Agenda and draft minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:

(1) the type of interest concerned either

(a)   personal interest

(b)   prejudicial interest

(c)    disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI)

and

(2) the nature of the interest concerned

If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

There were no delcarations of interest.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 12 November 2024 as a true and correct record.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 2024 be agreed as a true and correct record.

The Committee is asked to note the Planning Enforcement Update for October 2024.

The Committee considered a report on Planning Enforcement activity within Blackpool between 1 October 2024 and 31 October 2024.

During October 2024, 62 new cases had been registered for investigation and as at 31 October 2024, 268 complaints had been recorded as live, 6 cases had been resolved by negotiation without recourse to formal action and 42 cases had been closed. The Committee was also advised that no Notices had been issued during October 2024.

Resolved:

To note the update.

The Committee is requested to note the development management appeals that have been lodged and determined since the last meeting.

The Committee considered an update on Development Management appeals lodged and determined since the last meeting.

Eight appeals had been lodged and one appeal had been determined and dismissed.

Resolved:

To note the update.

To consider Planning Application 24/0135 for the approval of reserved matters (Appearance and Landscape) pursuant to outline planning permission 24/0131, comprising the erection of a hotel development with car parking and associated works.

The Committee considered planning application 24/0315 for the approval of reserved matters (appearance and landscape) pursuant to outline planning permission 24/0131, comprising the erection of a hotel development with car parking and associated works on the land bounded by Adelaide Street, Leopold Grove and Alfred Street, Blackpool.

Ms S Parker, Head of Development Management, provided the Committee with an outline of the application and planning history and reminded the Committee that the application was one of reserved matters to agree appearance and landscaping. The application had been deferred from the meeting held on 12 November 2024 in order to obtain more supporting information and detail in relation to matters of landscaping.

The site was in a sensitive location within the Town Centre Conservation Area and opposite the listed Winter Gardens building. The approved building was five storeys in height with 266 bedrooms and suites. In terms of vehicular access, access would be from Alfred Street and the main pedestrian access point situated on Adelaide Street with a secondary access on Leopold Grove. The approved layout would comprise of distinctive eastern and western wings with a central podium at first floor level.

In respect of design, Ms Parker advised the Committee that the design was intended to reflect Blackpool’s art deco heritage to include clean lines, horizontal banding and geometric shapes with chamfered corners on the Adelaide Street elevation. In terms of ground floor glazing, some of this would be broken up by sections of Verdigris textured panels with the upper floors overhanging and supported by grey/brown brick clad panels. Two vertical features had been secured which would help to animate the building and provide legibility however the Committee was advised that some of the proposed materials were not considered to be appropriate and a condition was recommended to require these details to be agreed post-determination.

The Committee was advised that no objections had been received from Historic England and that no response had been received from the Civic Trust or Built Heritage Manager and the concerns expressed by the Trees and Landscape Officer were outlined. Ms Parker advised that statutory biodiversity net gain requirements did not apply, however the scheme should still make effort to maximise green infrastructure.

Ms Parker advised the Committee that in response to the deferral at the meeting on 12 November 2024, the applicant had proposed 173 square metres of planting in the ground on Leopold Grove, Alfred Street and Adelaide Street which would be watered by a ‘leaky pipe’ system and that a provision of 26 trees had been calculated as a requirement. In relation to tree planting at first floor level, the Committee was advised that this was no longer proposed due to uncertainties over the building’s structural ability to support any such planting. A financial contribution of £26,000 had been offered to support off-site tree planting and Ms Parker advised that as the Council was the landowner, it could not enter into a financial agreement with itself. Therefore an appropriate legal mechanism would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To note the date of the next meeting as 21 January 2025.

Resolved:

To note the date of the next meeting as 21 January 2025.