Agenda item

Proposed classes B1/B2 Industrial Development with associated access

The Planning Officer presented his report to the Committee, with the aid of a power point presentation. He updated Members that the Area Development Manager now also supported the application.

The Planning Officer explained that the Landscape Officer raised no concern to the proposal in principle and Somerset County Council had raised no highway objections. He explained that Planning Policy did not support this scheme and that, for the reasons contained within the report, he recommended that the application be refused.

Mr A Rousell, a representative of Cadbury Business Park explained that there were concerns over the access to the site and that the legal right of access was much smaller than the existing access. This site access was for the current use only and the access for the proposal was neither permitted, nor deliverable.

Mr M Williams, Planning Advisor for the applicant, explained that the application looked to provide rural jobs in a building with a long standing commercial use and that it was no longer possible to use the building as a helicopter depot.

He noted that;

·         Support had been received to the application

·         The scheme will provide employment

·         It was a small scale development

·         Close to a classified A road.

Councillor Nick Weeks, Ward Member, offered his support for the application. He commented that the site had a good link to the A303 and that the proposal was a good use of the building.

Councillor Henry Hobhouse, Ward Member, also spoke in support of the application.

Following a brief discussion it was proposed to approve the application contrary to the officer recommendation subject to conditions for;

1.    3 Year time limit condition

2.    Approved plans

3.    Reserved matters

4.    Detailed surface water drainage

5.    B1/B2 use

Plus informatives regarding the comments of the SCC Rights of Way Officer and the SSDC Landscape Officer.

On being put to the vote, the proposal was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED:

That planning application 15/04303/OUT be approved contrary to the officer recommendation, subject to the following;

Justification

The proposed B1/B2 use of this previously developed site would deliver much needed additional employment land towards the requirements set out in policy SS2 without detriment to highways safety or visual or residential amenity. As such the proposal complies with policies EP2, EP4, SS3 and EQ2 of the south Somerset Local Plan 2006-2028 and the policies contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:

01.       The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the location plan 1700-17A received 21 September 2015.

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

02.       Details of the appearance, landscaping, layout and scale (herein after called the "reserved matters") shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority before any development begins and the development shall be carried out as approved.

            Reason: As required by Section 92(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

03.       Application for approval of the reserved matters shall be made to the Local Planning Authority before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission and the development shall begin no later than 3 years from the date of this permission or not later than 2 years from the approval of the last "reserved matters" to be approved.

            Reason: As required by Section 92(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

04.       The use of the site shall be for B1or B2 use only, and for no use falling within use class B8 (offices) of The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended).

            Reason: In the interests of proper planning and to determine the scope of the permission.

05.       No development hereby approved shall be commenced until a detailed surface water drainage scheme for the site has been submitted to an approved in writing by the local planning authority. The scheme shall subsequently be implemented in accordance with the approved details before the development is occupied.

            Reason: To ensure the development is properly drained in accordance with policy EQ1 of the South Somerset Local Plan and the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework.

Informatives:

01.       The developer should be aware of the comments of the County Rights of Way Officer in relation to their duties regarding the public right of way that runs along the access to the site. The comments are available to view on the LPA's website using reference number 15/04303/FUL.

02.       The developer should be aware of the SSDC Landscape Architect's comments in relation to the submitted indicative layout. He considered that the proposal would result in increased massing effects, and the layout tendered would not enable commensurate landscape treatment, to soften and contain the development's outline. The applicant is therefore advised to engage with the SSDC Landscape Architect prior to submitting any reserved matters applications.

(Voting: unanimous in favour)