Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence and details of any Councillor nominated to attend the meeting in place of a member of the Committee.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Robin and Wanda King.

To invite Councillors to declare any interest they may have in the items on the Agenda.

No declarations of interest were made.

To confirm, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 1st February 2012.

(Minutes attached)

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 1st February 2012 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider a Planning Application for the erection of a petrol filling station, including forecourt shop, canopy and 8 pumps, car wash, car care facilities, car parking, offset fills and associated plant and landscaping.

Applicant:      Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd

(Report attached – Site Plan under separate cover)

Erection of a petrol filling station, including forecourt shop,

canopy and 8 pumps, car wash, car care facilities,

car parking, offset fills and associated plant and landscaping

Applicant:  Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd

Mr B Adams, objector and Mr D Templeton, the Applicant’s Agent, addressed the Committee under the Council’s public speaking rules.

Mr B Sharp, a Worcestershire County Council Highway Engineer, was invited to provide expert advice on a number of detailed Highways matters.

RESOLVED that

1)         having regard to the development plan and to all other material considerations, planning permission be GRANTED subject to conditions and informatives as summarised below: 

            “1.       Time limit for commencement of development (3 years);

              2.       Shop not to be open if Petrol Filling Station is not open,

              3.       Materials / finishes to be agreed,

              4.       Hard landscaping materials to be agreed,

              5.       Soft landscaping to be implemented and maintained as per submission,

              6.       Tree protection as requested by Arboricultural Officer,

              7.       Archaeology recording condition,

              8.       Development not to be open to the public or commence use until S.278 off-site highway works have been completed (these include 2 lane entry to roundabout from Millrace Rd, re-surfacing and re-lining of the roundabout),

              9.       Access, turning and parking to be completed prior to use / occupation,

             10.      Method of maintaining safe adjacent highway during construction to be agreed and implemented,

             11.      As requested by Severn Trent Water,

             12.      As requested by Drainage Officer,

             13.      Approved plans specified,

             14.      Development to occur in accordance with ecological mitigation strategy,

             15.      Updated tree protection and assessment details to be provided and agreed,

             16.      Details of species, locations etc and programme for planting of new hedgerow planting to be agreed and implemented as agreed,

             17.      Details of maintenance of existing hedgerows / trees to be agreed and implemented to ensure hedging and smaller trees are retained;”

            plus the following additional conditions agreed by Members at the meeting:

            “18.     the egress on to the main roundabout to be two lanes wide for a minimum of 30 metres,

              19.     the left hand lane of these two lanes to be protected by a continuous white line and have a minimum acceleration distance of 50 metres towards Redditch,

              20.     traffic travelling from Birmingham to have only one lane that goes on towards Redditch,

              21.     the central lane, taking traffic across the island from both the petrol filling station and the main store, to be reinstated,

              22.     traffic exiting towards Birmingham to be separated from traffic going to the petrol filling station so that traffic exiting from the Birmingham lane can better predict when a gap is approaching,

              23.     the island to be completely resurfaced before the new lanes are installed”; and

              Informatives

             “1.      Reason for approval

               2.      As requested by highways

               3.      As requested by Severn Trent Water”;

              and additionally,

2.         “any proposed advertising / signage and future screening matters to be brought to the Planning Committee for determination. ”

(The Committee considered the report and information provided by the public speakers and Mr Brian Sharp,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

To consider a Planning Application for a change of use from Class A1 (Shops) to Class A5 (Hot Food Takeaway), new shopfront and rear yard extension.

Applicant:      Mr Mohammed Qasim Rafiq

(Report attached – Site Plan under separate cover)

Change of use from Class A1 (Shops) to

Class A5 (Hot Food Takeaway),

new shop front and rear yard extension

Applicant:  Mr Mohammed Qasim Rafiq

Councillor Rebecca Blake, Ward Councillor and Objector, and Mr Clive Robinson, the Applicant’s Agent, addressed the Committee under the Council’s public speaking rules. 

RESOLVED that

having regard to the Development Plan and to all other material considerations, Planning Permission be REFUSED, for the reason stated in the main report.

To consider a Planning Application for various environmental enhancements relating to demolition of existing garages, provision of additional car parking spaces and provision of refuse bin collection areas.

Applicant:      Redditch Borough Council

(Report attached – Site Plan under separate cover)

Environmental enhancements -

demolition of existing garages,

provision of additional car parking spaces and

provision of refuse bin collection area

Applicant:  Redditch Borough Council

RESOLVED that

having regard to the Development Plan and to all other material considerations, Planning Permission be GRANTED, subject to the Conditions and Informatives summarised in the main report.

To consider a report relating to the protection of a number of significant mature trees considered to be of positive benefit to amenity and therefore worthy of retention in the longer term.

(Report and Appendix 1 attached / Appendix 2 (Site Plan) under separate cover)   

The Committee received a report which proposed the long-term protection of two mature Oak trees and one Horse Chestnut Tree that were considered to be significant and of positive benefit to amenity and therefore worthy of retention in the longer term.

RESOLVED that

Tree Preservation Order No. (138) 2011, as detailed in the Schedule attached at Appendix 1 to the report and Plan at Appendix 2 (issued under separate cover in the Application Site Plans pack), be confirmed.

To consider a report relating to the protection of a number of significant mature trees considered to be of positive benefit to amenity and therefore worthy of retention in the longer term.

(Report and Appendix 1 attached / Appendix 2 (Site Plan) under separate cover)  

The Committee received a report which proposed the long-term protection of a group of five mature Oak trees and an Ash Tree that were considered to be significant and of positive benefit to amenity and therefore worthy of retention in the longer term.

RESOLVED that

Tree Preservation Order No. (139) 2011, as detailed in the Schedule attached at Appendix 1 to the report and Plan at Appendix 2 (issued under separate cover in the Application Site Plans pack), be confirmed.

To consider a report relating to the protection of a number of significant mature trees considered to be of positive benefit to amenity and therefore worthy of retention in the longer term.

(Report and Appendix 1 attached / Appendix 2 (Site Plan) under separate cover)  

The Committee received a report which proposed the long-term protection of a group of eleven mature Oak trees that were considered to be significant and of positive benefit to amenity and therefore worthy of retention in the longer term.

Members fully supported the protection of the trees in question and queried whether it would also be possible to ensure the retention of the hedgerows either side of the trees at the location.  Officers undertook to look into the potential for retaining the hedgerows as a separate matter, as protection of hedgerows was dealt with under different legislation. 

RESOLVED that

Tree Preservation Order No. (140) 2011, as detailed in the Schedule attached at Appendix 1 to the report and Plan at Appendix 2 (issued under separate cover in the Application Site Plans pack), be confirmed.

To receive information on the outcome of an appeal against refusal of Planning permission, made by Officers under delegated powers, relating to a change of use of open space to garden area and enclosure with fence.

(Report attached)

The Committee received and noted an item of information in relation to the outcome of an appeal against a refusal of planning permission, taken by Officers under delegated powers, namely:

Planning Application 2011/192/COU

Change of use of open space to

garden area and enclosure with fencing

The appeal against the Council’s decision to refuse planning permission had been dismissed, on the grounds that the area of open space was a valuable contribution to the quality of the urban area and that a change of use to garden area and enclosure with fencing would harm the general character and visual amenities of the area.    

To receive information relating to statistics for enforcement activity for the previous six months.

(Report attached)

The Committee received and noted a report which provided statistics showing enforcement activity for the previous six months.