Browse

Agenda item

19/10043/FUL: Salt Store and Gritter Garage Netton SP4 6AT - Demolition of the existing salt store building from 1500, and construction of larger salt store of 2500 tonnes capacity. Extend existing 6-bay vehicle store to a 10-bay facility (additional bays to allow for deeper plan for snow plough attachments to vehicles). Welfare building to be extended to provide increased storage space accessed from vehicle bays.

A report by the Case Officer is attached.

Minutes:

The Committee received a presentation from the Case Officer which set out the main issues in respect of the application. The purpose of the report was to assess the merits of the proposal against the policies of the Development Plan and other material considerations and to consider the recommendation that the application be approved.

 

The application proposed the expansion of facilities and buildings on the Wiltshire Council Salt Depot at High Post, to the south of Amesbury. The reason for the development was to facilitate the expanded fleet of gritting vehicles operated by Wiltshire Council from this site in times of adverse weather conditions by way of providing additional parking bays for the vehicles and an enlarged Salt Barn to store the salt needed to grit the County’s highways. A small extension to the administrative building on the site was also proposed.

 

The Case Officer reported that in response to representations made an additional condition was being proposed concerning landscaping and also an informative to the applicant regarding energy efficiency.

 

The Case Officer also stated that she had received the views of Cllr Mike Hewitt, the local Member, who was unable to be present at the meeting, who generally supported the application but did express some concern regarding:

 

·         Highways, where he considered that there was a traffic problem in the Woodford Valley as the lanes were not suitable for lorries. He suggested that all lorries should be deterred from using the Woodford Valley as access to the sites.

 

·         Light Pollution - Light pollution on both sites needed to be taken into consideration. There should be no requirement for unnecessary lighting, other than security.

 

·         Landscaping - The Salt Store needed landscaping properly with mature trees if possible.

 

Members then had the opportunity of to ask technical questions after which they heard a statement from Cllr Robert Foster from Durnford Parish Council, who also spoke on behalf of Woodford Parish Council, speaking against the proposal.

 

During discussion, the Case Officer explained that the estimated increase in traffic was single journeys from 6 operators’ vehicles to 10 per day and that this slight increase would only occur during 5 months of the year when traffic would generally be low.  No objection had been raised by the Council’s Highways Officer.  Regarding landscaping, a new condition was being proposed to minimise the impact of the development when viewed from the west. With regard to light pollution, the Case Officer stated that the revised lighting strategy would reduce the existing impact of the development and that the applicants envisaged that the lights would not be operated for approx. 80% of the year.

 

On the recommendation of Cllr Fred Westmorland, which was seconded by Cllr Derek Brown,

 

Resolved:

 

To grant permission, 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.    The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance withthe following approved plans: Those contained in Appendix B Section 6.2 of the Design and Access Statement dated October 2019 submitted with the planning application.

 

REASON: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

 

3.    The materials to be used in the construction of the external surfaces of the development hereby permitted shall accord with those set out in the application form.

 

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

 

4.    No development shallcommence on site until a scheme of landscaping has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, the details of which shall include the provision of suitable hedgerow trees.

 

REASON: The application contained insufficient information to enable this matter to be considered prior to granting planning permission and the matter is required to be agreed with the Local Planning Authority before development commences in order that the development is undertaken in an acceptable manner, to ensure a satisfactory landscaped setting for the development. 

 

5.    The lighting strategy shall be carried out in accordance with the details shown on plan no. 7642/E/200 P1 dated Oct 2019 and shall be implemented within 12 months of the salt store being first brought into use.

 

REASON: To protect the character and appearance of the area and to minimise pollution of the night skies.

 

  1. No development shall commence on site until a scheme for the discharge of surface water from the site including SuDS (sustainable drainage systems) and all third-party approvals, has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Scheme details shall include any required off-site capacity improvements needed to allow the site to be served, and to include a programme allowing sufficient time for the delivery of any required improvements.

 

REASON: To comply with Core Policy 67: Flood Risk within the Wiltshire Core Strategy (adopted January 2015) and to ensure that the development can be adequately drained without increasing flood risk to others.

 

  1. The salt store shall not be first brought into use until surface water drainage, including any required off-site capacity improvements to allow the site to be served, have been constructed in accordance with the approved scheme.

 

REASON: To comply with Core Policy 67: Flood Risk within the Wiltshire Core Strategy (adopted January 2015) and to ensure that the development can be adequately drained without increasing flood risk to others.

 

 

8. All soft landscaping comprised in the approved details of landscaping shall be carried out in the first planting and seeding season following the first occupation of the building(s) or the 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 five years, 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, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority.  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.

 

1.    INFORMATIVE NOTE

The applicants are requested to ensure that the building and extensions hereby approved are constructed with the long term energy efficiency of the site in mind, and consideration should be given to the use of solar panels on the roofs in this respect.

 

2.    INFORMATIVE NOTE

The applicants are reminded of the provisions of Condition 6 of Planning Permission S/2008/8002 regarding the need for a Travel Plan to be developed for the site, and thereafter to be adhered to.

 

Supporting documents: