Grimesthorpe Road plans withdrawn

In the October 2005 issue the Messenger reported residents’ concerns about a developer’s plans to build two blocks of five-storey flats on Grimesthorpe Road. The planning application for the site on Grimesthorpe Road was due to be dealt with by the Planning Board at the end of October 2005.

Thirty-three separate letters had been sent opposing the flats together with a petition. The planning officers had recommended that the councillors reject the development as the design was poor, there was a loss of open space, there was insufficient landscaping works and there was a danger of ‘precedence’.

However, a week before the Planning Board the developer withdrew the proposal so the Board didn’t consider it. This means the developer could apply to build another housing scheme in the future. The same developer has put in two planning applications (for ‘residential development’) for the rest of the Grimesthorpe Road frontage and for land adjoining Carwood estate.

In the October 2005 issue the Messenger also reported that, “Residents have found it difficult to get their Councillors to support their campaign [against the Grimesthorpe development]. Two Burngreave Councillors are on the planning board and as yet have chosen not to get involved.”

Normally, all Councillors will do their best to help residents. The position for Councillors who are on the Planning Boards is slightly different. Even with planning applications within their own Ward, national Codes of Conduct require members of the Planning Board to be impartial and not make their minds up about an application before they have all the information. This will normally be at the Board meeting itself, where the report of the Head of Development Services is available to them, and they have heard any arguments made at the Board meeting by residents and by the developer. If councillors on the Board do express an opinion before the meeting, legally, they would have to declare an interest in that planning application and would not be allowed to speak or vote on that application, usually leaving the room for the duration of the consideration of the item.

Councillors on a Planning Board can advise residents how to make their views heard on any planning application, but being careful not to imply any opinion about the development. But they cannot become involved in any campaigns, either for or against any proposal. Far from choosing not to get involved, the Councillors on a Planning Board are legally required not to offer any opinion about the planning applications. Decisions about planning applications are taken on ‘planning grounds’ – such as the design, layout, landscaping, or materials used; about the potential effects of development on privacy; the harmful effects on the quality of the environment (like noise or air quality); and the impact on any nearby roads. Comment on planning applications should be focused on these matters.