Agenda item

11/04113/FUL - Land at Chippenham Railway Station, Cocklebury Road, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 3QH

Minutes:

Public Participation

Cllr John Scragg, Chippenham Town Council, offered several observations and comments on the application.

 

The Planning Officer presented a report which recommended permission be granted subject to conditions. It was stated concerns over an historical railway platform found on site had been resolved when English Heritage declined to support its retention, and concerns over a chain-link fence lining the site had been altered following negotiation to a low stone wall and landscaping. Attention was drawn to the issue of floodlights attached to the site, which were conditioned in the officer recommendation.

 

The Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officers. As the proposed development attached to an existing car park, it was asked why there was a need for two entrances. It was clarified that the two sites were owned separately, and it had proven impossible to agree a single entrance for the combined site. Details on the extent of conditions regarding lighting were sought, in addition to details on the extent and type of landscaping.

 

Members of the public then had the opportunity to speak, as detailed above.

 

The Local Member, Cllr Chris Caswill, thanked officers for their efforts in securing improvements to the site, and spoke in support of the application.

 

A debate followed, during which the retention of landscaping and precise location of the site was raised. Cllr Alan Hill requested it be recorded that he questioned why the application had come before the Committee, as it could have been handled by officers, and that there had been an increase in questionable call-ins to Committee.

 

It was,

 

Resolved:

 

Planning Permission be GRANTED for the following reason:

 

The proposed development will not adversely affect the character or appearance of the site or the Chippenham Conservation Area. The measures proposed in the applicant’s supporting documentation are considered sufficient to mitigate any adverse impacts on the ecology of the site. Subject to the subsequent agreement of lighting and boundary treatments, the proposal will not significantly harm the residential amenity of the locality. The proposal therefore accords with Policies C3, NE9, HE1, T1, T3, T4 and T5 of the adopted North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011.

 

And subject to the following conditions:

1

The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

 

REASON:  To comply with the provisions of Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

 

 

2

No works shall commence on site until an archaeological survey and recording of the existing historic platform structure in situ has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The works shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

 

REASON: In the interests of maintaining a record of the undesignated heritage asset on the site.

 

 

3

No development shall commence on site until details and samples of the external stonework, including type, coursing and bedding of the natural stone, type of pointing and mortar mix, have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The external stonework shall constructed in accordance with the approved details.

 

REASON: In the interests of visual amenity and the character and appearance of the area.

 

 

4

All soft landscaping comprised in the approved details of landscaping shall be carried out in the first planting and seeding season following the first use or completion of the development, whichever is the sooner;  All shrubs, trees and hedge planting shall be maintained free from weeds and shall be protected from damage by vermin and stock. Any trees or plants which, within a period of tenyears, die, are removed, or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of a similar size and species. All hard landscaping shall also be carried out in accordance with the approved details prior to the occupation of any part of the development or in accordance with a programme to be agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority.

 

REASON: To ensure a satisfactory landscaped setting for the development and the protection of existing important landscape features.

 

 

 

5

The development hereby permitted shall not be first brought into use until the first five metres of the access, measured from the edge of the carriageway, has been consolidated and surfaced (not loose stone or gravel). The access shall be maintained as such thereafter.

 

REASON: In the interests of highway safety.

 

 

6

No development shall commence on site until details of external cowls, louvers or other shields to be fitted to the floodlights to reduce light pollution, have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The approved measures shall be put in place before the floodlights are first brought into use and shall be maintained in accordance with the approved details.

 

REASON:  To minimise light pollution and in the interests of the amenities of the area.

 

 

7

The development hereby permitted shall be implemented in accordance with the submitted plans and documents listed below. No variation from the approved plans should be made without the prior approval of the local planning authority. Amendments may require the submission of a further application.

 

440304/C/100 rev J - Proposed General Arrangement (sheet 1)

440304/C/100 rev J - Proposed General Arrangement (sheet 2)

440304/C/105 rev J - Elevations Existing and Proposed

440304/C/200 - Cross Sections, Proposed Cut & Fill (sheet 1)

440304/C/200 - Cross Sections, Detailed Sections (sheet 2)

440304-C108 rev C - Retaining Wall & Grass Verge Detail

440304/C/102 rev C - Surface Water Proposed Drainage Plan

440304/C/101 rev C - Traffic Paths & Turning Circles

 

Received 21 May 2012

 

REASON: To ensure that the development is implemented as approved.

 

Informatives:

 

1.                No specific details are submitted in respect of any signage, ticket machines, etc, to be incorporated into the scheme. Any advertisement which does not have consent by virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992 (as amended) must not be displayed unless you have received the necessary consent from the local planning authority. Application forms are available, on request, from the local planning authority.

 

2.                The applicant should note that there may be badger setts in the vicinity of the site, and as a consequence compliance with certain requirements and provisions of the Badgers Act 1991 may be necessary. If this is the case the applicant is advised to contact Natural England who are responsible for issuing licences relating to development on the site of badger setts.

 

 

 

 

The above decision was subject to a recorded vote upon the request of the requisite number of Members. The results were as follows:

For Decision (9):

Cllrs Desna Allen, Peter Colmer, Christine Crisp, Alan Hill, Peter Hutton, Simon Killane, Toby Sturgis, Anthony Trotman, Bill Douglas.

Against Decision (0)

 

Abstentions to Decision (2)

Cllrs Peter Davis, Peter Doyle.

 

Supporting documents: