Planning application for 24 flats in Sutton

The outline application for up to 24 one and two bedroom flats at the junction of Outram Street and Park Street will be heard at a meeting of the authority’s planning committee on Thursday (December 14).

The initial submission to the planning committee on March 2 2017 was given conditional approval due to the satisfactory completion of a S106 agreement which included 10 per cent affordable housing or possible offsite contribution in lieu.

The S106 agreement also included landscape and public realm contributions;  £24,000 for Sutton Lawn improvements, £48,000 for Portland Square; Station Rd/High Pavement Gateway; or any other as identified in future adopted plans and policies and education- £57,275 for 5 primary school places.

However the applicant Chardstock Management Services Ltd refused to acknowledge the justification of the contributions sought which the council says are proportionate to the development. The applicant also refused to fund the cost of the council seeking an independent assessment of their viability report.

The applicant claimed the site value had been eroded by 88 per cent since 2005 and the site viability eroded by 70 per cent. The financial burden of the S106 obligations further made the site unviable.

The report said in the absence of the contributions requested the development was considered unsustainable, failing as it would to contribute towards local facilities and infrastructure considered necessary to mitigate against the impact of the proposed development.