Agenda item

That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) and the additional condition referred to in the late observations (to include the provision of the 10 extra spaces).

            The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) in respect of this application.  The usual consultations had been undertaken and the responses received detailed in the report.  Additional comments received since the preparation of the report were circulated at the meeting. 

            The officer detailed the background to the report and explained that the main issues included highway implications, the effects upon the character and appearance of the area and the stability of the land.  In highway terms, the access was considered acceptable but the proposed number of car parking spaces, which complied with the Council’s maximum standards, was only for 50% of the employees specified as part of the application.  A travel plan had been included in the list of conditions which would force the operator to consider all modes of transport to the site.      

            Councillor Derek Butler proposed the recommendation for approval which was duly seconded.  He said that the site was allocated and that the travel plan would alleviate the concerns about the issue of a reduced number of parking spaces.  Councillor Ian Dunbar said that the same concerns had been raised prior to the opening of the Running Hare public house but this was not an issue now. 

            The Local Member, Councillor David Mackie, said that his only concern was that the development might create more parking in the surrounding roads which were already well used by parked vehicles from other developments.  He had been assured earlier in the week that the developer had agreed to the travel plan which would require that no vehicles be parked outside this site by users of the development.  He asked that this be enforced if the condition was not fully complied with.  He referred to paragraph 7.12 and sought assurance that the conditions of the travel plan would be strictly adhered to.

            Councillor Chris Bithell said that there had not been any objections to the proposal but the parking issues were a significant concern.  He felt that the report did not indicate the consequences if the parking issues continued and added that he shared the concerns of the Local Member.  He suggested that other solutions could be considered such as putting the building on stilts to allow car parking below the development, or an underground parking area.  Councillor Mike Peers shared the concerns about parking and referred to the offer of the applicant to provide a further 10 parking spaces if required.  He had initially considered suggesting deferring the application to await the travel plan but instead proposed that the extra spaces be conditioned and that the travel plan be brought back to the next meeting of the Committee for consideration.  Councillor Richard Jones sought clarification on how the travel plan would be enforced.  Councillor Derek Butler concurred that the 10 extra spaces should be conditioned. 

            In response to a query from Councillor Owen Thomas, the Senior Engineer - Highways Development Control explained that the proposed 49 spaces did meet Local Planning Guidance standards.  The applicant had initially indicated that 120 staff would be employed at the site but had amended that figure to 47.  The spine road was adopted by the Council and had double yellow lines on it.  The travel plan, when it was submitted, would be considered by the Enforcement Team and the Regional Officer. 

            The officer indicated that the additional condition referred to in the late observations, requiring further details of the car parking layout, would include the provision of the 10 additional spaces. 

            In summing up, Councillor Butler commented that the reduced number of employees was now nearer to the number of parking spaces proposed and confirmed his proposal of approval subject to the inclusion of the 10 extra spaces in the condition referred to in the late observations.

            RESOLVED:

            That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) and the additional condition referred to in the late observations (to include the provision of the 10 extra spaces).