Agenda item

Installation of two air conditioning units at sixth floor.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer concerning an application relating to Flat 17, The Gallery - a six storey, grade II listed building comprising17 residential units with commercial use at ground floor level.

The Chief Planning Officer reported that planning permission was sought for the installation of two air conditioning units associated with the sixth floor flat. They would be located to the north elevation and would sit partially behind an existing brick parapet and surrounded by an acoustic screen.

The Chief Planning Officer advised that the proposal had attracted eight objections from residents in nearby properties and the property Management Company and two neutral comments. Material planning objections related to noise, disturbance and fumes and impact on the visual appearance of the building.

Acoustic information had been submitted to demonstrate that the proposal would not cause noise and disturbance, and the visual impact would not significantly detract from the historic appearance of the listed building, the setting of nearby listed buildings, or from the character and appearance of the St Paul's Cathedral Conservation Area.

Discussion ensued and Members expressed concern at that the proposed air conditioning units would cause increased noise and disturbance which would be particularly problematic during summer, when the air conditioning units were likely to be on and neighbours had their windows open, and also during the early hours of the morning when the surrounding area was less noisy. It was noted that there were residential windows close to the proposed ait conditioning units, with the closest belonging to a different flat to the flat which would be using the air conditioning units.

Members were advised that following receipt of the objections, the applicant had prepared an acoustic report to support the application. The Department of Markets and Consumer Protection had reviewed the report and recommended that in order to ensure that the development would comply with the details contained in the Acoustic Report, a condition should be included which required the applicant to undertake an acoustic assessment following installation but prior to operation to ensure that the noise from the units was 10dB below background noise level.

The application was put to the vote, the result of which was as follows:-

5 votes in favour of the application

9 votes against the application

1 abstentions

RESOLVED – That the application be REFUSED subject to the reasons for refusal to be agreed following a report to the Committee at the next meeting.