Issue - meetings

[NOTE 1: The Planning Officer advised the Committee that two further letters of objection had been received. One mainly reiterated the comments already summarised within the representations section of the report and the second was regarding the removal of class B2 from the site.]

[NOTE 2: In accordance with the procedure for public speaking at Planning Committee, Mrs Karen Cronan attended the meeting and spoke in objection to the application. The applicant chose not to speak in support.]

The Committee considered an application for the demolition of all existing buildings and structures and construction of a new commercial/industrial estate of 12 units together with parking, hard and soft landscaping and associated ancillary works. Units 1, 4 and 5 within Use Class E(g) (Commercial, Business and Service) only, Units 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 within Use Class E(g) (Commercial, Business and Service) or Use Class B8 (Storage or distribution) (description amended 18.07.2023 to remove Use Class B2 from Units 11 and 12 and amended plans and 17.08.2023).

Councillor R Leach, Ward Councillor, commented that the residents were happy with the principal of the industrial site being developed, but had raised objections regarding the increased traffic on Mabel Street and he thought these objections were justified. There was a school at the opposite end of Mabel Street which already caused severe congestion in the road, and the addition of the new developed units gaining access from Mabel Street, would exacerbate issues. Councillor R Leach suggested that if an entrance was located on Mabel Street the times of access should be restricted, he also suggested that consideration be given to lowering the height of the units near to residential homes. Councillor R Leach queried whether units 11 and 12 could be reorientated so that their access was from Goldsworth Road; if this was not possible then the maximum acoustic protection be added, along with restrictions on access to the site.

Following a question from the Committee, the Planning Officer confirmed that there was already access from Mabel Street to the units, however the units were currently vacant. If leased in the current condition, this access from Mabel Street could recommence at any time and therefore the Planning Officers’ view was that continued use of this access was acceptable in the application.

Some members of the Committee did not understand why the applicant had kept the Mabel Street entrance as part of the plans when there was a very good access from Goldsworth Road. The Planning Officer commented that the entrance had been previously used and its use could recommence at any time , and that slide 38 showed the swept path analysis of the average delivery vehicle using this entrance. This was considered acceptable in Planning terms and the Highway Authority had raised no objection.

Some Members raised concern that the class B2 use had been removed from the site, which would effectively put a local company out of business if the application was approved. It was thought  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6