Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the previous meeting held on 12 March 2014. (Copy attached)

Resolved:

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 12 March 2014.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman made the following announcement:-

Outline Planning Application For Employment Development Comprising 50,000sqm Incorporating Class B1(b), Class B1(c), B2 With Ancillary B1(a), B8 & Ancillary B1(a) Uses Including Means of Access, Car Parking, Servicing, Associated Landscaping & Works at Showell Farm, Chippenham 13/00308/OUT

This planning application was considered by the Strategic Planning Committee on 30 July 2013 and, subject to signing of a Section 106 Agreement, the Committee resolved to grant planning permission.  Since that time, the Secretary of State had been considering whether to call this application in for his determination.  On 1 April, the Secretary of State notified that the application would not be called in, leaving the Council free to determine the application.

However, since the time of the resolution of the Strategic Planning Committee, the Core Strategy Inspector had questioned various aspects of the Core Strategy including its approach to housing requirements and approach to Chippenham.  In light of this change of policy context, the proper course of action would have to be for the application to be referred back to the Strategic Planning Committee for reconsideration.  A new and updated report would be prepared and would appear on a forthcoming agenda.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.

Statements

Members of the public who wish to speak either in favour or against an application or any other item on this agenda are asked to register in person no later than 10.20am on the day of the meeting.

The Chairman will allow up to 3 speakers in favour and up to 3 speakers against an application and up to 3 speakers on any other item on this agenda. Each speaker will be given up to 3 minutes and invited to speak immediately prior to the item being considered. The rules on public participation in respect of planning applications are detailed in the Council’s Planning Code of Good Practice.

Questions

To receive any questions from members of the public or members of the Council received in accordance with the constitution which excludes, in particular, questions on non-determined planning applications. Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named on the front of this agenda no later than 5pm on Wednesday 9 April 2014.  Please contact the officer named on the front of this agenda for further advice. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to Committee members prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

There were no questions received from members of the public or members of the Council.

 Members will recall that consideration of this application was given at the last meeting of this Committee when it was resolved to defer consideration pending the holding of a site visit. 

Members attending the site visit will report back to this meeting after which the Committee will be asked to determine the application.  An updated  report by the case officer is attached.

The following people spoke against the proposal:

Mr Jack Churchill, a local resident

Mr David Hawkins, a local resident

Mr John Kirkman, representing the CPRE

Cllr Tony Murch, representing Seend Parish Council

The following people spoke in support of the proposal:

Mr Roger Keen, landowner

Mrs Sophy Fearnley-Whittingstall, representing Wiltshire Clean Energy Alliance

Mr St John Hughes, the applicant

The Committee was reminded that consideration of this application had been given at the previous meeting of this Committee when it had been resolved to defer consideration pending the holding of a site visit which had taken place earlier that day.

The Committee received a presentation by the Area Development Manager who set out the main issues in respect of the application. In introducing the report, he stated that it had been updated since the previous meeting to include details of the National Planning Practice Guidance relevant to this proposal that had been recently issued by the Government. The report recommended that planning permission be granted subject to conditions.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions after which the Committee received statements from members of the public as detailed above, expressing their views regarding the planning application.

Members of the Committee then heard the views of Cllr Jonathon Seed, an adjoining local Member, who explained that a number of his constituents in Seend objected to the proposal on account of the size of the development

and the visual impact from their properties. 

During the following discussion, Cllr Terry Chivers reported that, as local Member, he had widely consulted his local constituents and also the local councils within his constituency and had received only one objection.

A number of Members of the Committee stated that, whilst they supported renewable energy, they considered that the scale of the proposed development was unacceptable. Furthermore, the number of similar operations proposed or built within this area of Wiltshire was such that they considered that the cumulative effect was leading to an industrialisation of the countryside.

Cllr Terry Chivers proposed and Cllr Graham Wright seconded a motion to move the Officer recommendation to grant planning permission, subject to the conditions set out in the report.  

The motion was put to the meeting and lost, whereupon it was

Resolved:

To refuse planning permission for the following reasons:-

A report by the Case Officer is attached.

