Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received on behalf of Councillor Wanda King.

To invite Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in items on the agenda, and to confirm the nature of those interests.

Councillor Alan Mason declared an other disclosable interest in Agent Item 5 (Planning Application 2014/036/FUL – B & Q DIY Supercentre) as detailed at Minute 58 below.

Councillors Andrew Brazier and David Thain declared other discloseable interests in  Agenda Item 10 (Planning Application 2014/323/FUL – Former Hewell Road Swimming Poole Site) as detailed in Minute 63 below.

In regard to Agenda Item 5 (Planning Application 2014/036/FUL – B & Q DIY Supercentre) and Agenda Item 8 (Planning Application 2014/284/FUL – Units 16, 17 and 18 Kingfisher Shopping Centre), Councillor Brazier highlighted his membership of the Town Centre Partnership as a representative of the borough Council but declared no specific interests as his role did not include membership of the Partnership Board, the Partnership’s decision making body.

To confirm, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 10^th December 2014.

(Minutes attached)

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 10^th December 2014

To note Update Reports (if any) for the Planning Applications to be considered at the meeting (circulated prior to the commencement of the meeting)

The Update reports relating to Applications 2014/036/FUL and 2014/311/FUL were noted.

To consider the outstanding matter of the opening hours in relation to the reconfiguration of the existing store to create a Class A1 (Bulky Goods) unit and a Class A1 Foodstore, further to the Committee’s previous consideration of the Application on the 10^th September 2014. 

Applicant: B & Q Plc and ASDA Stores Limited

(Report attached – Site Plan under separate cover)

Reconfiguration of the existing store to create a

Class A1 (Bulky Goods) Unit and a

Class A1 Foodstore, together with associated

external alterations and selected car park reconfiguration

Applicants: B & Q Plc and ASDA Stores Ltd

The following people addressed the Committee under the Council’s public speaking rules:

Ms P Harvey, objector on behalf of Smallwood residents

Councillor G Chance – Ward Councillor

Ms L Scott - on behalf of joint Applicant Asda Stores Ltd

RESOLVED that

having regard to the Development Plan and to all other material considerations, authority be delegated to the Head of Planning and Regeneration Services to GRANT Planning Permission, subject to :

1.            the completion of a Planning Obligation to ensure:

1)    the restriction on the sale of goods to DIY warehouse at the western end of the site,

2)    a contribution to cover a 10 year period, index linked, towards the subsidy of a bus route that accesses the site;

3)    a contribution towards subway enhancements as detailed in the main report;

4)    a contribution towards the provision of a scheme of signage to lead pedestrians from the site to the Town Centre;

5)    the retention of the existing parking restrictions that ensures that the car parkcan be utilised for trips to the town centre;

6)    a contribution towards Town Centre enhancements; and

2)         the Conditions and Informatives as detailed on pages 9 to 13 of the Agenda report.

(The Committee was reminded that, subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement and re-negotiations with the Applicants on satisfactory alternative opening hours for the food store, this Application had been granted Planning Permission on the 10^th September 2014.  Officers reported that the  outstanding matter of the opening hours had been brought back to Committee for Members to review and make a decision on as Officers had not being able to reach a satisfactory agreement with the Applicants.

Having considered the Officers report, representations made by the Speakers and the information provided in the Update Report for this application in relation to the Applicant’s request to revise their proposed hours of operation to remove references to 24/7 opening, Members were of the view that the opening hours proposed by Officers as detailed in Condition 7 on page 10 of the agenda report, would minimise noise and disturbance impact on local residents in the surrounding area) 

(Prior to consideration of this matter, and having previously declared an other disclosable interest at the start of the meeting in that he was a Council representative on the Town Centre Partnership Board, who had made representations objecting to the proposed development, Councillor Alan Mason withdrew from the meeting and did not take part in discussions or vote thereon.)

Proposed erection of 14 no. flats comprising

10 x 2 bedroom flats and 4 x 1 bedroom flats

Applicant:  Cedar Real Estate Developments Ltd

RESOLVED that

having regard to the Development Plan and to all other material considerations, authority be delegated to the Head of Planning and Regeneration Services to GRANT Planning Permission, subject to:

1)            the satisfactory completion of a S106 planning obligation ensuring that:

a)      Contributions are paid to the Borough Council in respect to off-site open space, pitches and equipped play in accordance with the Councils adopted SPD;

b)     A financial contribution is paid to the County Council in respect to education provision;

c)      A financial contribution is paid to the Borough Council towards the provision of wheelie bins for the new development: and

2)            the Conditions and informatives as detailed on pages 20 to 25 of the Agenda report.

