Agenda item

RECOMMENDATION: Conditional Approval

CASE OFFICER: Andrew Chugg

Proposal: Full application for the change of use of land from Agricultural, residential, light industrial and storage to an Arboretum with ancillary support facilities to include storage, laboratory, offices and auditorium, re-location of poly tunnels and creation of

irrigation pond, swale and attenuation pond, following demolition of hardstanding areas and various buildings including workshop, Mobile home, store, container, Nissan hut and sheds.

Applicant: Bartlett Tree Experts

The Committee considered a report on this application, set out in agenda pages 235 to 296.

The Committee were advised that updates contained within the Supplementary Planning Agenda included:

·         The Applicant’s name added.

Neil Davis, agent, spoke in favour of the application. He told committee members that this use of the site should be welcomed by the Council. The location of the site with the land around it to accommodate the arboretum was essential to its success. He explained that Bartlett Tree Experts currently operated from the site leased from UoR but that this lease was set to terminate, and that this development was fundamental for future plans for the applicant. Headded that the current space did not provide necessary space for the arboretum. He mentioned that the site was private, and therefore external visits would be controlled by a private company. He added some key benefits included protection of the countryside, high quality buildings, and an excellent BREEAM rating. There were no objections from internal or external consultees.

Councillor Smith asked how issues with the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Detailed Emergency Planning Zone (DEPZ), referenced on page 270 of the agenda as item 7, had been resolved. Andrew Chugg, case officer, explained that conversations had taken place with the Emergency Planning team and the view was that new housing would not be suitable, however as a business, this was an acceptable use of the site as there was a net loss of homes which gives a lower risk.

Councillor Firmager sought clarity on the traffic flow on Beech Hill Road and whether this would lead to an increase in flows. Alan Lewis clarified that the traffic flows were modest, and that the daily variation was typically +/-7%, he added that there could be a slight increase or decrease in traffic but that it was expected to be neutral.

Councillor Neal asked whether any issues with tree disease could spread outside the arboretum. The case officer explained that the Ecology Officer had looked at that matter, and that the applicants were specialists in the field. Brian Conlon added that the planning system was not the regime that would regulate biosecurity.

Councillor Soane questioned where the access would be for event parking and what the number of parking spaces would be. The case officer clarified that access for the event parking would be on the most southerly access on Beech Hill Road and that 15 parking spaces had been proposed, compared to the current 5 spaces.

Councillor Cornish mentioned that this application was full of benefits.

It was proposed by Councillor Smith and seconded by Councillor Soane that this application be approved.

RESOLVED: That application 232560 be approved subject to conditions and informatives detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.