Agenda item

The Chair announced that due to the complexity of Agenda item 6, it would be heard by the Committee prior to Agenda item 5 (Minutes No72).

This application was reported to Planning Committee for determination because the application was for major development (more than 1000 sq metres of new commercial/ Industrial floorspace), 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 17 to 33 of the Site Plans and Presentations pack.

The application was for the Land Adjacent to Ravens Bank Drive, North Moons Moat, Redditch and sought permission for a Development comprising Units for Class B2, B8 and E(g) (iii) purposes and a Unit for Class B8 purposes, associated parking, landscaping and infrastructure.

Officers drew Members attention to the update reports, a copy of which was available for all Members. The Update reports detailed a number of alterations to Conditions as part of the proposal. Officers also informed Members of the removal of Condition 19 (Boundary fencing) following a response from the WCC Historic Environment Officer.

Members attention was drawn to the location of the development which on the border between Redditch, Bromsgrove and Stratford Districts, the site being designated for employment purposes.

The proposed site plan was detailed along with the soft and hard landscaping as the site is subject to a 1965 Area Tree Preservation Order, a number of mature trees were proposed to be retained as part of the development, this included a number of mature Oak trees towards the eastern boundary and an Atlas Cedar at the entrance.

Officers referred to page 29 of the public reports pack detailing the proposed diversion to the Public Right of Way (PROW). The current PROW was denoted (Light Blue dotted line) and the proposed PROW (Yellow dotted line).

At the invitation of the Chair, Beverley Moss, the Applicants Agent, addressed the Committee in support of the application.

The following was clarified by Officers after questions from members,

• The height of the building would be roughly equivalent to surrounding developments and was not considered to be unusual by Officers.
• The scheme will contribute to the long-term management of the boundary woodland which falls within the ownership of Redditch Borough Council.  This will be secured through a Section 106 Agreement.

Members were in support of the development and the use of a brownfield site for job creation. Members were also supportive of the retention of the trees and enhancement to local biodiversity.

On being put to the vote it was:

RESOLVED that

having had regard to the development plan and to all other material considerations, authority be delegated to the Assistant Director for Planning, Leisure and Culture Services to GRANT planning permission subject to:

a)    The satisfactory completion of the section 106 Planning Obligation in relation to the matters set out in full on page 34 of the Public Reports pack.

b)    Conditions and informatives as detailed on pages 35 to 44 of the Public Reports pack, subject to the amendments detailed on pages 5 and 6 of the Update reports pack, with the removal of Condition 19 as detailed in the preamble above.