Minutes:
160.1 Item 6A
Application: DC/19/05624
Proposal: Outline Planning Application. (Access to be considered) Erection of new commercial buildings providing up to 10,625sqm B1/B2 floorspace and up to 625sqm of A1/A3 floorspace, with associated access connecting the site with the A137, parking, landscaping, SUDS and amenity area. [note: following negotiation there is now a large area of Public Open Space included in the proposal in the form of land to be transferred to the Council for £1 with a maintenance dowry]
Site Location: WHERSTEAD- Land West of Vicarage, Vicarage Lane, Wherstead, IP9 2AE
Applicant: Burnt Wood Ltd
160.2 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, the updates regarding class use, the contents of the tabled papers, and the officer recommendation of approval.
160.3 The Case Officer responded to Members’ questions on issues including: the lack of sustainability assessment, the lack of travel plan associated with the site, and the sites relationship with the Draft Joint local plan.
160.4 Members considered the representation from Robin Coates of Wherstead Parish Council.
160.5 The Chair asked Members to consider the representation from Thomas Hill that was made earlier in the meeting regarding the application before Members.
160.6 Members considered the representation from Geoff Armstrong who spoke as the Agent.
160.7 The Agent responded to Members questions on issues including: how much interest there was in the uptake of the units.
160.8 The Case Officer clarified the reasoning behind the estimated employment numbers created on the site based upon employment density for B class uses.
160.9 The Governance Officer read out a statement from Councillor Christopher Hudson (Suffolk County Council Division Ward Member) who was unable to attend the remainder of the meeting.
160.10 Members considered the representation from Councillor Jane Gould who spoke as the Ward Member.
160.11 Members debated the application on the issues including: the impact of approving the development on the Draft Local Plan and current status, infrastructure in the area, the risk of light pollution and the proximity to the AONB, the employment and economic benefits of the proposal, the sustainability of the site, the cumulative impact on the village of Wherstead, and the conditions contained within the officer recommendation, and that Wherstead did not have a Neighbourhood plan.
160.12 Members continued to debate the application on the issues including: employment within Babergh, the guidance contained within the NPPF, conditions on the proposal and whether a Grampian condition could be included, access to the site, and whether a habitat could be secured through the development.
160.13 The Case officer advised Members that he could amend the recommendation to secure wildlife habitat.
160.14 Councillor Peter Beer proposed that the application be approved as detailed in the officer recommendation with the additional conditions as follows:
- Condition to remove PD change of use
- Prior to commencement a plan for the planting of the south side of the private road with new woodland and a farmland bird mitigation strategy be agreed with the council.
160.15 Councillor Sue Ayres seconded the motion.
160.16 The vote was tied with 5 votes for and 5 votes against.
160.17 The Chair used his casting vote in favour of the proposal approving the application.
160.18 RESOLVED
[1] That subject to the prior completion of a S106 Agreement to the satisfaction of the Chief Planning Officer to secure the following:
A. Provision of a pedestrian crossing on the A137 to the specification of SCC Highways
B. Modification of the north-bound approach to the southern teardrop roundabout on the south side of the A14 to the specification of SCC Highways
C. Road signage package
D. £37,1000 contribution to footway cycleway improvements in the vicinity of the A14 bridge
E. Financial Contribution towards traffic management measures in The Street and Vicarage Lane to the specification of SCC Highways in consultation with Wherstead Parish Council and local businesses all of the above to be subject to a n agreed phasing and delivery plan
F. The transfer of proposed open space land to the Council for £1
G The commitment of the applicant to work with the Council and Job Centre to develop training opportunities with local education providers to develop a skills training opportunity that would assist school leavers and long term unemployed to be better placed to take advantage of new job opportunities within the development
H A travel Plan with effective monitoring
I S106 Monitoring sum
Then [2]
The Chief Planning Officer be authorised to GRANT outline planning permission subject to the following conditions To include:
• Time limit for submission of reserved matters
• Commencement time limit following reserved matters
• Development in accordance with approved plans
• Highways
• Development shall be in general conformity with indicative layout
• Sustainability measures prior to commencement
• Junction improvements made prior to beneficial use of the site
• Landscape scheme
• Hard and soft landscaping
• Landscape management plan
• Arboricultural mitigation measures
• Skylark mitigation strategy fully implemented as submitted
• Construction Environmental Management Plan to be submitted prior to commencement
• Biodiversity Enhancement Strategy submitted with reserved matters
• Landscape and Ecological Management Plan submitted with reserved matters
• External lighting scheme submitted with reserved matters
• Written scheme of investigation prior to commencement
• Site and post site investigation prior to first building occupation
• Fire hydrants
• Unexpected land contamination
• Surface water drainage scheme with reserved matters
• SUDs details following completion
• Surface water management
• No burning on site
• Hours of operation and deliveries
• Measures to control noise, smells, odour and fumes
• Noise levels from development
• Archaeology
• Remove permitted development rights
• No additional mezzanine space within voids
• Storey height restriction [max 2 storeys]
• Use of materials from the traditional palette
• Floorspace limit
• Control on uses
The following informatives are also recommended to be attached to any permission granted:-
• SCC Floods and Water recommended informatives:
• SCC Archaeology informative: archaeological investigation shall be in accordance with a brief procured beforehand by the developer from Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service, Conservation Team.
• East Suffolk Drainage Board informative: land drainage consent required. Any consent granted will likely be conditional, pending the payment of a Surface Water Development Contribution fee, calculated in line with the Board’s charging policy.
• Environment Agency informatives for SUDs and
• Environmental Health Noise etc informative: assessment of the environmental impact from the development must be considered alongside other nearby developments
• Environmental Health Land Contamination informative: contacted if unexpected ground conditions are found
• Anglian Water Informative: site layout should take Anglian Water
Additional Conditions:
- Condition to remove PD change of use
- Prior to commencement a plan for the planting of the south side of the private road with new woodland and a farmland bird mitigation strategy be agreed with the council.
Supporting documents: