Conversion of Hamilton Centre into 2 storey Special Educational Needs College for 11 - 18 yr olds. Project also includes a 500m2 new build extension, car parking, landscaping and multi use sports area.

The Executive Director for Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report on the above application.  An update report was tabled at the meeting which gave details of additional representations received and of approved plans and which corrected inaccurate illustrations in the original report

Comments and objections were received and considered.

Objectors Merry Evans and Grant Evans attended the meeting and addressed the Committee on this application. 

Due to the considerable level of development that had taken place around the playing fields, in order to protect the remaining open space, Councillors requested an informative to advise that planning applications that would further erode this open space would not be supported, unless substantial justification was provided, as they would fail to comply with Local Plan policies aimed at protecting open space.

Resolved –

(1)      That the Deputy Director of Planning, Transport and Regulatory Services be authorised to grant full planning permission for application 191634/REG3 subject to completion of a Section 106 legal agreement by 14 February 2020 (unless a later date be agreed by the Deputy Director of Planning, Transport and Regulatory Services) to secure the Heads of Terms set out in the original report;

(2)      That, in the event of the requirements set out not being met, the Deputy Director of Planning, Transport and Regulatory Services be authorised to refuse permission;

(3)      That planning permission be subject to the conditions and informatives as recommended in the original report, subject to ensuring that all the requirements from the Natural Environment Team’s comments in paragraph 5.5 of the original report were included in the conditions, with additional informatives:

a)       requesting the development of the travel plan and its annual review to be carried out in consultation with Ward Councillors;

b)       referring to the requirement for reinstatement of the tennis courts linked to the decision by Policy Committee on this matter on 20 July 2015;

c)       to advise that planning applications that would further erode the open space would not be supported, unless substantial justification was provided, as they would fail to comply with Local Plan policies aimed at protecting open space.