Agenda item

The Area South Lead presented the application as detailed in the agenda and with the aid of a power point presentation showed the site and proposed plans. He explained that during the course of the application the proposal had been amended to reduce the number of spaces to 120 located on the lower tier only accessed via Market Street. He believed this would limit the traffic movement of the site and would not prejudice the Council when considering any future development plans.

He confirmed the principal was for a long stay car park with pricing to be the same as Market Street Car Park and opening time of 7.00am until gates closing at 10.00pm.

The Area South Lead believed this proposal to be a suitable balance, incentive for the land owner and an acceptable way forward and therefore his recommendation was to approve the application for reasons as set out in the agenda report.

In response to members’ comments, the Area South Lead noted members concerns regarding vehicles parked at the entrance to the site along Reckleford and the safety of pedestrians on site.  He confirmed the upper deck would be fenced off from the public and would relay concerns to the land owner regarding car parking at the Reckleford Access.

During a short discussion, members raised concern regarding the current state of the land and questioned whether a ‘215 Notice’ could be served to the land owner to encourage the clean-up of the site.

In response the Area Lead advised members that at this present time he would liaise with the land owner about the tidying up of the site and that a ‘215 Notice’ could be served at a later date should negotiations be unsuccessful.

Ward members Councillor Andrew Kendall, Kaysar Hussain and Peter Gubbins believed this to be positive steps towards the development of the site and were in support of the application.

Following a short discussion, members believed the application to be a positive and viable proposal at this time to what is a very challenging site and it was therefore proposed and 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 16/00287/FUL be approved subject to:

Grant permission for the following reason:

01.       The proposal by reason of its temporary nature, the potential visual enhancement of the site and             safeguarding of adjacent Heritage Assets and the acceptable impact on the local highway network is in accordance with the aims and objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework; the SCC Parking Strategy and policies SD1, SS1, EQ2, EQ3, TA5, TA6 and EP2 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 and operated in accordance with the following approved plans and documents:

            a)         Location Plan (scale 1:1250), SSDC received 08 March 2016

            b)         The Email and attached Site Layout Plan from Mr MacNicol received 09 June 2016. 

c)         Aerial Photo (in so far as showing buildings to be demolished only), SSDC received 18 January 2016

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

03.       The use hereby permitted shall be discontinued on or before 6th July 2018.

            Reason: The landowner and Local Planning Authority do not consider this to be a long-term use for the site and a temporary permission will therefore not prejudice the general aspiration for a comprehensive development on the site which remains a priority.

04.       The total number of car parking spaces provided shall not exceed 120.

            Reason: In the interests of highway safety and in the absence of a Transport Statement that assesses the impact of traffic on local junctions to accord with policy TA5 of the South Somerset Local Plan (2006-2028).

05.       There shall be no vehicular or pedestrian access to Reckleford and Court Ash used in connection with the temporary use hereby approved.

            Reason: In the interests of highway safety to accord with policy TA5 of the South Somerset Local Plan (2006-2028).

06.       Prior to the first use of the site for the use hereby permitted a scheme of lighting shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The lighting shall only be operated whilst the car park is open (7am -10pm).

            Reason: In the interests of public safety and residential amenity to accord with policies EQ2 and EQ3 of the South Somerset Local Plan (2006-2028).

07.       Prior to the demolition of any individual building a scheme setting out the method, timings and any mitigation deemed necessary for dust suppression or to protect residential amenity shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

            Reason: In the interests of public safety and residential amenity to accord with policy EQ2 of the South Somerset Local Plan (2006-2028).

08.       In the event of intrusive excavation taking place during the demolition/construction phase of the development, any signs of pollution such as, odour, staining of the soil, unusual colouration or soil conditions, or remains from the past industrial use, are found in the soil 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).

Informatives:

01.  This decision does not imply any permission is granted for a valeting company to operate from the site or for advertisements (other than those that benefit from deemed consent) to be displayed in, on or around the site.

(voting: unanimous)