The following people spoke against the proposal:

Mr Tony Peacock, a local resident

Mr Martin Naylor, representing Friends of Birds Marsh

The following people spoke in support of the proposal:

Mr Peter Stacey, the agent

The Committee received a presentation by the Case Officer who set out the main issues in respect of the application. He introduced the report which recommended that planning permission be granted, subject to the prior completion of a Section 106 legal agreement and also subject to conditions.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions after which the Committee received statements from members of the public as detailed above, expressing their views regarding the planning application.

Members of the Committee then heard the views of Cllr Nick Watts, as a local Member, who explained that a number of his constituents objected to the proposal on the grounds that the scheme did nothing to invigorate the town centre of Chippenham which was needed and it would have an adverse effect on the Birds Marsh Wood.

After discussion,

Resolved:

To authorise the Area Development Manager to grant planning permission, subject to all parties entering into a Section 106 legal agreement in respect of the following matters:-

·         Delivery of distributor road, other off site highway works and appropriate contribution towards Chippenham Transport Strategy;

·         Commitment to modify the Malmesbury Road roundabout and a new B4069 roundabout together with a new priority junction to Hill Corner Road and new pedestrian/cycle connections to Hill Corner Road and Malmesbury Road;

·         Commitment to prepare and implement travel plans.  In relation to the residential element of the development the travel plan will require a co-ordinator to address the issue initial welcome packs which are to include vouchers for all dwellings to off-set purchase costs for cycles, and bus-pass vouchers;

·         Commitment to undertake and fund any local traffic regulation orders required to address the consequences related to the development, and to facilitate local improvements, including parking, speed and weight restrictions, and prohibition of driving orders, both temporary and permanent;

·         Provision of bus stops/shelters within the site;

·         Transfer of Birds Marsh Wood and, where considered necessary, other land to Council, together with appropriate measures and/or financial contributions to secure future maintenance, management, conservation and enhancement;

·         Provision of financial contribution towards the upgrading of stiles to gates near the site so as to improve access for the residents to the nearby countryside and the Birds Marsh Wood;

·         Phasing of development to secure delivery of the employment component of the proposal at the appropriate time so as to enable a balanced and sustainable form of development;

·         Delivery of affordable housing;

·         Delivery and maintenance of on-site play provision and public open space;

·         Provision of a contribution in respect of local indoor and outdoor sports provision;

·         Provision of land on site for primary school and financial contributions in respect of local primary and secondary education;

·         Provision of not less than 1.0Ha of land on site for allotments, including a method of transference to the Council,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

A report by the Case Officer is attached.

The following people spoke in support of the proposal:

Ms Laraine Southwood, representing Redrow Homes

Mr Matthew Bell, representing Our Enterprise

Mr Mark Street, representing Wilton Community Land Trust

The Committee received a presentation by the Case Officer who set out the main issues in respect of the application. He introduced the report which recommended that planning permission be granted, subject to the prior completion of a Section 106 legal agreement and also subject to conditions.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions after which the Committee received statements from members of the public as detailed above, expressing their views regarding the planning application.

Members of the Committee then heard the views of Cllr Peter Edge, the local Member, who supported the proposal.

After discussion,

Resolved:

To authorise the Area Development Manager to grant planning permission, subject to all parties entering into a Section 106 legal agreement in respect of the following matters:-

• Pedestrian (Toucan) Crossing
• Education – Primary Places
• Education – Secondary places
• Public Art
• Public Open Space Provision Comprising:
  • Casual or Informal Play Space
  • Commuted Sum for Future Maintenance
  • Commuted Sum for Off Site (Adult and Youth)
• Transport Contribution - per dwelling
• Travel Plan contribution
• Ecology contribution
• Affordable Housing
• Waste and recycling
• Sustainable Energy scheme
• Wiltshire Fire & Rescue contribution

And subject to the following conditions (and any subsequent changes to these conditions that may arise as a result of ongoing negotiations – delegated to the Area Development Manager) -

To note that the next meeting is due to be held on Wednesday 14 May 2014 in the Council Chamber at County Hall, Trowbridge, starting at 10.30am.

Resolved:

To note that the next meeting was due to be held on Wednesday 14 May 2014 in the Council Chamber at County Hall, Trowbridge, starting at 10.30am.

Any other items of business which, in the opinion of the Chairman, should be considered as a matter of urgency. Urgent items of a confidential nature may be considered under Part II of this agenda.

There were no items of urgent business.