Issue - meetings

Councillor Harrington re-joined the Committee.

At its meeting on 22 July 2014, the Committee resolved to defer the consideration of the application in order to establish whether satisfactory amendments could be agreed in respect of the access and to address the Local Highways Authority objection relating to junction design and access.

The planning application was for the erection of a foodstore on the land adjacent to Haddon House, Brickburn Close, Hampton Centre, with associated car parking and landscaping.

It was officer’s recommendation that planning permission be granted, subject to the conditions set out in the report.

The Planning and Development Manager provided an overview of the application and raised the following key points:

·         Access to the site had been addressed so that HGV’s could now access without problem.

·         The central traffic island had been extended to prevent vehicles from making a right turn onto the A15. Vehicles would be required to turn left and use the roundabout.

·         The officer recommendation was now one of approval, as all the Committee’s concerns had been addressed.

Mr Alistair Close, Agent, addressed the Committee in support of the application and responded to questions from Members. In summary the key points highlighted included:

·         The Section 106 Legal Agreement had been drafted at length and would be able to move forward if the application was approved.

·         Mr Close wanted to thank all those residents that had supported the application and was happy to be able to offer 30 to 40 new jobs in the area.

The Committee were pleased to see that their concerns had been addressed and were content with the location of the site.

A motion was proposed and seconded to agree that permission be granted, as per officer recommendation. The motion was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED: (unanimous) that planning permission is GRANTED subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Reasons for the decision

       The remaining concern that Members expressing at the July meeting could be adequately addressed.

The planning application was for the erection of a foodstore with associated car parking and landscaping on the land adjacent to Haddon House, Brickburn Close, Hampton Centre.

The main considerations were:

·         Principle of Development;

·         The Sequential Test;

·         The National Planning Policy Framework;

·         Cycle Parking;

·         Car Parking;

·         Impact on nearby residents;

·         Design;

·         Drainage;

·         Sustainability;

·         Air Quality and Contamination;

·         Section 106 Legal Agreement.

It was officer’s recommendation that planning permission be refused.

The Planning and Development Manager provided an overview of the application and raised the following key points:

·         47 letters of support of the application had been received, with many residents supporting the introduction of an alternative to Tesco.

·         There was no objection to the principle of development in Hampton, however national guidance directed such development to local centres.

·         The development needed to pass the sequential test, or it should be refused. It was considered that a more appropriate undeveloped site was ‘available’ in the local centre.

·         The alternative site was included in the Site Allocations DPD, included retail use and was not subject to a current applicant. As such, it was considered available by officers.

·         Many of the reasons for refusal could be overcome by conditions, however the Highways Authority had objected to the design of the access and insufficient parking.

·         The update report included a parking survey carried out by the applicant. The number or car parking spaces to be provided on the site had been increased to 98.

The Senior Engineer advised that the junction proposed to access the site had originally been designed for low key use. The alteration proposed to change the ‘nose’ of the junction would result in HGV’s moving into the next lane to manoeuvre out. It was unclear whether there was a solution to this problem, as such the Highway Authority objected to the proposal.

Councillor Seaton, Ward Councillor, addressed the Committee and responded to questions from Members. In summary the key points highlighted included:

·         He supported the application and believed that it would bring further jobs and income to the city.

·         Residents were clearly in favour of the application.

·         The reasons for refusal were technical, but not practical. The site presented as an alternative by officers was not available, in the sense that the owners of the site would not sell it and would be more appropriate for a town square or cinema development.

·         A development on the alternative site would not be viable because of the competition from Tescos.

·         Within the sequential test, all three categories – availability, suitability and viability – were questionable for the alternative site.

·         The applicants were prepared to offer a local labour agreement within their proposals.

·         It was not anticipated that any congestion problems would result from the proposals and all deliveries would be carried out at night.

·         Any future planning applications for residential dwellings near the proposed site would need to consider any permission granted for a foodstore.

·         Access from the A15 was possible. However, for a development on the alternative site, access through Hampton  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5