Minutes:
121.1 A short comfort break was taken between 11:42-11:47 after the completion of DC/19/03126 but before the commencement of DC/19/02345.
121.2 Item A
Application DC/19/02345
Proposal Planning Application – Change of use from a mixed use of residential & bus depot/ workshop (sui generis use) to mixed use of B1 (business) and residential – retention of
Site Location BURES ST MARY- Knowle House, Church Square, Bures St Mary, Bures, Suffolk, CO8 5AB
Applicant Amobox
121.3 The Case Officer presented the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members, the layout of the site, the contents of the tabled papers, and the officer recommendation of approval.
121.4 The Senior Environmental Protection Officer advised Members of the history of the site from a planning enforcement perspective and outlined the surveys and measures that had been put in place by the applicant to mitigate harm.
121.5 Members considered the representation from Janet Aries of Bures St Mary Parish Council.
121.6 The Parish Council representative responded to Members’ questions on issues including: the previous use of the building as a Coachworks, restrictions on working hours, and concerns regarding fumes and noise.
121.7 Members considered the representation from Stephen Belcher who spoke as an Objector.
121.8 The Objector responded to Members questions on issues including: noise that had originated from the site in the early morning, and the types of sound that came from the site.
121.9 The Planning Lawyer advised Members that there was no fall back position regarding the application site apart from the sui generis use as a bus depot which was likely to be its current lawful use, however it appeared unlikely that this would be resumed.
121.10 Members considered the representation from the Applicant and Agent, Matthew Amodio and Robert Pomery.
121.11 The Applicant and Agent responded to Members’ questions on issues including: possible soundproofing to the site, that 50% of staff lived in the area, the reason for the application before Members, that the business would have to close in the short term if the application was refused, the investment in new quieter tools and practices of manufacturing, and the proposed hours of operation.
121.12 Members debated the application on the issues including: the retention of employment on the site, the residential amenity of local residents, the road traffic noise level, that the Councils Heritage team had not commented on the application, the proposed use of the site, the evidence provided regarding noise surveys that had been taken, and the Company Manual.
121.13 Councillor Stephen Plumb proposed that the application be approved as detailed in the officer recommendation with the additional condition as detailed below:
- Condition relating to Amobox Company Manual to be clarified to make it more specific to the current manual.
121.14 Councillor Adrian Osborne seconded the motion.
121.15 RESOLVED
That the application is GRANTED planning permission/listing building consent/other and includes the following conditions:-
· Approved Plans and Documents
· Personal Permission to the Applicant
· Removal of PD rights to permitted changes of use
· Work procedures to be carried out in accordance with the Amobox Company Manual
- Additional Condition relating to Amobox Company Manual to be clarified to make it more specific to the current manual.
· The use hereby permitted shall only be open during the following times: Monday to Friday: 07:30 to 19:30
Saturdays: 08:00 to 13:00
Sundays/Public Holidays: None
· Noisy operations (such as those involving the use of powered equipment such as Aluminium saw, Steel saw, Grinders, Rattle gun, compressors or equipment powered or otherwise likely to emit similar noise levels) shall only be carried out between the following hours: Monday to Friday: 08:00 to 18:00
Saturdays: 08:00 to 13:00
Sundays/Public Holidays: None
Supporting documents: