Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mrs Shimbart and Howard)

To approve the minutes of the Site Viewing Working Party held on

The Minutes of the meeting of the Site Viewing Working Party held on 17 June 2021 were agreed as a correct record.

There were no declarations of interests relating to matters on the agenda.

(Committee report and papers attached to agenda for the Planning Committee to be held on 9 September 2021)

Proposal: Application for full planning permission, pursuant to APP/16/01237, for the redevelopment of the holiday site including the demolition of redundant chalets, use of land for the siting of 112 holiday caravans with areas of open recreational space, cease the use of the land for pitch and putt purposes and retain the remaining pitch and putt area as a managed wildlife area including the provision of an ecology bund & ditch, landscaping, the siting of three bird hides with bat roost in their roof spaces and a mown 'circular wildlife walkway'.

The site was viewed at the request of the Head of Planning.

The Working Party received a written report by the Head of Planning, which identified the following key considerations:

(i)           Principle of development

(ii)          Impact on tourism facilities

(iii)         Impact upon the character and appearance of the area and on the setting of the AONB

(iv)         Impact on ecology

(v)          Impact upon residential amenity

(vi)         Flood risk and drainage

(vii)        Impact on highways

(viii)       Impact on archaeology

(ix)         Contamination

(x)          Contribution requirements and legal agreement

(xi)         Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA), including Appropriate Assessment (AA)

Prior to visiting the site, the members received a briefing from the officers outlining the report

The Working Party viewed the site, the subject of the application, to assess whether there were any additional matters that should be considered by the Planning Committee.

RESOLVED that, based on the site inspection and information available at the time, no additional information be provided to the Planning Committee.

(Committee papers are attached to the agenda of the Planning Committee to be held on 9 September 2021)

Proposal: Demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment of site comprising erection of distribution warehouse (class B8) with ancillary offices and related facilities, vehicle storage deck, new access, landscaping and associated infrastructure.

The site was viewed at the request of the Head of Planning.

The Working Party received a written report by the Head of Planning, which identified the following key considerations:

(i)           Principle of development

(ii)          Impact upon the character and appearance of the area

(iii)         Impact upon residential amenity

(iv)         Highway matters

(v)          Contamination/Air Quality issues          

(vi)         Drainage and flood risk

(vii)        Ecological impacts

(viii)       Landscaping

(ix)         Other matters (BREEAM / sustainability)

(x)          Developer Contributions/S106 Requirements

Prior to visiting the site, the members received a briefing from the officers outlining the report and issues for consideration by the Working Party when it visited the site:

The Working Party viewed the site, the subject of the application, to assess whether there were any additional matters that should be considered by the Planning Committee. On the site, the representatives of the applicants clarified:

·                         the arrangements that would be put in place for delivery vans and HGVs

·                         the proposed sound proofing to be installed on the boundaries of the site

·                         the proposals for pedestrian crossing points across New Lane and Crossland Drive

The Working Party also viewed the proposed sites for the pedestrian crossings in Crossland Drive and New Lane.

RESOLVED that, based on the site inspection and information available at the time, the following additional information be provided to the Planning Committee:

a            historic data on the traffic movements generated by Pfizer’s operations on the site.

(The meeting commenced with a private briefing at the Plaza between 11.30am and 12.27 pm. Site visits were held between 1.30 pm and 3.46 pm)