Argyll and Bute Council Development Services Delegated Or Committee
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Argyll and Bute Council Development Services Delegated or Committee Planning Application Report and Report of handling as required by Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2008 relative to applications for Planning Permission or Planning Permission in Principle ____________________________________________________________________________ Reference No: 09/00282/DET Planning Hierarchy : Local Applicant : West Highland Housing Association Ltd. Proposal : Erection of new progressive care facility, 3 staff houses and associated works. Site Address : Land North East of Java Houses, Craignure, Isle of Mull. ____________________________________________________________________________ DECISION ROUTE (i) Local Government Scotland Act 1973 ____________________________________________________________________________ (A) THE APPLICATION (i) Development Requiring Express Planning Permission • Erection of new progressive care facility; • Erection of 3 dwellinghouses; • Construction of Plant Room; • Construction of access with public road (ii) Other specified operations • Biobox and hopper store; • Construction of private access road; • Provision of drainage infrastructure. ____________________________________________________________________________ (B) RECOMMENDATION: Recommend that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions and reasons listed in the report. ____________________________________________________________________________ (C) HISTORY: 04/02299/OUT - Site for the Erection of Progressive Care Centre, Land North East of Java Houses, Craignure, Isle of Mull – Withdrawn 17 th May 2007. ____________________________________________________________________________ (D) CONSULTATIONS: Area Roads Manager (23.04.2009) - No objection, subject to conditions. Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (02.04.2009) – No objection. Scottish Water (03.06.2009) - No objection. Public Protection (06.04.2009) - No objection. __________________________________________________________________ (E) PUBLICITY: Section 34 and Article 9 Advert, date of expiry - 02.04.2009 ______________________________________________________________________ (F) REPRESENTATIONS: Three in support of the proposal from the following: Elizabeth Bland, 6 Tor Mor View, Fionnphort, Isle of Mull. Fiona Brown, Tigh Na H'Abhann, Kinloch, Pennyghael, Isle of Mull, PA70 6HB. William G Thomson, Chairman, Progressive Care Centre Company, Caol Muile, Craignure, Isle of Mull, PA65 6AY. (i) Summary of issues raised • Support is expressed for the development in principle and for its impressive arrangement of facilities. • Matters of detail relating to suggestions for fitting out the building in relation to mobility scooter storage, lift provision, drying facilities, ventilation, central heating and waste/recycling storage are raised. Comment: These are not a material planning considerations but they have been. brought to the attention of the agent. • As Mull Community Councillor for Pennyghael I wish to express that this community are in favour of this application for the erection of a new progressive care facility and the erection of 3 staff houses. • I write on behalf of the Mull and Iona Progressive Care Centre Company to strongly support this application by West Highland Housing Association to build a Progressive Care Centre on land at Java. This centre will be a valuable asset for the community, and is essential to replace Dunaris sickbay which has been condemned. (G) SUPPORTING INFORMATION Has the application been the subject of: (i) Environmental Statement: No. (ii) An appropriate assessment under the Conservation (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1994: No. (iii) A design or design/access statement: Yes – this is incorporated into a supporting statement. Supporting Statement A Justification Statement and Report in Support of the Planning Application has been submitted, dated March 2009, which, the ‘operational justification’ may be summarised as follows: Background: • In 1998, the only private Nursing Home on Mull closed and all of the residents were transferred to mainland homes. The only residential care home left on the island was the Dunaris Sick Bay which could only hold seven residents. Anyone requiring residential nursing care had to be transferred to the mainland. • The Mull and Iona Community Care Association, MICCA, (now defunct) brokered a public meeting where the Progressive Care Centre Steering Group was started with representative from the MICCA, Community Council and the Community Trust with the objective of building a Progressive Care Centre (PCC) on Mull. A Trust fund was started and generated a lot of support. • Various charities and banks were approached, most of whom promised to help to the extent that they could have raised well over 1 million for this facility. However, a business case at that time in 1998/1999 suggested that there would be issues with Revenue Funding with a probable defecate in excess of £100,000 annually. • The PCC Group decided to approach the Health Board and Social Work Department to ask for their help in revenue funding. This they were very willing to do but only if a Partnership was formed and the whole project was brought together with West Highland Housing Association, Communities Scotland, the local PCC Steering Group and themselves. • There was then a report from the Scottish Health Advisory Services advising that the existing Dunaris did not meet the new standards laid down by the Residential Care Commission and recommended a complete replacement to the new standards. • The PCC Steering Group had been searching for a suitable site for several years and even before the Partnership was proposed and eventually after looking at 9 sites, the site at Java was identified as a potential. • It was agreed that the new facility should provide supported residential houses, social work department together with a small community hospital outpatients department together with staff accommodation, to replace the existing facility at Dunaris. There was also an opportunity at this stage to provide in addition to the purpose built building which meets all the Care Commission and Health Board requirements and that it could also provide potential for expansion, should that be required in the future. Purpose of the project • The purpose of the project is to deliver fundamental change in the way in which housing, social care and health services are delivered to the people of Mull and Iona. The key focus of the project is to enable and facilitate joint working between the service providers with the aim of maximising the potential for people to remain in their own homes and communities. Key components of the redesigned services • Encouraging people to support themselves, adopting safe and healthy lifestyles, maintaining self confidence and independence are key features of the proposed service delivery. Local services will focus on being a resource which people can use every day to look after themselves and maintain their independence. Mull and Iona have a history as a community that cares for itself – the project will build on this strength. • The frontline for service delivery will be focused on supporting people in their homes. Services provided by all the agencies will be tailored to suit personal needs and circumstances, maximising choice and designed to be attractive to users. A proactive approach will be taken to identify those at greatest risk from social problems and serious illness so that they can be offered support and preventative services with the aim of early intervention and avoidance of crises. • Joint community care services will be designed as a one-stop gateway to housing, social care and health services. The project will provide access for everyone living in this remote rural community to a range of modern, integrated services delivered locally but with good access to more specialised services when these needs arise and cannot be met locally. • Locally provided and supported accommodation will concentrate on maintaining and restoring independence and on rehabilitation with the aim of either returning people to their homes as soon as possible or maximising their potential to live independently within a supported environment. • Delivering the change required to bring about a modern and integrated housing, social and health care service for the people of Mull and Iona will require an investment in staff. Investment will be needed to offer these staff a better deal in their working lives and to encourage them to work in remote and rural areas. To assist recruitment and retention, staff housing will be provided. ____________________________________________________________________________ (H) PLANNING OBLIGATIONS Is a Section 75 agreement required: No ____________________________________________________________________________ (I) Has a Direction been issued by Scottish Ministers in terms of Regulation 30, 31 or 32: No ____________________________________________________________________________ (J) Section 25 of the Act; Development Plan and any other material considerations over and above those listed above which have been taken into account in the assessment of the application (i) List of all Development Plan Policy considerations taken into account in assessment of the application. ‘Argyll and Bute Structure Plan’ 2002 STRAT SI 1 Sustainable Development STRAT DC 1 Development within the Settlements STRAT HO 1 Housing Development Control Policy ‘Argyll and Bute Local