Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillor Glenis Ansell, who was substituted by Councillor Magnus Macdonald, who was present for application 16/09386/WCM only.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2017.

The minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2017 were presented for consideration and it was,

Resolved:

To approve and sign as a true and correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2017.

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

Councillor David Jenkins declared a non-pecuniary interest in application 16/09386/WCM by virtue of being a member of the Wiltshrie Wildlife Trust. He stated he would consider the application with an open mind.

Councillor Andrew Davis declared that in addition to many communications from members of the public he had received an unsolicited gift of a book from a member of the public lobbying regarding application 16/09386/WCM. He stated he would be donating the book to charity and would continue to consider all information relating to the application on its merits and with an open mind.

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

During the meeting it was announced that it was the final meeting of the Strategic Planning Committee before the May 2017 Unitary Elections. The Chairman thanked all members for their service to the Committee and the people of Wiltshire over the past four years.

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 by phone, email or in person no later than 10.20am on the day of the meeting.

The rules on public participation in respect of planning applications are detailed in the Council’s Planning Code of Good Practice. 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.

Members of the public will have had the opportunity to make representations on the planning applications and to contact and lobby their local member and any other members of the planning committee prior to the meeting. Lobbying once the debate has started at the meeting is not permitted, including the circulation of new information, written or photographic which have not been verified by planning officers.

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 19 April 2017 in order to be guaranteed of a written response. In order to receive a verbal response questions must be submitted no later than 5pm on Friday 21 April 2017. 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.

The rules on pubic participation were noted.

A report by the Case Officer is attached.

Public Participation

Stephen Walls, James Shannon, Brenda Lyall and Alan Butler spoke in objection to the application.

Cllr Peter Willis, Chairman of Lydiard Tregoze Parish Council, and Paul Heaphy, Chairman of Planning on Royal Wootton Basset Town Council, spoke in objection to the application.

The Development Management Team Leader, Mr Lee Burman, presented a report which recommended that planning permission for a mixed development of up to 320 Dwellings, Community Hub comprising of 500sqm of A1/A2/A3/A4/A5/D1 & D2 Uses, Public Open Space, Landscaping, Extension to Approved Sports Hub & Access, be refused.

Key issues included the scale and impact of development outside the settlement boundary, accordance with local and national policies, highways and drainage. Attention was drawn to the late representations and comments that had been received, and that a site visit had taken place by the Committee.

It was also explained that the item had been considered at the previous meeting on 8 February 2017 before being deferred, where it had been recommended for approval. This had been as a result of the council at that time being unable to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, requiring a balancing of the positives and negatives of the scheme despite lack of adherence to the Wiltshire Core Strategy. Since that time a Planning Inspector had ruled the council’s Site Allocation Development Plan document for Chippenham to be sound, and it was anticipated to be approved by Council on 16 May 2017 following the resolution of the Cabinet in March 2017 recommending that the Council adopt it. This significant change had resulted in the Council issuing an updated Housing Land Supply Statement in March that concluded that the Council could demonstrate a five year land supply for the north and west housing market area. This change meant that the policies in the Wiltshire Core Strategy relating to housing land supply could now be considered up to date, giving significant weight to the Core Strategy.

It was also clarified that one of the reasons for refusal was Core Policy 19, rather than Core Policy 18 as incorrectly listed in the report at one point.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officers.

Members of the public then had the opportunity to present their views to the Committee as detailed above.

Local Unitary Councillors Mollie Groom and Chris Hurst then spoke in objection to the application. A statement in objection on behalf of Local Unitary Councillor Allison Bucknell was also read. Local Unitary Councillor Mary Champion was unable to attend but the Committee was informed she objected to the application.

A debate then followed where Councillor Trevor Carbin moved that the application be refused in accordance with the officer’s recommendation, seconded by Councillor Christopher Newbury.

It was then,

Resolved:

That planning permission be refused for the following reasons:

1)    The proposals by virtue of scale and location in the open countryside outside of any defined settlement boundary on land not allocated for development are contrary to the Wiltshire Core  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

A report by the Case Officer is attached.

Public Participation

Stephen Walls, James Shannon, John Wilks Chair of the Town Team and Chris Wannell spoke in objection to the application.

Steve Sensecall, agent, spoke in support of the application.

Cllr Peter Willis, Chairman of Lydiard Tregoze Parish Council, and Paul Heaphy, Chairman of Planning on Royal Wootton Basset Town Council, spoke in objection to the application.

