documents:
- Restricted enclosure 15 , View reasons restricted (75/2)
- Webcast for REPORT OF THE CABINET - SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATE - PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNCIL'S PYRLES LANE NURSERY SITE, LOUGHTON
Minutes:
Mover: Councillor Mohindra, Finance and Economic Development Portfolio Holder
Councillor Mohindra submitted a report seeking supplementary capital estimates to purchase two parcels of land in the vicinity of the Council's Pyrles Lane Nursery site in order to facilitate the sale of the Nursery site for residential development.
Report as first moved ADOPTED
RESOLVED:
That, supplementary capital estimates of £239,000 and £21,200 be approved for 2011/12 to purchase two parcels of land in the vicinity of the Council's Pyrles Lane Nursery site in order to facilitate the sale of the Nursery site for residential development.
Meeting: 12/09/2011 - Cabinet (Item 55)
Proposed Pyrles Lane Nursery Development - Acquisition of Adjoining Property
(Finance & Economic Development Portfolio Holder) To consider the attached report (C-027-2011/12).
Additional documents:
- Restricted enclosure 18
- Webcast for Proposed Pyrles Lane Nursery Development - Acquisition of Adjoining Property
Decision:
(1) That, in order to help facilitate the sale of the Pyrles Lane Nursery site for residential development, a supplementary capital estimate on terms to be reported by the Portfolio Holder for Finance & Economic Development to purchase 79 Pyrles Lane in Loughton be recommended to the Council for approval; and
(2) That, to also help facilitate the sale of the Pyrles Lane Nursery site for residential development, a supplementary capital estimate on terms to be reported by the Portfolio Holder for Finance & Economic Development to purchase a strip of garden from 77 Pyrles Lane in Loughton be recommended to the Council for approval.
Minutes:
The Portfolio Holder for Finance & Economic Development presented a report on the acquisition of adjoining properties to the proposed Pyrles Lane Nursery development.
The Portfolio Holder advised the Cabinet that purchasing the property at 79 Pyrles Lane and the strip of garden from the neighbouring property at 77 Pyrles Lane would give the Council more flexibility with the highway design, which might prove more attractive to prospective purchasers and would allow the Council to control the occupancy of 79 Pyrles Lane whilst the construction works were carried out. It was anticipated that the Council would incur no or minimal loss on the re-sale of 79 Pyrles Lane. The Portfolio Holder added that the cost of moving the Nursery currently at Pyrles Lane to an alternative site would be considered by the Cabinet in due course. It was agreed that the purchase of the property at 79 Pyrles Lane in Loughton would be a good investment for the Council, regardless of the outcome of the proposed development at Pyrles Lane. Both purchases would require the agreement of a supplementary capital estimate by the Council.
Decision:
(1) That, in order to help facilitate the sale of the Pyrles Lane Nursery site for residential development, a supplementary capital estimate on terms to be reported by the Portfolio Holder for Finance & Economic Development to purchase 79 Pyrles Lane in Loughton be recommended to the Council for approval; and
(2) That, to also help facilitate the sale of the Pyrles Lane Nursery site for residential development, a supplementary capital estimate on terms to be reported by the Portfolio Holder for Finance & Economic Development to purchase a strip of garden from 77 Pyrles Lane in Loughton be recommended to the Council for approval.
Reasons for Decision:
To facilitate the sale of the site at Pyrles Lane with the benefit of planning permission for residential development.
Other Options Considered and Rejected:
To not purchase 79 Pyrles Lane and land from 77 Pyrles Lane and proceed with a planning application having a 4.1metre access width, which might prove less attractive to a potential developer.