Agenda item

Public Participation

Mr Paul Fong, agent, spoke in support of the application.

The Planning Officer introduced the report which recommended permission be refused. The application was stated to be a hybrid application, containing aspects which were outline and others with full detail. Key issues were stated to include the principal of the development, the effect on listed buildings, sustainability and design.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officer. Details were sought regarding the views of Kemble Parish Council, and whether the site had been identified specifically for employment uses with the emerging Core Strategy or other policies, which it was confirmed was not the case.

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

The Local Member, Councillor Chuck Berry, then spoke to the application, noting the need to balance the concerns of officers and some residents against the benefits the proposal brought.

A discussion followed, where the scale of the proposed developments over existing buildings was assessed, along with the suitability of transport arrangements for the business park, the prominence of the proposed development on a Greenfield site and whether they enhanced the setting or character of the listed hangers on the site.

At the conclusion of debate, it was,

Resolved:

To REFUSE the application for the following reasons:

1)    The proposal is located within open countryside and on a Greenfield site within a former MoD site. The proposals are not considered to be limited expansion or redevelopment of an existing premises; are not well related to any existing settlements and are considered to be remote, involving development of an open area. The proposals are thus considered to conflict with policies BD5 and NE20 of the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 and Wiltshire Core Strategy Policy 37.

2)    The proposals lack sufficient detail to ensure that they preserve or enhance the setting of the Grade II listed hangars on site and are thus contrary to Policy HE4 of the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011, Wiltshire Core Strategy Policy 58, section 12 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2012 and the guidance given in S.16(2) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

3)    The proposals are set within an open landscape and of a scale, massing and design that is considered to have a detrimental impact on the “special” character of the area and its openness, causing the built form to coalesce, contrary to policy NE15 of the North Wiltshire Plan 2011, Wiltshire Core Strategy Policy 51 and Section 11 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2012 on conserving and enhancing the natural environment.

4)    The proposal is sited within a remote location with poor public transport facilities and the sustainability proposals put forward by the applicants are considered to be insufficient to outweigh the harm caused and thus the development is considered to be contrary to Policies T1 and T2 of the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 together with Wiltshire Core Strategy Policies 60 and 61 and advice within the National Planning Policy Framework 2012 about delivering sustainable development.