The Development Team Leader, Mr Lee Burman, presented a report which recommended that permission be granted subject to the signing of a section 106 agreement for a Hybrid Application for a 2,469 m2 (GIA) supermarket with access and landscaping (detail), and Class C2 care home of up to 3,000 m2 (outline). The 33 senior living residential units previously included with the application had been removed following amendment of the application. The amended application was therefore only for the supermarket and care home, and any references on the agenda or in the report were in error following the deferral from the previous meeting.

Key issues were stated to include scale and impact of the development outside the settlement boundary, access, impact on retail and highways. Attention was drawn to the late representations and comments, and being on the same area as the preceding application, a site visit had taken place by the Committee. It was stated that retail and elderly persons care accommodation development outside the settlement boundary was permitted under policy subject to various assessment criteria and officers were of the view the application met the necessary sequential tests, and that comprehensive information had been submitted to address any drainage concerns regarding the site, and extensive conditions were felt to address the concerns that had been raised in other areas.

It was also confirmed that should the recommendation for approval be accepted, the application  would need to be referred to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government before the Council could grant planning permission.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officer. Further details were sought on the flood risk assessment and operation of the proposed care home. It was stated officers had been informed by the applicants an operator was already lined up for the proposed care home should permission be granted.

Members of the public then had the opportunity to present their views to the Committee, as detailed above.

Local Unitary Councillors Mollie Groom and Chris Hurst then spoke in objection to the application. A statement in objection on behalf of Local Unitary Councillor Allison Bucknell was also read. Local Unitary Councillor Mary Champion was unable to attend but the Committee was informed she objected to the application.

A debate followed, where details of vehicle and pedestrian access, and the impact on the town high street were raised, including discussion of the report on the impact of the supermarket on retail in the town. The scale of the development on the site outside the settlement boundary in the open countryside was emphasised.

A motion to refuse the application was moved by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

A report by the Case Officer is attached.

Public Participation

Dr Peter Claydon on behalf of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, Ivor Ellis on behalf of the Whiteparish Preservation Group and Gordon King spoke in objection to the application.

Robert Westell, Applicant, spoke in support of the application.

Cllr Leo Randall on behalf of Whiteparish Parish Council spoke in objection to the application.

The Minerals and Waste Planning Officer, Jason Day, presented a report which recommended that permission be granted for the proposed extension of Brickworth Quarry (Minerals Local Plan Site Allocation Areas A and B) for the extraction of sand, infill with imported inert materials and quarry waste and restoration to commercial forestry and agriculture at original ground levels; retention of plant site and storage areas.

Key issues included the principle of development, loss of area classified as ancient woodland, need for and supply of minerals, ecology and landscape and visual impact. The site had been in operation for many years and was seeking an extension, and the site was identified in the Wiltshire and Swindon Minerals Site Allocations Local Plan as suitable for future mineral working. The woodland was a commercial coniferous crop ready for felling and the site would be replanted with native broadleaf trees over an increased area.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officers, including a council ecologist. Details were sought on the material that would fill the quarry void and standard of replanting required.

Members of the public then had the opportunity to present their views to the Committee, as detailed above.

The Local Unitary Councillor, Councillor Richard Britton, then spoke in objection to the application, highlighting the irreplaceability of designated ancient woodland sites and, despite the commendable management of the existing site by the developers, felt the need did not outweigh the harm caused by the application.

A debate followed, where the details of soil handling and replacement were discussed, along withthe commercial nature of the existing trees on the site, the need for minerals and the lack of objection from Natural England. It was noted that the site was included within the Development Plan, and the council could be acting unreasonably to refuse an application without very clear reasons to indicate why the proposals were not in accordance with the Plan.

A motion to approve the application in accordance with the officer’s recommendation was moved by Councillor Christopher Newbury, seconded by Councillor Charles Howard, and it was,

Resolved

That planning permission be granted 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.  Written notification of the date of commencement shall be sent to the Mineral Planning Authority within 7 days of such commencement.

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 limited to a period  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

To note that the next scheduled meeting of this Committee is due to be held on Wednesday 24 May 2017, starting at 10.30am in the Council Chamber at County Hall, Trowbridge.

The date of the meeting was confirmed as 24 May 2017.

Any other items of business, which in the opinion of the Chairman, should be taken as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items.