Harpenden House Hotel
Sept 23. Decision NOW APPROVED by SADC planners
Thank you for your email below.(From John Hansen) I can confirm that the s106 has been completed satisfactorily, and that the change of use was considered acceptable in planning policy terms as there is a policy need for more housing units and not a specific need in planning policy to retain the hotel use. The issues in relation to the viability assessment (particularly in relation to the potential for providing affordable housing), were looked into in detail during the application process, and they, along with the issues around the loss of the hotel use, are discussed in the officer’s report, and were discussed at the committee meeting on Monday.
Many thanks,
Andrew Wright
Deputy Planning Team Leader
Planning and Building Control
Sept 19 John Hansen of ‘Save Harpenden House’ reports:
However they voted to delegate the final decision to the Head of Planning. Now its true that the Planning Officers are recommending acceptance but I think the main issue is that the application is not fully complete particularly in view of the S106 money. The committee seemed somewhat confused at to what this delegation meant as it is a new procedure.
David Williams spoke against the application as did I.
David was objecting to block A (that is the one with the back garden bordering Southdown Rd. the committee was told there would be nothing to stop people having washing lines etc in their back garden) and the Paltry S106 money (which was not what HTC were promised). Further if the scheme was sold on by the present developer they could reduce their obligation even further.
I will be taking the change of use up with Tracy Harvey as there seems to be no justification as the hotel was viable (and would be even more so today) whereas the scheme is not viable if the Developers have to meet their affordable housing obligations. So they are replacing a Viable Hotel with a borderline viable scheme.
John Hansen.
Arguments for and against the development have been publicised widely with negative views about:
The loss of a Hotel facility in Harpenden
The potential loss of character to a listed building
The failure to design the property in a style that suits the conservation area
The lack of affordable homes
The loss of privacy to a few homes in Arden Grove
Countering this with positive views:
New houses being built in the town centre with on site underground parking
Improved house designs that are visually better than existing 1950’s buildings
Retention & protection of the listed building
Approval of site by Historic England
S106 contributions from developer for:
£495,000 Affordable Housing Contribution
£9,649 Play Areas Contribution
£15,402 Parks and Open Spaces Contribution
£24,365 Leisure and Cultural Centres Contribution
£5,953 Library Contribution
£32,250 Sustainable Transport Contribution
£1,202 Youth Contribution
There are many other technical issue and considerations that have to be agreed.