Agenda item

This planning application related to the demolition of an existing poly building and the erection of a detached storage building. The annex to the Planning Updates report contained a Judgement report from 22 March 2000 relating to the application.

This application was being reported to the Planning Applications Committee because the proposal is a major development (i.e. relating to a non-residential building over 1,000 square metres in floor space).

The proposal was considered to not be inappropriate development in the Green Belt and acceptable in terms of its impact on local character, trees and street scene; residential  amenity; highway safety; drainage/flood risk; ecology and the Thames Basin Heath Special Protection Area (SPA).

The Committee queried the orientation of the site and it’s structures and why the positioning of the poly building and forecourt had changed. It was confirmed that it was the same surface area but had been proposed for operational reasons.

The use of the building was discussed and it was confirmed that there were conditions on what the building would be used for and these would remain in place if ownership changed. It was clarified that the organisation would not be limited to working with one garage only but the proposed building (and whole site) would only be used to store up to 60 cars.

The Committee questioned the addition of extra foliage on the south westerly side of the site and it was confirmed that this was not necessarily to hide the building but make it more visual.

It was confirmed that no car transporters would be accessing the site.

In accordance with the Council’s public speaking scheme, Nick Griffin (Agent) spoke For the application.

The officer recommendation to approve the application subject to conditions was

proposed by Councillor Richard Wilson, seconded by Councillor Shaun Garrett, put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED that application 23/0347/FFU be approved subject to the conditions in the officer’s report and the planning update sheet.

NOTE 1

Voting in favour of the motion to grant the application subject to conditions:

Councillors Cliff Betton, Shaun Garrett, Mary Glauert, Liz Noble, David O’Mahoney, Murray Rowlands, Kevin Thompson, Victoria Wheeler, Helen Whitcroft, Valerie White and Richard Wilson.

NOTE 2

It was noted for the record that Councillor Mary Glauert declared that she had visited the site and met with the neighbours.