Agenda item

The application was for the erection of a headquarters and distribution facility totalling 15,985sqm consisting of warehouse (B8), office (B1a) (including product display area and canteen), training and workshop facilities (B1c), car parking and service yard, ground remodelling and landscaping (including flood attenuation areas), and the construction of a new left in left out access from the A331.

Members were advised of the following updates on the application:

“UPDATE 

1.    The applicants have submitted a five page legal opinion which concludes that Members of the Planning Applications committee are entitled to come to a different conclusion to that recommended by officers provided that they have good reasons for doing so.  Details of a planning decision taken in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead where permission was granted contrary to an objection from the Environment Agency have also been provided.”

As the application triggered the Council’s Public Speaking Scheme, Mr Nick Burroughs, on behalf of the applicant, sent in a video-recorded public speaking speech in support of the application which was played to the Committee.

The Committee acknowledged the Environment Agency’s principal objection as the application site was located within the Flood Zone 3b. However Members felt the application’s economic benefits to the Borough and the flood mitigation provisions included in the application outweighed this.

As there was no proposer and seconder for the officer’s recommendation, an alternative recommendation to grant the application subject to referral to the Secretary of State, for the reasons below, was proposed by Councillor Colin Dougan and seconded by Councillor Valerie White. The recommendation was put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED that

                   I.          the Secretary of State  be notified that the Council is minded to grant permission for the proposed development, as required under the Town and Country Planning (Consultation)(England) Direction 2009 on the basis that the application enabled a quality employer to remain and grow in the Borough and entailed betterment to the risk of flooding on the site;

                           II.               following receipt of written confirmation that the Secretary of State does not wish to call the consideration of the application for determination by him or the expiry of 21 days beginning with the date the Secretary of State tells the authority in writing is the date on which the material, as set out above, is received,  to grant planning permission subject to a section 106 planning agreement to secure biodiversity offsetting scheme(s) to deliver appropriate compensation in line with the findings of Camberley Water Treatment Works Biodiversity Impact Assessment’ drafted by RSK Adas Ltd, dated 29th November 2019 and the consultation response received from Surrey Wildlife Trust dated 6 January 2020.   Such scheme(s) to be submitted and approved to the Council prior to the commencement of development which should include provision for the financing and management of said scheme(s); and  

                III.          the granted application be subject to conditions on the following:

·           a detailed tree plan and biodiversity enhancement plan.

·            a full landscaping strategy

·            a detailed parking strategy

·           the commencement of work of the permitted development within the regular 3 year timescale

·           the development being built in accordance with the supplied plans and drawings

·           the supply and approval of sample materials to and by the Local Planning Authority;

·           any other conditions listed by the received consultation responses;

                IV.          the reasons for approval and proposed conditions be finalised by the Executive Head of Regulatory after consultation with the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Planning Applications Committee and the relevant Ward Councillors.

Note 1

It was noted for the record that:

                                   I.          Various members of the Committee had received representations and various phone calls on behalf of the applicant in respect of the application.

                                  II.          Councillor Colin Dougan had spoken to the Council’s Economic Development Team in respect of the proposal. 

Note 2

A roll call vote was taken and the voting in relation to the application was as follows:

Voting in favour of the recommendation to grant the application:

Councillors Graham Alleway, Peter Barnett, Cliff Betton, Sarah Jane Croke, Colin Dougan, Shaun Garrett, Edward Hawkins, David Lewis, Charlotte Morley, Darryl Ratiram, Morgan Rise, Victoria Wheeler, Helen Whitcroft and Valerie White. 

Voting in abstention of the recommendation to grant the application:

Councillor Graham Tapper.