Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Jen Snape with Councillor Rita Rogers in attendance as substitute.

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

Councillor David Munro declared in that he was a Ward Member for The Headless Cross and Oakenshaw Ward, however, he had not been involved in any discussion with constituents so as not to effect his decision making.

Councillor Juma Begum declared that she lived in the vicinity of the application, however, she had not been involved in any discussion with residents and it would not affect her decision.

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 Chair Announced that there was an update report in relation to Agenda item 4 (Minute No37).

Members were given a few minutes to read the report, after which Members indicated they were happy to proceed and moved that the Update reports were noted.

This application was being reported to the Planning Committee because the application required a Section 106 Agreement. Furthermore, eleven or more objections have been received and the recommendation was for approval. As such the application fell outside the scheme of delegation to Officers.

Officers presented the report and in doing so, drew Members’ attention to the presentation slides on pages 5 to 16 of the Site Plans and Presentations pack.

The application was for 131 - 135 Birchfield Road, Redditch, Worcestershire, B97 4LE and sought the demolition of the existing building and construction of a new convenience store and associated parking.

Officers drew Members attention to the location of the development on page 7 of the Site plans and presentations pack, the site was identified as use Class E (Commercial, Business and Service), therefore no change of use was sought as part of the application.

The site plan was detailed on page 8 of the Site Plans and Presentations pack, Officers drew attention to the singular vehicular entrance proposed off Feckenham Road with the current vehicular entrance from Birchfield Road being closed off with pedestrian access only being provided from this point. The proposed parking was also detailed which included 15 spaces, 2 of which were disabled spaces, 2 electric Vehicle Charging spaces and additional motor bike and cycle parking.

Worcestershire County Council Highways (“County Highways”) had raised no objection to the development, subject to a contribution of £30,000 towards a Toucan crossing which would be secured via a Section 106 agreement.

Acoustic fencing of varying heights, ranging from 1.8m to 4m, was detailed as being located adjacent to Archer Terrace it was clarified that the 5m hedge along the boundary of the site would be retained to aid in screening.

Officers clarified that delegated authority was being sought to allow the completion of the Section 106 agreement, Conditions would also to be decided by delegated authority, however, Members were assured that all the usual conditions would be enforced should Members approve the application.

At the invitation of the Chair, local residents Leslie Champion, Emma Ravenscroft and Margarett Wheeler addressed the committee in opposition of the application, Councillor Ian Woodall also addressed the Committee in opposition as a Ward Member. Tony Aspbury addressed Members in support of the development.

The following was clarified following questions from Members:

• There was no separate staff parking proposed. The 15 parking spaces required under the Streetscape Design Guide included the provision for employee parking.
• The proposed development was single storey, the towers shown in the elevation images on pages 11 and 12 of the Site Plans and Presentations pack, were cosmetic in nature and would have false windows.
• Articulated lorries would not service the site, the largest delivery vehicle would be a 10.35m long rigid delivery vehicle.
• 70% of the trips to the unit would already be on the highway network.
• The designation (Class E) of the site would allow the conversion of the current building to a convenience store without any planning approval.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.