COMMITTEE REPORT PROFORMA - London Borough of Hillingdon

(iv)
Parking and highway issues
The on-site requirement for a 94-bedroom hotel at a ratio of 1 parking space for
every 5 bedrooms is 19 on-site parking spaces. The application proposes to
comply with such requirements and provides the maximum 19 spaces allowable,
three of which are proposed to be for disabled persons. Provision is also made
for the parking of motorcycles on site and 12 bicycle spaces.
The design of the car parking layout under this application is considered to have
overcome the concerns raised with the previous application. The plans have
retained a drive-through access beneath the building to the majority of the
parking, at the eastern end of the site. The design locates the disabled parking
spaces closest to the entrance and ensures a 6m aisle width facilitates adequate
manoeuvring. Such design and aisle width has overcome the ingress/egress
difficulties associated with the previous application. The design has deleted the
spaces from outside the refuse bin area to enable clear access to this facility.
At the front of the site, on Clayton Road, a lay-by is proposed within the footway to
enable coach parking or a set-down and pick up point. Such a lay-by could also
be used for the purposes of delivery lorries as access under the building is limited
to vehicles having a height of less than 3.2 metres.
The provision of a lay-by along the frontage of Clayton Road necessitates the
relocation of the footway to within the site. As part of a Section 106 and 278
Agreement, the public footway will be required to be dedicated to the highway
authority, i.e. the Council. Furthermore, given that the canopy elements as
proposed cantilever over the proposed footway a further license will be required
under Section 177 of the Highways Act 1980 for the public liability of the canopy
over a public footway.
Overall, given the hotel’s location within the Town Centre with its good public
transport links, it is considered that the parking and service arrangements for the
proposed development are of a suitable standard, subject to conditions.
With regard to the concerns of parking and traffic congestion raised in the two
objections from neighbouring business/industries in Clayton Road, the level of
parking is considered adequate as the provision of parking is in accordance with
the Council’s current parking standards. The provision of off-street parking is an
improvement on the existing development which has little or no parking due to the
terraced nature of the properties. Furthermore, it is recommended as part of the
Section 106 that a contribution be required towards the implementation of a CPZ
in the area, which would further resolve parking problems in the area.
In relation to traffic congestion, it is acknowledged that Clayton Road, is relatively
narrow road and is used by large vehicles accessing the surrounding industrial
areas. To avoid or minimise the disruption to traffic flow along Clayton Road, the
application proposes a lay-by at the front of the Hotel to allow any buses or
delivery vehicles to stand. The lay-by is an improvement on the previous scheme
which had little or no area for deliveries or buses. In relation to the general use of
Hayes Planning Committee – 1 May 2003 Page 46
PART 1 - MEMBERS, PUBLIC AND PRESS