The report of the Head of Planning, Building Control and Licensing is attached.

The site measuring 0.9 hectares is currently occupied by a two storey residential apartment block known as Heald Green House. Consent is sought for the creation of a 743 space off-airport car park with access road off Styal Road, installation of 2.4m high weld mesh fencing and gates, 45 4.7m high galvanised steel lighting columns and office cabin with associated landscaping. The car park would be open 24 hours 7 days a week. 16 members of staff would be employed on site.

The application would involve the demolition of Heald Green House which currently

accommodates 13 residential units.

The applicant’s agent spoke to the Committee and said that the proposed car park would operate on a Park and Ride principle, with passengers being transported to the Airport by mini bus. He said that the principal of the proposed use had been well established, with several other Airport parking facilities in the vicinity.  He also explained that the existing entrance to the site on Irvin Drive would be closed, and a new entrance from Styal Road created as part of the development.  He added that there was an anticipated increase in demand for Airport parking, and that this development would provide a much needed facility.

The applicant’s agent also advised the Committee that there would be comprehensive landscaping undertaken as part of the development, and emphasised the benefits of the creation of jobs and development opportunities. 

Councillor Newman spoke in objection to the proposals.  He conceded that applications for car parking on this site had been approved in the past, but that these had been for much smaller schemes.  He added that past approvals were 13 and 15 years ago, and that it would not be reasonable to consider that these were still extant.  Since those proposals were improved, there has been a considerable amount of residential development adjacent to the site, and that consideration of these residents and their amenity must be considered carefully.  He added that some properties were just 11 metres away from the site of the proposed car park, and given that the proposals were for hours of operation 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, the associated vehicle movements, floodlights and noise would be unacceptable.  He said that the demolition of Heald Green House and the loss of the associated accommodation was unacceptable when there was such a high demand for affordable accommodation across the City.

He said that none of the proposed mitigation measures or conditions were sufficient to address the loss of amenity to residents, and the associated noise, light and air pollution that would result if the development was approved, and questioned the assertion in the report that approval would be in the public interest.  

The Committee expressed considerable concerns about the additional vehicle movements, noise and air pollution that would impact on the local community, particularly during the night time hours.  The Committee also expressed significant concern about the loss of accommodation to be replaced by car parking, and were of the opinion that this scheme would represent an overdevelopment of car parking in this part of the City. 

Officers told the Committee that they did have sympathy with the concerns raised, but that the application had to be considered on the basis of the previous permissions, the extant consent, on it’s own merits and according to local and national policies.  For this reason officers had concluded that the proposals should be approved.  Officers added that the principle of the use in this case has already been approved, at issue is the increase in the number of cars capable of being parked, i.e. from 500 spaces to 743 spaces. On the basis of the scheme as amended to include appropriate landscaping and tree planting, subject to appropriate conditions, officers considered that on balance the proposal would be acceptable.

The Committee considered that concerns regarding  the loss of residential amenity, loss of reasonably priced housing and associated vehicle movements, air and light pollution meant ld be supported at this time.  The scheme would not make a positive contribution.

Decision

Minded to refuse due to the loss of residential amenity, loss of reasonably priced housing and associated vehicle movements, air and light pollution.