Agenda item

The application was for the installation of external lighting at a recently opened drive-thru coffee shop. The application was an alternative lighting scheme to the scheme refused planning permission (under SU/17/0705), which was subject of enforcement action and was now subject to appeal.

This application would normally be determined under the Council’s scheme of Delegation. However, it was reported to the Planning Applications Committee at the request of the Executive Head of Regulatory.

Members were advised of the following updates:

“Two representations have been received in support (including one from the Bagshot Matters Residents’ Association) with the following comments:

•          The height of the lighting being proposed is far more acceptable than the existing lighting;

•          Support the proposal, subject to the clear understanding the existing lighting will be removed permanently;

•          Proposal appears to address the concerns since the site has been operating and it is a matter for regret that this matter was not resolved sooner;

•          The excising lighting was designed on an assumption that the site falls within a “suburban environmental” zone and that this should be reviewed to avoid further undesirable creep of intrusive light pollution and nuisance.

The applicant has requested an amendment to proposed Condition 4 to allow four of the bollards to remain lit one hour before and one hour after the opening hours to allow safe passage for staff (with three located to the front of the building and one to the side of the building and close to the edge of the rear patio) and one (on the rear patio) to operate under a motion sensor.   A revised drawing has been provided which indicates which bollards are to be so lit.

The Council’s Senior Environmental Health Officer supports this suggested amendment and Conditions 2 and 4 are proposed to be amended as below.

AMENDED CONDITIONS:

2.         The proposed development shall be implemented in accordance with the following approved plans: 16572/E/500 Rev. P7 and 2402 PL110 Rev. D unless the prior written approval has been obtained from the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interest of proper planning and as advised in ID.17a of the Planning Practice Guidance.

4.           The external lighting hereby approved shall only be illuminated during the approved hours of operation (as limited by Condition 5 of planning permission SU/15/0872) for the coffee shop/drive thru business on the site, with the exceptions being the four bollards indicated on Drawing No. 16572/E/5000 Rev. P7 to be lit for an extra hour before the opening of the café unit and an extra hour after the closure of this unit and one bollard on the rear patio also indicated on Drawing No. 16572/E/5000 Rev. P7 to operate under a motion sensor, unless the prior written approval has been obtained from the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: In the interest of residential amenity and to comply with Policy DM9 of the Surrey Heath Core Strategy and Development Management Policies 2012 and the National Planning Policy Framework.”

The officer recommendation to grant the application was proposed by Councillor Valerie White and seconded by Councillor Katia Malcaus Cooper, and put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED that application 18/0180 be granted subject to the conditions as set out in the report and planning updates of the Executive Head - Regulatory.

Note 1

In accordance with Part 4, Section D, Paragraph 18 of the Constitution, Cllr Victoria Wheeler did not vote on the application as she was not present for the whole consideration of the item.

Note 2

In accordance with Part 4, Section D, paragraph 18 of the Constitution, the voting in relation to the application was as follows:

Voting in favour of the recommendation to grant the application:

Councillors Nick Chambers, Mrs Vivienne Chapman, Surinder Gandhum, Edward Hawkins, Jonathan Lytle, Katia Malcaus Cooper, David Mansfield, Max Nelson, Robin Perry, Ian Sams, Conrad Sturt, Pat Tedder and Valerie White.