Agenda item

(This item was not available at the time of agenda publication and will be circulated separately)

The Committee considered a joint report of the Comptroller and City Solicitor and the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director setting out the proposed reasons for refusing a planning application for the installation of two air conditioning units at Flat 17, The Gallery, 38 Ludgate Hill, London, EC4M 7DE.

Members were reminded that in considering the report, should it be deemed necessary, only those Members who had voted when the application was considered at the last meeting would be able to vote on the matter now before them.

The Chairman advised that representations from the applicant and an objector had been received and that copies had been laid round the table. Members proceeded to read the two submissions and noted the comments contained therein.

The Chairman referred to the Committee being presented with the option of  approving the application on the basis of an established condition rather than agreeing reasons for refusal. He stated that such an approach would, in his view, set an unwelcomed precedent. The Committee had considered and resolved to refuse the application at its last meeting. Therefore the purpose of bringing the matter back to this meeting was to determine the reasons for refusal only. Several Members supported his view and the reason for refusal as set out in paragraph 3 of the report.

RESOLVED – that having considered and refused the planning application for the installation of two air conditioning units at Flat 17, The Gallery, 38 Ludgate Hill, London, EC4M 7DE at its meeting on 25^th January 2017, the reason for refusal be noted as follows:-

The air conditioning units could give rise to an increase in background noise levels resulting in a loss of amenity contrary to Local Plan Policy DM 15.7, having regards to the potential for the air conditioning units to deteriorate over time and become noisier and where the nearest noise sensitive receptor is in closer proximity to the units than the owner/occupier responsible for their maintenance.