Agenda item

[NOTE: The Planning Officer advised the Committee that condition 15 had been updated since the report had been published, following a further consultation response from the Council’s Flood Risk and Drainage Engineer the wording of Condition 15 is recommended to be altered to:

No development shall commence, except for demolition and above ground site clearance works, until a surface water drainage scheme for the site based on sustainable drainage principles and an assessment of the hydrological and hydrogeological context of the development has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The drainage scheme should demonstrate the surface water run-off generated up to and including the 1 in 100 plus climate change critical storm will be as close to pre-development greenfield runoff rates as reasonably practicable. No alteration to the approved drainage scheme shall occur without prior written approval of the Local Planning Authority.

The drainage scheme details to be submitted for approval shall also include:

1. Calculations demonstrating no increase in surface water runoff rates and volumes discharged from the site compared to the existing scenario up to the 1 in 100 plus climate change storm event and as close to greenfield as reasonably practicable
2. Calculations demonstrating no on site flooding up to the 1 in 30 storm event plus climate change and any flooding in the 1 in 100 plus climate change storm event will be safely stored on site ensuring no overland flow routes.
3. Detail drainage plans, including construction drawings of the surface water drainage network, associated sustainable drainage components, flow control mechanisms and a detailed construction method statement

The surface water drainage scheme shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details prior to the first occupation of the development hereby permitted and thereafter it shall be managed and maintained in accordance with the approved details in perpetuity. 

Reason: To prevent the increased risk of flooding, to improve and protect water quality and to ensure the future maintenance of these in accordance with Policies CS9 and CS16 of the Woking Core Strategy 2012 and the policies in the NPPF.]

The Committee considered an application for the erection of a building to provide offices and maintenance facilities, together with parking, fencing and landscaping for Woking Community Transport (Bustler).

Following some questions from Councillor T Aziz, Ward Councillors, the Planning Officer explained that there was no access to the site itself from Boundary Road. It was noted that there was access to staff parking from Boundary Road, but the access to the site was from Monument Way. The Committee heard about an undetermined application for a link road, which could benefit this development; it was clarified that all highways’ considerations had been measured on the existing scenario, which was acceptable. If the link road was approved, it would only improve the highway situation for access to this site.

Regarding the separation distance from the properties opposite the site, it was noted these were 22-33m from the front elevation of properties and 17m-28m from the front boundary. These distances to exceed the minimum standards in the SPD for Outlook Amenity, Privacy, and daylight strategy.

In response to another question from Councillor T Aziz regarding the fence, the Planning Officer confirmed that the concrete fence would be removed and replaced with mesh fencing to ensure security of the bus parking area.

The Chairman raised a question regarding the electric charging points and the Planning Officer confirmed that 5% would be active with the remining points passive to be activated when needed. It was noted that condition 13 covered the PV charging points.

Councillor S Dorsett commented on the representations received on the application and asked whether the training room window could be obscured glazed, as he felt like this would be easy to do and address the concerns raised. The Planning Officer advised the Committee that the separation distance was well over the minimum and it would not meet the teats to require this as a condition of the application. The Planning Officer commented that this window overlooked the front elevation of the property and there was a lesser expectation to privacy at the front. The Planning Officer advised that it was of no relevance that the application was linked to Woking Borough Council as all applications had to be treated the same.

Members considered this to be a well thought out application and were pleased that it adhered to CS19 of the Core Strategy.

RESOLVED

That planning permission be GRANTED subject to conditions.