Agenda item

23/00146/FM:  The development of surface-level Temporary Car Parks together with associated works, including landscaping and highways at Queen Elizabeth Hospital  Gayton Road  Queen Elizabeth Hospital Site  King's Lynn  Norfolk

 

Minutes:

23/00146/FM:  The development of surface-level temporary car parks together with associated works, including landscaping and highways at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gayton Road, Queen Elizabeth Hospital site, King’s Lynn, Norfolk

 

The Senior Planner presented the report and explained that there were 3 areas for car parking, and these were highlighted on the plan.

 

Area 1 would provide 155 spaces

Area 2 would provide 39 spaces

Area 3 would provide 33 spaces

 

In total there would be 227 spaces.

 

The reason for the application was to ensure that during construction of the multi-storey car park, there was sufficient parking, as there would be the loss of 218 car parking spaces whilst it was being built.

 

With regards to Area 1 there would be the loss of some trees and they were identified on the plan. 8 new trees would be replanted in place of those lost.

 

All the other trees would be protected during construction.  Bird and bat boxes were also proposed together with some seed planting.

 

The car park surface was explained to the Panel.

 

With regards to Area 2, no trees would be removed and was low ecological status.

 

Area 3 included existing grassed areas, and these were highlighted on the plan.

 

Councillor Bambridge asked if the site was in a flood plain.  The Senior Planner advised that the site was within Flood Zone 1 and there were no issues of flooding.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Bambridge, the Senior Planner explained that within the report it advised that as soon as phase 1 of the multi-storey car park was complete the areas would not be used for parking.

 

The Chair added that there were more trees removed than replanted.

 

The Senior Planner explained that it was difficult to put an exact number of the number of trees in each group that would be removed.

 

The Chair asked that a condition could be added so that when the temporary car parks ceased to be used, more trees could be replanted, and this was agreed by the Sub-Group.

 

The Senior Planner stated that she would clarify how many trees were in the different groups and then consider a condition on that basis.

 

The Chair asked whether the planning application for the multi-storey car park had been agreed.  In response the Senior Planner advised that it would be considered by the Planning Committee on 3 April.

 

The Chair also asked that, if the application was approved, how long it would take to construct the multi-storey car park.  The Senior Planner advised that it was the hospital’s intention to construct the car park as soon as possible but there was no control over how long the construction period would be.

 

The Senior Planner explained that with regards to the noise level and impact on patients and nearby residents, there would not be too much construction noise and no piling would be taking place.

 

AGREED:       That the Sub-Group had no objection to the application subject to a condition regarding the replanting of trees once the temporary car parks were no longer in use.