Issue - meetings

Further to Minute No. 18 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Environment held on 22^nd June, 2011, consideration was given to a report regarding the consultation on the Government’s proposals to relax planning rules particularly in relation to the amendment of planning rules to allow changes of use from commercial (B use classes) to residential use (C3 use classes) and from shops (A1) and financial and professional services (A2) to mixed use of A1 or A2 plus more than one flat without the need for planning applications.

Deadline for the submission of responses was 30^th June, 2011.

The report set out:-

-        The background to the consultation.

-                Details of the proposed changes.

-                Aims of the changes – noting primarily to bring redundant commercial premises back into use.

-                Potential benefits.

-                Building Regulations and Development Control.

-                Environmental health and safety considerations.

-                Potential impacts and risks.

-                Options on which the Government was consulting.

-                The Council’s proposed response.

-                Possible financial implications.

-                The suggested response.

Resolved:-  That the contents of the submitted report and Rotherham’s response to the consultation be noted.

Ryan Shepherd, Senior Planner, to report.

-  to report the background to the consultation and consider the suggested response.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Senior Planner, relating to consultation regarding the Government’s proposals to relax planning rules re:  the amendment of planning rules to allow changes of use from commercial (B use classes) to residential use (C3 use classes) and from shops (A1) and financial and professional services (A2) to mixed use of A1 or A2 plus more than one flat without the need for planning applications.

Deadline for the submission of responses was 30^th June, 2011.

The report set out:-

-          the background to the consultation

-          details of the proposed changes

-          aims of the changes – noting primarily to bring redundant commercial premises back into use

-          potential benefits

-          Building Regulations and Development Control

-          Environmental health and safety considerations

-          potential impacts and risks

-          options on which the Government was consulting

-          the Council’s proposed response

-          possible financial implications

-          the suggested RMBC response (appended to the submitted report)

Following further discussion a proposed altered response to question C of the government consultation on relaxing planning regulations was suggested as follows re:-

“Question C:

Do you agree that these proposals should also include a provision which allows land to revert to its previous use within five years of a change?

No

Comments:

Switching between two very different land uses would prove difficult to manage in the interests of both businesses and residents.  For example, it would not be desirable to allow a reversion to Class B use on sites where more than one dwelling has been provided within the building or on the land because of the potential adverse impact on the remaining residents; issues such as noise, odour, security and parking would need to be properly addressed. 

Reversion would also have implications for enforcement and could prove to be very complex, such as when extensions and alterations are carried out to a building, we would need to establish whether the use was residential or commercial in order to decide whether the works were permitted development.  This proposal would also compromise our ability to monitor the supply of housing and industrial land.”

Members present commented on:-

-          danger of overcrowding sites

-          possible conversion of a number of existing premises within the borough

-          location of premises within industrial estates and issues such as noise

-          safeguards through Building and Development Control and Environmental Health

Resolved:-  (1)  That the content of the submitted report be noted.

(2)  That the submission of the comments, including the amendment detailed above and as set out at Appendix A, be approved as Rotherham’s response to this Government consultation.