Issue - meetings

Committee considered a report in relation to the above application presented by the Development Management and Land Charges Manager, who gave details of the application and highlighted the location and features of the site and key issues.  The application sought approval for the change of use of the first and second floors from ancillary accommodation (previously used in association with the existing ground-floor takeaway) to a 3-bedroom house in multiple occupation (HMO) which falls within use class C4.  The application had been referred to the Committee by Councillor Jane Yates for the reason outlined in the report.

Parish Councillor Andrew Stevens spoke against the application on behalf of Shirebrook Town Council.

A statement on the application was read out on behalf of Councillor Jane Yates.

Rayan Qureshi (the applicant) spoke in favour of the application.

To a question on parking, Rayan Qureshi informed 1 parking space remained available with the other 2 having been offered freely for public use.

In answer to a question, Rayan Qureshi informed work on the property’s exterior envelope would include insulation, the replacement of the roof and the improvement of the frontage.

The number of en-suite bedrooms intended was confirmed.

The Development Management and Land Charges Manager informed, if approval was given, subsequent building regulation requirements would ensure all safety (including fire safety), energy efficiency and sanitatory standards were met.

Members acknowledged the concerns raised on the concentration of the District’s HMOs in Shirebrook.

The Senior Devolution Lead for Planning Policy, Strategic Growth and Housing reported the current numbers of Licensed and non-licensed HMOs in Shirebrook and data on the number of enquiries, complaints and investigations relating to HMOs across the District as provided by the Joint Environmental Health Team, the Council’s core service relating to HMOs.  This information highlighted that the small number of complaints received for 2025, less than one a month, reflected that based on available evidence the scale of reported  registered remained low.

It was added that despite this low level of complaints, the Council took the disturbance that could be created by residential and commercial properties seriously and that the Council would be promoting the services of its Joint Environmental Health Team to ensure that members of the public were aware of how to report any problems to the Council.

All reports were treated seriously and would be investigated and responded to by the Joint Environmental Health Team.

A clarification was sought on the access points of the property.  Access to the HMO would be via the front and rear doors serving the ground floor takeaway use.

The Development Management and Land Charges Manager reassured that, as detailed in the list of recommendations, a management plan for the accommodation (which must include the vetting of occupants, day-to-day management of the site and methods for dealing with and reporting of incidents of anti-social behaviour) would need to be submitted to the Council before any first occupation.

5 in favour

2 against

Moved by Councillor Tom Munro and seconded by Councillor Phil  ...  view the full minutes text for item 81

Committee considered a report in relation to the above application presented by the Development Management and Land Charges Manager, who gave details of the application and highlighted the location and features of the site and key issues.  The application sought approval for variations to a development allowed at appeal, following a decision taken by the Committee and because the final decision was considered to be of strategic importance given the objection received from Sport England.

The Leisure Facilities Planning & Development Manager answered questions on the local demands for sports fields.

The Development Management and Land Charges Manager clarified that the application had been advertised in the press, but not explicitly as a departure and that it was a matter of judgement as to whether the proposal constituted a departure from the local plan.

It was requested that it be noted that the Playing Field Strategy commissioned by the Council was due to be completed September 2026.

Clarification was sought on the length of the lease.

Moved by Councillor Phil Smith and seconded by Councillor Tom Munro

RESOLVED that application no. 25/00491/VAR be referred to the Secretary of State via the National Planning Casework Unit with a recommendation that the application be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:

1.     The use of the former playing pitch as an extension to the town farm and the use of the marquees for functions which do not directly form part of the use of the site as a town farm must be discontinued and the land restored to its former condition on or before 18^th February 2031 in accordance with a scheme of work submitted at least two months before the expiry of the permission and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

2.     The use of the former playing pitch must be for the keeping of animals and occasional parking of vehicles in connection with the use of the site and there must be no permanent structures, buildings or fences erected on the site without the prior grant of planning permission.

3.     Within 28 days of the date of this decision the noise management plan set out on page 19 of the Noise Impact Assessment (Nova Acoustics 20.10.2022) submitted to the Local Planning Authority on 20^th October 2022 must be implemented on site in full and must remain in place for the length of this permission unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

Reasons

1.     To allow for a more permanent solution to be found and to prevent the permanent loss of a playing pitch in accordance with Policies ITCR7, SC3 and SC11 of the Local Plan for Bolsover District.

2.     To protect the character and appearance of the countryside and to prevent the permanent loss of a playing pitch in accordance with Policies SS9 and ITCR7 of the Local Plan for Bolsover District.

3.     In the interest of residential amenity in accordance with Policies SC3 and ITCR7 of the Local plan for Bolsover District.

Note  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72