Agenda item

Application Proposal: Refurbishment of the existing crematorium building to include improvements to the external envelope and façade as well as new porte-cochere.  Development of new second chapel and subsidiary spaces.  Relocation of chapel of remembrance to existing floral tributes area.  Enhancements to surrounding amenity spaces.

The Area Lead Planner presented the application as detailed in the agenda and with the aid of a power point gave a presentation showing the site and proposed plans.  She confirmed to members, as stated in the report that as part of the Western Corridor highways improvement works, motorists will be discouraged from turning right in to the crematorium and will instead access the site from the left hand lane only via the Bunford Lane roundabout.

She referred to the key considerations being the visual impact, residential amenity, highways issues/parking and Ecology.  She considered it to be a well contained site with good mature trees and planting to be retained, also being an appropriate enlargement of the site with no impact on the residential amenity due to the considered siting of the chapel.  There are no proposed changes to the routes though the site and no requirement for additional parking due to the recent overflow car park being developed. 

The Area Lead Planner concluded that this was a well-designed scheme that will provide the crematorium with much needed facilities and therefore her proposal was to approve the application subject to the conditions as set out in the agenda report. 

During a short debate Ward member Councillor Peter Seib welcomed the proposed improvements and members voiced their full support of the application. 

There being no further debate it was then proposed and subsequently seconded to approve the application as per the officer’s recommendation as set out in the agenda report.  On being put to the vote this was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED:

That application 18/02019/FUL be approved for the following reasons:

01.       The proposal will provide much needed additional accommodation for the existing crematorium to ensure that the facility can meet existing and future demand. The design has been very carefully considered and responds well to the site context. It is not considered to result in demonstrable harm to residential or visual amenity, highway safety or biodiversity. Accordingly, the proposal is considered to comply with policies SD1, SS1, TA5, TA6, EQ2, EQ4 and EQ5 of the South Somerset Local Plan 2006-2028.

SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING:

01.       The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

            Reason:  To accord with the provisions of section 91(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

02.       The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans: as set out in Schedule of Drawings received from the agent via email on 10/8/2018.

            Reason: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

03.       No building operations above damp proof course level of the development shall take place until details of the materials to be used in the construction of the external surfaces doors/windows/stonework/render/brick/roof finish) of the development hereby permitted have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

            Reason: In the interest of visual amenity and to accord with policy EQ2 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

04.       In the event that any signs of pollution such as poor plant growth, odour, staining of the soil, unusual colouration or soil conditions, or remains from the past industrial use, are found in the soil at any time when carrying out the approved development it must be reported in writing within 14 days to the Local Planning Authority (LPA). The LPA will then consider if the findings have any impact upon the development and development must be halted on that part of the site. If the LPA considers it necessary then an assessment of the site must be undertaken in accordance with BS10175. Where remediation is deemed necessary by the LPA a remediation scheme must be submitted to and approved in writing by the LPA and then implemented in accordance with the submitted details.

            Reason: To protect the health of future occupiers of the site from any possible effects of contaminated land, in accordance with Policy EQ7 of the South Somerset Local Plan (2006 - 2028).

05.       No development shall take place until details of the proposed surface water drainage scheme for the site incorporating sustainable urban drainage methods has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The approved development shall be implemented in accordance with the approved statement prior to the use of the building commencing. The sustainable urban drainage scheme shall be managed and maintained thereafter in accordance with the agreed management and maintenance plan. 

            Reason: To ensure that the principles of sustainable urban drainage are incorporated into this proposal and such approved details must be implemented throughout the lifetime of the development.

06.       No building operations above damp proof course level of the development shall take place until a scheme of tree and shrub planting has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Such a scheme shall confirm the use of planting stock of UK-provenance only, the planting locations, numbers of individual species, sizes at the time of planting, details of root-types or grafting and the approximate date of planting. The installation details regarding ground preparation, staking, tying, strimmer-guarding and mulching shall also be included in the scheme. All planting comprised in the approved details shall be carried out within the next planting season following the first use of the development hereby approved; and if any trees or shrubs which within a period of ten years from the completion of the development die, are removed or in the opinion of the Council, become seriously damaged or diseased, they shall be replaced by the landowner in the next planting season with trees/shrubs of the same approved specification, in the same location; unless the Local Planning Authority gives written consent to any variation.

            Reason: To ensure the planting of new trees and shrubs in accordance with the Council's statutory duties relating to The Town & Country Planning Act, 1990 (as amended)[1] and the following policies of The South Somerset Local Plan (2006 - 2028); EQ2: General Development, EQ4: Bio-Diversity & EQ5: Green Infrastructure.

07.       No building operations above damp proof course level of the development shall take place until a scheme showing the proposed hard landscaping for the site (including proposed materials) has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

            Reason: In the interest of visual amenity and to accord with policy EQ2 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

08.       The development shall not commence (including any demolition) until there has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, full details of a Bat Mitigation Plan detailing timing restrictions and protective measures to avoid, mitigate and compensate for harm to bats and their roosts.  The works shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details and timing of the mitigation plan and method statement, as modified to meet the requirements of any 'European Protected Species Mitigation Licence' issued by Natural England, unless otherwise approved in writing by the local planning authority.

            Reason: For the conservation and protection of species of biodiversity importance in accordance with NPPF and Policy EQ4 of the South Somerset Local Plan, and to ensure compliance with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and The Habitats Regulations 2017.

Informatives:

01.       Before this development can commence, a European Protected Species Mitigation Licence (under The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 2010) will be required from Natural England.  You will need to liaise with your ecological consultant for advice and assistance on the application for this licence.  Natural England will normally only accept applications for such a licence after full planning permission has been granted and all relevant (protected species) conditions have been discharged.  However, the information required for the Natural England licence application will often also be suitable for submission to the Council when applying for discharge of the relevant condition.

(voting: unanimous)