Agenda item

Redevelopment of the existing highway depot. Proposed 4000T salt store, 8no. vehicle bays and welfare facilities and external storage areas.

Public Participation

Harriet James – objection

The Chairman confirmed once again for the record that all members could hear and where possible see all relevant materials.

The Committee received a presentation from Mike Wilmott, Head of Development Management, 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 subject to conditions.

The application proposed the Redevelopment of the existing highway depot. To create a 4000T salt store, with 8 vehicle bays and welfare facilities and external storage areas.

It was also stated that this was a Wiltshire Council application to which there had been written letters of objection from the public consultation. Therefore, the application had been brought to the Planning Committee for determination in the interests of transparency.

This application was originally scheduled to be considered at the March meeting of the committee, which was cancelled due to the covid-19 situation.

The site entrance from Furnax Lane was within the employment area of an industrial estate. Proposed plans for buildings and landscaping were included in the presentation.  A Landscape plan was included which would replace some of the trees that had been removed at a separate time. It was stated it was a Council strategy to concentrate the facilities for gritting across the council’s area, to bring storage of salt up to modern standards and reduce pollution through run off at other sites.

The Chairman invited Members to ask any technical questions of the Officer, where it was clarified that the removal of trees on the site was unrelated to the consideration of this planning application by members.

The Chairman stated that a representation which had been received after the deadline would be included in the statements to be read out, because it had been previously submitted for the last meeting which had been cancelled. However, as it was over the 3 minutes allowed, the officer would only be able to read what was possible in the allocated time.

The Chairman then asked the Democratic Services Officer, Kieran Elliott, to read out the public statements which had been submitted in accordance with the procedure as detailed above. All of the statements submitted within the deadline were also available in the previously uploaded agenda supplement online along with the presentation to the meeting.

In response, the Head of Development Manager noted that the work to cut down the trees which was referenced was a matter to be taken up with The Forestry Commission. The trees on the site had not been protected by a Tree Preservation Order.

The Chairman moved the motion of approval with conditions, in line with the Officer recommendation. This was seconded by Councillor Derek Brown.

A debate followed where some Members felt the extent of tree removal which had occurred was too severe, although this was unrelated to the consideration of the planning application. It was noted that the Landscape Scheme included did list the requirements for planting with heights and species of trees required and approved by the councils ecologist.

For the vote each Member was asked to confirm that they had been able to hear and where possible see all relevant materials.

The Democratic Services Officer, asked each Member in turn to vote.

When each Member had voted, the Democratic Services Officer announced the decision as follows.

Resolved:

To grant permission to application 19/11524/DP3: Wiltshire Council Depot, Furnax Lane, Warminster, subject to 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 with the following approved plans:

Location Plan; Site Plan (Existing Services); Proposed Site Plan; Proposed Site Sections; Proposed Landscape Section; Proposed External Lighting Plan; Proposed Salt Store Roof Plan – 0201 Rev 7; Indicative Proposed Drainage Layout Plan; Proposed Welfare Floor Plans;

Proposed External Lighting Illumination levels plan; Proposed Soft Landscaping Plan; Proposed outline plant schedule; Proposed Vehicle Bay floorplan; Flood Risk Assessment; Tree Report; Design and Access Statement and Ecological Assessment – all received on 2 December 2019 and;

Salt Store Details 03 – Timber Cladding – Rev P5; Proposed Salt Store North East and South West Elevations – Rev P5; Proposed Salt Store North West and South East Elevations – Rev P4; Proposed Salt Store Floor Plan – Rev P5; Proposed Elevations – Vehicle Bay and Welfare – Rev P4; Proposed Roof Plan – Vehicle Bay and Welfare – Rev P5 - All received 9 March 2020

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

3. 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.

4. The proposed development shall be carried out in strict accordance with section 8 of the Ethos Ecological Assessment dated December 2019 and shall be maintained as such at all times thereafter in perpetuity.

REASON: In the interests of protecting protected species

5. No part of the development hereby permitted shall be first occupied until the access, turning area and parking spaces have been completed in accordance with the details shown on the approved plans. The areas shall be maintained for those purposes at all times thereafter.

REASON: To ensure that adequate provision is made for parking within the site in the interests of highway safety.

6. The development hereby permitted shall not be first occupied until the cycle parking facilities shown on the approved plans have been provided in full and made available for use.  The cycle parking facilities shall be retained for use in accordance with the approved details at all times thereafter.

REASON: To ensure that satisfactory facilities for the parking of cycles are provided and to encourage travel by means other than the private car.