Agenda and minutes

To be informed of the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

There were no substitute members.

You are invited to declare any registerable and/or non-registerable interests in matters appearing on the agenda, and the nature of that interest.

You are also requested to complete the Declarations of Interests card available at the meeting and return it to the Democratic Services Officer before leaving the meeting.

You are also invited to disclose any dispensation from the requirement to declare any registerable and/or non-registerable interests that have been granted to you in respect of any matters appearing on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations reported.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 14 January 2025

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 14 January 2025 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

To receive the attached guidance to members in determining planning applications and to give consideration to the planning applications listed in the following agenda items.

The Committee received guidance in relation to the principles of decision making when determining planning applications and then gave consideration to the planning applications listed in the following minutes.

To consider a full planning application from St John The Evangelist Church for construction of a new porch on the north facade of the church to form level access and accessible wc along with a single standard wc.  A new opening will be created in the existing church wall, utilising an existing stone arch, and the small stained glass window that will need to be removed will be re-inserted into the east wall of the new porch.

The Committee considered a report from planning officers together with an addendum circulated in advance of the meeting in relation to a full planning application for the construction of a new porch on the north facade of the church to form level access and accessible wc along with a single standard wc.

The Committee were informed that the addendum circulated set out that the consultation period had now ended and the recommendation had been changed from minded to grant on expiry of consultation to permitted.

A planning officer presented details of the application with the aid of maps, plans and photographs.

Members of the Committee asked questions of the officers and made comment. In doing so the Committee gave particular consideration to:

·         The risk of localised flooding;

·         Parking provision;

·         The planning history associated with the Church;

·         Possible impact on a Grade II Listed Building;

·         The relocation of the window;

·         How the Church looks in comparison to other local construction and its location within a conservation area;

·         Potential impact upon residential amenity in terms of loss of light, outlook and privacy.

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Based on the considerations of the Committee the chair proposed acceptance of the officer’s recommendation that the application be approved.

On being put to the vote, 9 members voted for the recommendation and 1 member voted against.

Resolved: that the application be permitted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

(Reasons for decision: The Committee concluded that, having regard to the relevant policies contained in the Council’s Local Plan and National Planning Policy Framework, the proposed development was acceptable in terms of the principle of development and its impact on the character and appearance on the area, residential amenity and highway safety.)

To consider a full planning application from Prophecy Group Ltd on the conversion of existing pub (sui generis) into 3no. retail units at ground floor and the retention of existing hot food takeaway (sui generis) and 6no. apartments and 8no. new building apartments to the rear (Amended description and amended plans December 2024).

The Committee considered a report from planning officers, together with 2 addendums circulated in advance of the meeting, in relation to a full planning application for the conversion of existing pub (sui generis) into 3no. retail units at ground floor and the retention of existing hot food takeaway (sui generis) and 6no. apartments and 8no.  new building apartments to the rear.

A planning officer presented details of the application with the aid of various maps, plans and photographs.

Members of the Committee asked questions of the officers and made comment. In doing so, the Committee gave particular consideration to:

·         The use of the open space next to the building and the use of the adjacent larger open space;

·         Issues around refuse collections and parking;

·         The design of the building;

·         Flood risk and drainage;

·         The impact on the telegraph pole outside of the building;

·         The biodiversity concerns, particularly for bats and birds;

·         The percentage of affordable homes that would be available in the proposed development;

·         North Tyneside Council five year housing land supply.

Based on the considerations of the Committee the Chair proposed acceptance of the officer’s recommendation that the application be refused.

On being put to the vote, 10 members voted for the refusal and 0 members voted against.

Resolved: That the application be refused for the conditions/reasons as set out within the report.

(Reasons for the decision: The proposal would not improve the economic, social and environmental conditions of the area nor does it comply with the development plan and therefore does not comprise sustainable development)

To give consideration as to whether the Silver Fox Way, North Shields Tree Preservation Order 2024 should be confirmed having taken account of the representations received.

The Committee considered whether to confirm the making of the Silver Fox Way, North Shields Tree Preservation Order 2024. 

The Council were notified of the intention to remove several trees located on Silver Fox Way to the south of the National Grid Tynemouth Substation, close to the junction with Merlin Way, as part of planning application 24/00967/FUL. The planning application, which is for a new battery storage facility, ancillary equipment, fencing, and associated landscaping requires the removal of the trees to enable a new vehicle access point to be installed providing access to the site from Silver Fox Way. The tree group contains the following species: Sycamore, Ash, Poplar, Hawthorn, Norway Maple, Sorbus sp, Beech, Alder, Birch, Willow and Scots Pine.  

The works were assessed, and the Council decided to make a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) for the trees in question. The Order was served in October 2024.

One representation has been received following the Council’s decision to serve a TPO. This has been submitted on behalf of National Grid, the owner of the trees.

The representation states that National Grid has no in principal objection to the TPO. They are aware of the applicant’s current planning application which seeks to remove a localised strip of trees to facilitate access to their proposed battery storage facility. They have advised that they understand that the applicant has shared National Grid’s ‘Guidance Note on the use of National Grid Electricity Transmission Land’ (Information on Use of National Grid land | National Grid ET) with the planning team to confirm why this access route is required. As per the document it is National Grid’s position that ‘Access through high voltage compounds will generally not be permitted except to access equipment included in an interface agreement or in circumstances where there is no alternative access route and then only during construction period’. National Grid have no immediate works planned within the proposed TPO area. However, they cannot discount works in the future should tree removal/pruning be required to ensure the safety of existing transmission assets and/or to enable development at Tynemouth substation to meet their statutory duties.

The Committee considered all representations and the advice of the planning officers before deciding whether to:

1.     Confirm the TPO with no modifications

2.     Confirm the TPO with modifications

3.     To not confirm the TPO

The Chair proposed acceptance of the planning officer’s to confirm the TPO with no modifications.

On being put to the vote, 10 members of the Committee voted for the recommendation and none voted against with no abstentions.

RESOLVED that the Silver Fox Way, North Shields, Tree Preservation Order 2024 be confirmed without modification.

(Reasons for the decision: A Tree Preservation Order does not prevent the felling of trees, but it gives the Council control in order to protect trees which contribute to the general amenity of the surrounding area.)