The Plymouth City Council Planning Committee met on 18 September 2025 to discuss two planning applications, as well as note previously issued planning application decisions and appeal decisions. The committee voted to grant conditional approval for the erection of a two-storey extension to student accommodation on North Hill and for demolition and construction of a rear extension and raised terrace on Tor Crescent.

Planning Applications for Consideration

The committee considered two planning applications under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

38 North Hill - 25/00852/FUL

The committee voted to grant conditional approval for the erection of a two-storey extension to extend adjacent purpose-built student accommodation at 38 North Hill, Plymouth PL4 8ET. The applicant, Mr Justin Bryce, sought permission for a full planning application for the erection of a two-storey extension above No. 38 North Hill, to provide an extension to the purpose built student accommodation at 40-42 North Hill, providing six additional studio bedrooms.

The application was referred to the Planning Committee by a local ward member, objecting to the application on the basis that the proposed development would amount to overdevelopment and this would be detrimental to the visual impact of the historic North Hill landscape. One letter of representation was received, objecting to the proposed development on the grounds that building student flats would damage the atmosphere of North Hill.

The planning officer's report noted that the city could no longer demonstrate a five-year land supply and this application would contribute to the city's housing figures, through the provision of alternative residential use, in the form of student accommodation. The report stated that, as stipulated in Policy DEV12, it is preferable that student needs are met as far as possible in purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) as this reduces the need to convert more housing that is currently available for families and can enable the re-purposing of existing HMOs currently occupied by students.

The report also noted that the proposed studios measure between 21-25sqm in size, comparable to existing purpose built student accommodation developments within the City, and that students would benefit from the large communal area within the basement of 40-42 North Hill which comprises of a seating area, dining area, games room, cinema room and laundry room.

The approval was conditional on a number of factors, including:

• The development being carried out in accordance with the approved plans
• The development being begun before the expiration of three years
• Details of the existing and proposed surface water drainage system being submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority
• A construction traffic management plan being submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority
• Details of the materials to be used in the construction of the external surfaces of the development being submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority
• A maintenance schedule for the exterior of the building being submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority
• Space being laid out within the site for 6 bicycles to be securely parked
• A Residential Travel Plan (RTP) being submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority
• An as-built SAP Assessment¹ being submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority which demonstrates that the scheme has achieved regulated carbon emissions levels of 20% less than that required by Building Regulations Part L.
• A management plan for the operation of the accommodation being submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority
• The drop off space shown on the approved plans being brought into use in accordance with the approved details
• The bin storage area shown on the approved plan being made available for use
• No more than 6 student rooms within the application building being used as bedrooms
• The units of residential accommodation within the buildings only being occupied by students in fulltime education
• The development being constructed in accordance with BS8233:2014 so as to provide sound insulation against externally generated noise
• Demolition or construction works not taking place outside 08:00 hours to 18:00 hours Mondays to Fridays and 08:30 hours to 13:00 hours on Saturdays nor at any time on Sundays or Bank Holidays

6 Tor Crescent - 25/00869/FUL

The committee voted to grant conditional approval for the demolition of existing rear extensions, a new rear single-storey extension and a rear raised terrace at 6 Tor Crescent Plymouth PL3 5TW. The applicant was Mr David Harris.

The application was called into planning committee because an employee of Plymouth City Council resides at the dwelling and is a close family member of the applicant.

The proposal sought to demolish the existing rear extensions, including a glass-roofed lean-to, and build a new rear extension stretching the full width of the main dwelling, measuring 5.4m in depth from the rear elevation of the main dwelling and 7.0m across, with a height of 3.7m to the top of the flat roof. Patio doors would open at the rear to a small patio terrace 0.5 high by 4.8m wide and 0.9m deep with steps down into the garden. The external walls of the extension will be rendered and the windows and doors will be uPVC with matching rainwater goods.

The planning officer's report noted that the scale of the proposed extension is subservient in scale and massing to the main dwelling, and that the proposed extension is to the rear and will not project past the side elevation of the main dwelling. The report stated that officers concluded that the proposal would not impact on the street scene, and that while the flat roof is in contrast to the pitched roof of the main dwelling, given the position at the rear, officers found this acceptable as it will help to reduce the height of the extension.

The approval was conditional on:

• The development being carried out in accordance with the approved plans
• The development being begun before the expiration of three years

Planning Application Decisions Issued

The committee noted the report from the Service Director for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure on decisions issued for the period 15 July 2025 to 11 August 2025, as detailed in the document titled Determined Apps .

Appeal Decisions

The committee noted that there had been no Appeal Decisions made by the Planning Inspectorate since the last meeting, as detailed in the document titled Appeal Decisions .