Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Sarah Gibson and Cllr David Jenkins, who was substituted by Cllr Ruth Hopkinson.  

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 23 January 2019. (Copy attached)

Resolved:

To confirm and sign the minutes of the previous meeting held on 23 January 2019 as a correct record.

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

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

There were no Chairman’s announcements made at the meeting.

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 13 March 2019 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 15 March 2019. 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 questions or statements submitted.

A report by the Case Officer is attached.

The Committee received a presentation by the Case Officer which set out the issues in respect of the application. He also reported that four further letters of objection had been received, the contents of which he summarised. The purpose of the report was to assess the merits of the proposals against the policies of the development plan and other material considerations and to consider the recommendation that planning permission should be approved subject to the imposition of planning conditions and a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Planning Acts.

Members then had the opportunity to ask technical questions after which they heard statements from members of the public as follows:-

·                     Ms Jennifer Rudd, representing Chippenham Civic Society, spoke in opposition to the proposal.

·                     Mr Chris Caswill, Chair of Friends of Monkton Park, spoke in opposition to the proposal.

·                     Mr David Roberts, a local resident, spoke in opposition to the proposal.

·                     Ms Charlotte Taylor, representing Avison Young, consultant to the project, spoke in support of the proposal.

·                     Ms Fran Woodward, representing Good Energy, spoke in support of the proposal.

·                     Mr Tim Martiennsen, representing Wiltshire Council as one of the joint applicants, spoke in support of the proposal.

Members then heard the views of Cllr Nick Murry, the local Member, who considered that the location for the application was wrong and that it would be more appropriate to position the proposed new HQ office building on a site on Bath Road. He considered that the proposed access through the site might encourage vandalism and was in conflict with the Conservation Area Management Plan.

During discussion, Members acknowledged that Chippenham was in need of economic development which this application would boost.  However, some Members did express some disappointment at the design of the building.

After further discussion, on the proposal of the Chairman, which was seconded by Cllr Tony Trotman,

Resolved:

To grant planning permission, subject to the prior completion of a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) to deliver the following infrastructure:

·                An indexed linked financial contribution of £125,000 towards the signalisation of New Road/Station Hill junction.

·                An index linked financial contribution of £70,000 for upgrading the existing Monkton Park path, linking the existing shared use path east of the site to NCN 403 to a shared pedestrian/cycle path.

And the imposition of the following conditions:-

Limits of permission

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.

Construction phase

2.         No development shall commence on site, until a Construction Method Plan, which shall include the following: 

a)        the parking of vehicles of site operatives and visitors;

b)        loading and unloading of plant and materials;

c)        storage of plant and materials used in constructing the development;

d)        the erection and maintenance of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

A report by the Case Officer is attached.

The Committee received a presentation by the Head of Development Management, which set out the issues in respect of the application. The purpose of the report was to assess the merits of the proposals against the policies of the development plan and other material considerations and to consider the recommendation that permission should be granted subject to conditions.

Members then had the opportunity to ask technical questions after which they heard statements from members of the public as follows:-

·                     Mr Keith Roberts, a local resident, spoke in opposition to the proposal.

·                     Cllr Mel Wilkins, representing Hilmarton Parish Council, spoke in opposition to the proposal.

Members then heard the views of Cllr Christine Crisp, the local Member, who objected to the proposal.  She expressed concerns regarding the increase in volume of traffic which would add to the problems already being experienced on a narrow and unlit road with no pavements.  She was also concerned at the cumulative effect of light spill at night in the area and also the lack of essential services on the site at present.

During discussion, Members expressed their support for the objections expressed.  On the proposal of Cllr Tony Trotman, which was seconded by Cllr Fred Westmoreland,

Resolved:

To refuse planning permission for the following reasons:-

1. The proposal is contrary to policy CP47 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy, criteria (ii); (v) and (vi). With regard to criterion (ii), the site is not served by a safe and convenient pedestrian access, as there are no footways leading to the site. With regard to criterion (v), the site is in an isolated rural location and is not considered to be within a reasonable distance of a range of local services and community facilities. With regard to criterion (vi), the proposal has an unacceptable impact on the character and appearance of the landscape, with a permanent adverse impact. The proposal is therefore in conflict with the policies of the Development Plan and does not represent sustainable development.

2. The proposal does not protect, conserve or enhance the landscape character of the area, but has a harmful impact on it. As such, the proposal is contrary to policy CP51 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy.

3. The Council considers that the proposal is intentional unauthorised development and considers that this weighs against the grant of planning permission.

To note that the next meeting is due to be held on Wednesday 24 April 2019, starting at 10.30am at County Hall, Trowbridge.

Resolved:

To note that the next meeting of this Committee was due to be held on Wednesday 24 April 2019, starting at 10.30am at County Hall, Trowbridge.

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

There were no items of urgent business.