Agenda item

(Director of Communities) To consider the attached report (CHB-009-2015/16).

(1)        That the garages at Springfields (Site B), Epping be demolished and the hardstandings be re-surfaced and marked out to leave the site as open car parking for local residents, with a residents’ parking scheme introduced;

(2)        That the land at Langley Meadow (Site A), Loughton be retained by the Council as open amenity land;

(3)        That the garages at Loughton Way, Buckhurst Hill be demolished and the resultant hardstandings be re-surfaced and marked out to leave the site as open car parking for local residents, with a residents’ parking scheme introduced; and

(4)        That all costs associated with the demolition, resurfacing, retaining walls, street lights and residents parking scheme be funded by the Off Street Parking Programme.

The Assistant Director (Housing Property & Development) presented a report to the Cabinet Committee. He advised that the sites at Springfield (Site B), Epping; Langley Meadow, Loughton and Loughton Way, Buckhurst Hill had been identified as being undevelopable, either because they did not or are not likely to receive planning permission or they are not financially viable for the Council to develop for the reasons as set out below.

Springfield (Site B), Epping

The site at Springfield (Site B) in Epping has 15 x garages, of which seven (46.6%) are vacant. This site was approved by the Cabinet Committee in November 2014 to seek planning permission to provide 2 x 1-bed bungalows. At the Area Planning Sub-Committee East it was felt that this development, if constructed in conjunction with other sites in the vicinity, would present too great a parking stress on the surrounding streets.

As there were a high percentage of vacant garages and the likelihood that there were a number of others not used for parking it was recommended that the garages be demolished, the site be re-surfaced and the land marked out to leave the site as open car parking for local residents with a residents’ parking scheme.

Langley Meadow (Site A), Loughton

The site at Langley Meadow (Site A), Loughton which was currently laid out as amenity space, was approved by the Cabinet Committee in November 2014 to seek planning permission for 2 x 1-bed flats. However, during Pre-app discussions with the Planning Officers the Council’s Arboriculturist was consulted and it was felt the development would cause harm to the existing tree on the site and as such the development could not be supported.

This site is laid out as grassed amenity space with trees. Whilst there was a perceived need for parking in the local vicinity, the Cabinet Committee had already agreed to retain the parking area at the opposite end of the block as open parking. Therefore, it was recommended that this space be retained as open amenity land.

Loughton Way, Buckhurst Hill

The site at Loughton Way, Buckhurst Hill has 24 x garages, of which nine (37.5%) are vacant, was approved by the Cabinet Committee in October 2014 to seek planning permission to provide 4 x 3-bed houses. However, during Pre-app discussions with the Planning Officers and following a detailed topographical site investigation, it was felt the unconventional design and more particularly the changes in level between the adjacent houses and the ground level to the new houses would present on-going structural maintenance issues associated with the retaining structures, which would bring into question the long term viability of the development.

As there were a high percentage of vacant garages, and a likelihood that there were a number of other garages not used for parking, it was recommended that the garages be demolished, the site be re-surfaced and the land marked out to leave the site as open car parking for local residents with a residents’ parking scheme. This would assist the parking stresses on the nearby development in Kirby Close.

Decision:

(1)        That the garages at Springfields (Site B), Epping be demolished and the hardstandings be re-surfaced and marked out to leave the site as open car parking for local residents and a residents’ parking scheme introduced;

(2)        That the land at Langley Meadow (Site A), Loughton be retained by the Council as open amenity land;

(3)        That the garages at Loughton Way, Buckhurst Hill be demolished and the hardstandings be re-surfaced and marked out to leave the site as open car parking for local residents, with a residents’ parking scheme introduced; and

(4)        That all costs associated with the demolition, resurfacing, retaining walls, street lights and residents parking scheme be funded by the Off Street Parking Programme.

Reasons for Decision:

The Cabinet Committee is required to decide on the future use of garage sites unsuitable for development in line with the Council’s Policy.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

To adopt any other of the options within the existing Policy on the future use of undevelopable sites, as set out in the body of the report.