Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bullingham, Ryder and  Smith.

To receive Declarations of Interest in relation to planning matters.

Councillor Jones raised a query whether Stroud District Council (SDC) had an interest due to their ownership of the neighbouring land. It was agreed to be noted in the minutes that SDC owned the neighbouring land but it was not felt necessary to disclose an interest at this time.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 18 January 2022.

(Note: For access to information purposes, the background papers for the applications listed in the above schedule are the application itself and subsequent papers as listed in the relevant file.)

Representations were received and taken into account by the Committee in respect of Application:

The Chair informed the Committee that as a result of the decision made at the last meeting, he had consulted with Group Leaders and confirmed the  membership of the Development Management Advisory Panel (D-MAP).

·       Councillor Haydn Jones

·       Councillor Helen Fenton

·       Councillor Martin Brown

·       Chair of Development Control Committee (DCC)

Erection of garage with store above.

The Senior Planning Officer introduced the report and showed the Committee the plans for the proposed application. They summarised the report and followed it up with the response received from the Parish Council which was a request to replace any trees lost as part of the development.

Councillor Brine questioned whether there was anything put in place to prevent the garage being used as living accommodation. The Senior Planning Officer confirmed the building would be for incidental use which meant it could only be used as a store. To be used as anything else would require an additional planning application.

In response to Councillor Brown’s question regarding a condition to replace any trees lost, the Senior Planning Officer explained that the trees surrounding the application site were not protected.

Councillor Brine proposed and Councillor Patrick seconded.

After being put to a vote, the Motion carried unanimously.

Redevelopment of the site for an industrial and storage use (Use Class B2/B8) retail use (Use of class A1 now E(a)) and change of use of the existing dwelling to office use (Use class B1 now E(g)(i)) with associated works, infrastructure and improvements to the existing access onto the A38 with all matters relating to appearance and landscaping reserved.

The Majors and Environment Team Manager introduced the proposal and explained it was for the re-development of an existing site. They further explained that it included three units for industrial storage use, one unit for retail use and a change of use from the existing house into offices. They informed the Committee that it was an outline application therefore, Members would be considering the access, layout and scale of the development.

The Majors and Environment Team Manager explained the access had been amended since the previous application which came to DCC on 15 June 2021. They further explained that it was proposed to be located on the existing access and included a filter lane and a right turn only lane which Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) Highways were now satisfied with. However, GCC Highways were still objecting based on sustainability criteria.

The Head of Development Management read some written comments submitted from the following Ward Members.

Councillor Craig:

• The site was in a very rural area, with the exception of the SDC’s recycling facility, the land was largely undeveloped.
• The build on the current site was relatively small and this application would urbanise the area in contrary to Policy CP of the local plan.
• GCC Highways had safety and transport concerns regarding the application being in contradiction of policies SO4, CP11, CP13 and EL12 of the Local Plan and PD01, PD03 & PD04 of the local transport plan.
• Concerns over the appearance of the access. Cutting back the growth would improve safety however it would highlight the development of the area.

 Councillor Green:

• The green space of the rear of the shop area has not been used for growing to her knowledge and would therefore set a precedent for building in a field.
• Concerns regarding the access. Trying to pull out of the site heading south on a very fast road was dangerous.
• Not many supporting businesses in the locality to compliment the site.
• No bus stops therefore no public transport links.

Councillor Stayte spoke on behalf of the Parish Council. He explained that since the demise of the garden centre it had become an unused brown-field site. He then touched upon the affect the recycling centre has had on the current occupiers of the property. He expressed the Parish Councils support of the application and backed this up with the following reasons:

• The majority of the site previously had been for commercial use.

• The existing house would be retained as offices.
• The existing road access would be improved.
• Traffic using the site wouldn’t be much more than the traffic currently utilising the recycling centre.

Mrs McNally, the applicant, spoke in support of the application. She asked the Committee to support the application for the following reasons:

• The previous application was only refused due to the highways safety concerns which had now been addressed and accepted by GCC Highways.
• They had support from both the Parish Council and SDC Officer recommendation.
• They had received interest from investors looking to invest in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item DCC.042