Agenda item

The Committee is requested to consider an application for planning permission, details of which are set out in the accompanying report.

The Committee considered an application for external alterations including erection of part two/part three storey extension to north elevation of existing bedroom accommodation to form 26 additional bedrooms, plant housing and air conditioning housing, three storey extension to south elevation of existing bedroom accommodation to form lift shaft, partial rendering of existing bedroom accommodation, and alterations to existing play area and car park to form 11 additional parking spaces at Premier Inn, Red Lion Hotel, Devonshire Road, Blackpool.

Mr Johnston, Head of Development Management, presented the Committee with a brief overview of the application and site layout plans and elevational plans.  He reported on the distances and elevations of the proposed development in relation to neighbouring properties.  He advised Members that the report should have made reference to the location being outside any of the main holiday accommodation areas as well as the Resort Core.  He confirmed that the current bedroom block was some 30 metres to the south of the boundary with the rear gardens fronting Village Way and not to the north of the boundary as stated in the report.

Mr Johnston reported on the history of the hotel and confirmed that the current accommodation comprised a total of 67 bedrooms.  Members were advised that there were currently 132 car parking spaces at the site, with an additional 11 car parking spaces being provided as part of the proposal and that whilst the number of car parking spaces would fall below the maximum requirement, this was based on independent hotel and restaurant uses which would not be the case for this development.  Mr Johnston reported on the proposed relocation of the bin storage further away from neighbouring properties and referred to proposed condition 12 which limited the operation of bin, bottle and skip collections to reduce the impact of noise and disturbance on residents of neighbouring properties.  

Mr Johnston referred Members to the additional representations in the Update Note.  He reported on the consultation response from the Head of Highways and Traffic Management and confirmed that the applicant had indicated that there were no plans to cease the informal arrangement regarding the use of the car park by parents of the two nearby schools.

Mrs Haydock and Mrs Wroe spoke in objection to the application.  Their main concerns included the principle of extending holiday accommodation in a residential area outside of the Resort Core which in their view conflicted with current policy, the impact of the proposed design on the view/setting of the locally listed building and safety of pedestrians from vehicles using the site.

Mrs Warren, agent for the applicant, spoke in support of the application and reported on the demand for the additional holiday accommodation and the lack of an alternative suitable site for the development. She highlighted the steps that the applicant had taken to address the concerns raised by nearby residents which included relocation of the bin storage and discussions with contractors to remind them of their contractual obligations regarding times for delivery of goods and refuse collection.

Mr Johnston confirmed that  the Built Heritage Manager accepted that the proposed development would have some impact on the setting of the locally listed building when viewed from Devonshire Road but not sufficient to justify refusal of the application.  He advised Members that policy sought to resist new holiday accommodation outside of the Resort Core and Main Holiday Accommodation areas but as the proposed development related to an existing hotel, it was debatable whether it applied in this case.

During consideration of the application, Members of the Committee expressed concerns at the impact on residents of neighbouring properties from deliveries and refuse collection and agreed that, should the application be approved, clear conditions should be attached to the permission to restrict the operation of bin, bottle and skip collections to between 8am to 9pm on Mondays to Saturdays and between 10am and 9pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays and deliveries of goods between 7am to 6pm daily.

In response to Members’ concerns regarding the impact on residents of nearby properties from the depositing of internal waste to outside skips, Mr Johnston reported that a condition could not be imposed on the existing pub/restaurant but requested that the agent reported the Committee’s concerns to the owner.

Resolved:  That the application be approved, subject to the conditions, including the amended condition 12 and the additional condition relating to the hours of operation for deliveries of goods as outlined above, and for the reasons set out in the Appendix to the minutes.

Background papers:  Applications, plans and replies to consultations on the application.