Agenda item

The Committee received a report advising that planning permission was sought for the change of use of a K6 telephone kiosk to an office pod (Sui Generis). The office pod would provide printing, scanning, copying and WiFi services for registered members.

The Committee heard that externally, the telephone kiosk would remain largely unaltered and would remain painted in BT phone box red. The existing glazed panels would be replaced with toughened safety glass to match the existing and a new electronic keypad operated mortice lock would be fitted below the pull handle.

Members raised a number of questions in relation to the likelihood of people gathering in the area to use the free wi-fi, what the definition of ‘no advertising’ was, alternative uses for the kiosks, whether the glass panels would be obscured or transparent, and whether or not the site would be more beneficial to the public if transformed into open space.

The Committee was advised that given free wi-fi would shortly be rolled out across the CoL, it was unlikely that the area around the kiosk would become congested. Managed access would also prevent users needing to queue outside. There would be no advertising other than a very small ‘Pod Works’ logo inside and a condition would be imposed requiring the glazing to be transparent to ensure the kiosk retained its original character.

A Member suggested a possible amendment to the recommendation to enable the provision of wi-fi to be monitored and then removed if this resulted in any congestion outside the kiosk, but then accepted that this would be difficult and that the approval should be with or without wi-fi.

Arising from the discussion a vote was taken:

16 For

2 Against

1 Abstention

The Committee RESOLVED that planning permission be granted for the above proposal in accordance with the details set out in the attached schedule, and including a condition that the glazing be transparent.