Agenda item

The Planning Assistant presented the application as detailed in the agenda and with the aid of a powerpoint presentation show the site and proposed plans.  She explained that the application is brought to Committee under the scheme of delegation as there had been objections received, the applicant is South Somerset District Council (SSDC) and the application site is on land within SSDC ownership. 

The Planning Assistant explained further that following concerns from occupants of neighbouring properties a previous submission was withdrawn and a new location was negotiated with the applicant. 

In conclusion she referred to the key considerations as to whether there was a significant impact on visual amenity of the area and residential amenity of occupiers of neighbouring properties.  She felt that as the original submission had been withdrawn to address the issues of the local neighbours it was now acceptable to the safeguarding of the residential amenity of the local residents.  She therefore considered the siting of the storage container acceptable and in keeping with the area and her recommendation was to approve the application subject to the conditions as set out in the agenda report.

In response to questions, members were informed that:

·         Various other locations were considered, however these were discouraged due to their prominence in the wider area and from public view points.

·         The lower level of the car park was considered to be discreet and the least prominent of the car parks in Yeovil.

·         The container would be used for storage purposes to serve the car washing business.

·         Other options available for storage purposes could be use of a van or renting a unit.

·         Confirmed that residents were now happy with the siting of the container.

·         SSDC have overall control of the land through the lease and therefore granting planning permission would not compromise any future development of the use of the car park.

·         CCTV covers the area where the container is to be sited.

During members discussion several points were raised, including the following:

·         Little different to that of the designs of recycling skips or clothes banks that until recently were located in the same car park.

·         Local residents were now happy with the position of the container.

·         Did not compromise the car parking of local residents.

·         Concerns over the safety aspect of the container which may exacerbate anti social behaviour due to the close proximity of Club Neo.

·         Was the rental income from this application a consideration?

In response to members’ comments, the Area South Lead confirmed that the rental costs were not part of the application and therefore should not be a consideration.

It was then proposed and subsequently seconded that planning permission be approved as per the officers recommendation as set out in the agenda report.  On being put to the vote this was carried by 12 votes in favour, 1 against and 0 abstentions.

Resolved:

To approve application 15/00510/FUL subject to the following conditions:

01.       The siting of a storage container, by reason of its form, design and location, would safeguard the character and appearance of the area and cause no demonstrable harm to residential amenity or highway safety in accordance with the aims and objectives of saved policies ST5 (General Principles of Development) and ST6 (The Quality of Development) of the South Somerset Local Plan (2006), policy EQ2 (General Development) of the emerging South Somerset Local Plan (2006-2028) and the principles of the National Planning Policy Framework (2012).

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:

            Site layout plan, site location plan and Design and Access Statement all received 27 January 2015

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

03.       The storage container hereby approved shall be finished in a light grey colour unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

            Reason: To safeguard the character and appearance of the locality in accordance with saved policies ST5 and ST6 of the South Somerset Local Plan 2006 and policy EQ2 (General Development) of the emerging South Somerset Local Plan (2006-2028).