Agenda item

The application was a hybrid planning application comprising: Full application for a new building for Sales, Manufacturing & Heritage (Building 2) together with test road, two new vehicular accesses onto Highams Lane, associated parking, landscaping and ancillary outbuilding.  Change of use of existing buildings (comprising former BOC Headquarters) for education, storage, business and ancillary uses.  Outline application with all matters reserved for 2 new buildings for Headquarters and Engineering (Building 1) and Vehicle Research and Development (Building 3).

Members were advised of the following updates on the application:

“AMENDED CONDITIONS

New condition - Condition 34:

The test road hereby approved shall not be used before 9am or after 5pm on weekdays nor at any time at weekends or Public Holidays, unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority. For the avoidance of doubt public holidays includes New Years Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, all Bank Holidays, May Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Reason:  In  the interest of the residential amenities of the area and to accord with the Policy DM9 of the Core Strategy and Development Management Policies 2012 and the National Planning Policy Framework.

Amended Condition 22 (new text in bold):

Prior to first occupation of the full buildout hereby approved, the proposed highway improvements at the junction of Highams Lane with B386 Chertsey Road comprising the removal or cut-back of vegetation to improve visibility west of the junction and widening of the junction bellmouth shall be completed broadly in accordance with Arup's drawing no. GMDW-ARUP-ZZ-XX-DR-C-2160 P01 and subject to detailed design and Surrey County Council's full technical and road safety auditing requirements.

Reason: In order that the development should not prejudice highway safety nor cause inconvenience to other highway users in compliance with Policies CP11 and DM11 of the Surrey Heath Core Strategy and Development Management Policies Document 2012 and the National Planning Policy Framework.

Further information in respect to the existing molecule building (para 8.4.3, page 21):

The applicant has confirmed that the Molecule Building will be retained and used for storage and ancillary uses almost immediately as the applicant moves into to the site.  The ancillary uses will include a range of business uses which include technicians undertaking servicing of the T50 currently being assembled at Dunsfold and also maintenance / storage of the heritage collection and other business assets.

Turning to the medium and longer term, the applicant is committed to ensuring the molecule building will feature centrally as the site comes into full operation.  Works to the building to refurbish it use will start during the first quarter of this year and the long-term intention for the building is for it to be linked integrally to the wider site to educate and assist training in motor vehicle development and automotive technologies. 

The molecule building would provide apprentices, students and graduates with access to existing experienced staff and existing technology helping them develop analytical skills by exposure to cutting edge thinking and by making real world knowledge accessible to these future automotive professionals, at the earliest stages of their career development.  The molecule building would form a workspace to enable this to happen while providing a tangible link between industry and academia.  The training academy will be funded largely from a charitable education trust set up personally by Professor Gordon Murray, in partnership with local academic institutions to be run like any other educational institute, but with the opportunity of regular work experience throughout courses, at the GMG facility all on the same site.”

The officer recommendation to grant the application was proposed by Councillor Colin Dougan, seconded by Councillor Victoria Wheeler and put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED that

                     I.        application 20/0747 be granted subject to the conditions in the officer report and planning updates; and

                    II.        the application be referred to the Secretary of State as a Departure from the Development Plan

Note 1

It was noted for the record that:

                     I.        Councillor Edward Hawkins declared that:

a)    he had been invited to a number of presentations on the proposal, but had not attended any; and

b)    he had received correspondence from the applicant on the application.

                    II.        Councillor Victoria Wheeler declared that:

a)    she had spoken to the applicant’s agent in respect of the application;

b)    she had attended a joint meeting with the applicant and with the other ward councillors;

c)    she had received few representations on the application from local residents;

d)    whilst she had engaged with the applicant on numerous occasions, she came into the meeting with an open mind.

                    III.       Councillor Colin Dougan declared that, in his role of Business and Transformation portfolio holder, he had met with the applicant at the application site.

Note 2

A roll call vote was conducted on the application and the voting was as follows:

Voting in favour of the recommendation to grant the application:

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