To consider a Planning Application for the construction of 2 additional tennis courts, associated floodlighting and a 2.75m surrounding fence.

Applicant:  Mr Darren Cutler

(Report attached – Site Plan under separate cover)

Construction of 2 additional tennis courts, associated

floodlighting and a 2.7m surrounding fence.

Applicant:   Mr Darren Cutler for Mettis Sports and Social Club

RESOLVED that

having regard to the Development Plan and to all other material considerations, Planning Permission be GRANTED, subject to the  Conditions detailed on page 30 of the Agenda report.

(The type of lighting to be utilised for the floodlights was raised.  Officers advised that, whilst it was not possible to condition the type of lighting to be used for the floodlights, there would be various options open to the Applicant  to minimise any amenity impact.) 

To consider a Planning Application for the amalgamation of 3 small adjacent (A! Use) retail units to a single (A3/A5 Use) fast food eat-in and takeaway food unit.

Applicant:  Kingfisher Shopping Centre

(Report attached – Site Plan under separate cover)

Amalgamation of three small adjacent (A1) retail units

to a single (A3/A5) fast food eat-in and takeaway food unit.

Applicant:  Kingfisher Shopping Centre

Mr K Williams, on behalf of the Applicants, 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 GRANTED, subject to the Conditions detailed on page 34 of the Agenda report.

To consider a Planning Application for 9 no. terraced dwellings on the site of the former Methodist Church (existing Church Tower and Spire to be retained).

Applicant: Mr Phil Thomas

(Report attached – Site Plan under separate cover)

Proposed 9 no. terraced dwellings on the site of the

former Methodist Church, with existing Church Tower

and Spire to be retained.

Applicant:  Mr P Thomas

The following people addressed the Committee under the Council’s public speaking rules:

Mr R Andrews – objector – on behalf of himself and other local residents

Councillor C Gandy – Local Ward Councillor

Mr P. Thomas, the Applicant.

RESOLVED that

having regard to the Development Plan and to all other material considerations, authority be delegated to the Head of Planning and Regeneration Services to GRANT Planning Permission, subject to:

1)            the satisfactory completion of a Section 106 Planning Obligations to ensure that:

a)    contributions are paid to the Borough Council in respect of off-site open space, pitches and equipped play, in accordance with the Council’s adopted SPD; and

b)   a financial contribution is paid to the Borough Council towards the provision of wheelie bins for the new development; and

2)            the Conditions and Informatives as detailed on pages 7 to 11 of the Agenda report.

(The Committee noted an Update report for this application in regard to four  additional late representations received objecting to the development together with Officer responses.)

To consider a Planning Application for 30 no. residential Units comprising 6 no. dwellings and 24 no. one bedroom flats.

Applicant:  Mr G Stoyan

(Report attached – Site Plan under separate cover)

30 no. residential units, including 6 no. dwellings

and 24. No. one bedroom flats.

Applicant:  Mr G Stoyan for the Accord Group

RESOLVED that

having regard to the Development Plan and to all other material considerations, authority be delegated to the Head of Planning and Regeneration Services to GRANT Planning Permission, subject to:

1.            the satisfactory completion of a Section 106 Planning Obligation to ensure that:

a)    contributions are paid to the Borough Council for off-site open space, pitches and equipped play;

b)   a contribution is paid to the Borough Council for the provision of wheelie bins for the new development; and

c)    the affordable housing is retained as such in perpetuity;

2.            the Conditions and Informatives as detailed on pages 49 to 50 of the Agenda report; and

3.          the following additional Drainage Condition:

            “8)       The development permitted by this planning permission shall only be carried out in accordance with the approved Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) undertaken by Rodgers Leask Consulting Civil & Structural  Consultants Ltd, dated November 2014, reference P13-408,  Rev:1 

            Reason:        To ensure the development is not at risk from flooding and to ensure flood risk is not increased elsewhere in accordance with the NPPF.”

(Members noted and agreed to the inclusion of an additional drainage Condition required that had not been listed in the agenda report. 

Officers also reported that an additional element to the Section 106 Agreement, in relation to affordable housing, which had been detailed in the Officer report but had been omitted from the recommendation in error, would be included in the Resolution / Decision Notice.)

(Prior to consideration of this matter, Councillors Andrew Brazier and David Thain declared other disclosable interests in that they were both Council appointed representatives on the Board of Redditch Co-operative Homes (part of the Accord Group).  Councillors Brazier and Thain withdrew from the meeting and took no part in discussions or voting thereon.)