Agenda item

RECOMMENDATION: Conditional Approval subject to a legal agreement.

CASE OFFICER: Christopher Howard

Proposal: Full application for the proposed Construction of a Collections, Digitisation & Research Centre with associated infrastructure and external works including car parking, SUDS basin and landscaping. Application is a potential departure from the Local Plan.

Applicant: Natural History Museum

The Committee considered a report on this application, set out in agenda pages 69 to 148.

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

·         Withdrawal of objection from Shinfield Parish Council

·         Additional representation from Councillor Gary Cowan

·         Changes to condition 7 regarding Public Art Community Engagement & Consultation

·         Change to condition 26 regarding Community Engagement Strategy

All members of the committee attended a site visit except Councillor Smith.

Tim Littlewood, Director of Science, Natural History Museum, spoke in support of the application. He told the committee that this would bring the flagship research centre to the Borough and that the NHM had a statutory duty to make collections accessible to current and future generations. He added that a Community Engagement plan would be developed with the Parish Council. He also said that the application would provide 150 jobs at the site. The building would be zero carbon which exceeded local policy requirements under Core Strategy Policy CP1, with carbon savings of 21%, as well as reducing energy and water use. Solar Panels on the roof would produce 22% of energy demand for the building which exceeded the 10% policy requirement. He explained that despite the development not complying with the Local Plan’s countryside policies in terms of planning balance, any adverse impacts on the countryside were outweighed by the economic, social, and sustainable benefits of the facility.

Councillor Mickleburgh thanked officers for addressing the issues from Shinfield Parish Council, which had led to the Parish Council withdrawing their objection.

Councillor Mickleburgh questioned the change in condition 26 on page 110, that was referenced in the supplementary agenda, specifically querying the Community Engagement Strategy and who would be responsible for updating the strategy every five years as referenced. Connor Corrigan, Head of Strategic Development, explained that this responsibility would be imposed on NHM, and added that other stakeholders such as UOR, the British Museum and local schools would be engaged in the process.

Councillor Shepherd-Dubey asked for the biodiversity net gain figures from the site. The case officer reiterated that it would be 20%.

Councillor Neal explained for clarity that committee members had previously received a presentation from NHM which addressed many of the members concerns.

It was proposed by Councillor Mickleburgh and seconded by Councillor Shepherd-Dubey that the application be approved.

RESOLVED: That Application 232833 be approved subject to

A)   Completion of a S106 agreement and;

B)   Conditions as set out in the report and amended in the members update (if required);

C)   Should the S106 agreement not be signed by the applicant by six months of the committee resolution, delegate to the Assistant Director of Planning to refuse the application unless a longer timeframe is agreed with the Chair of Planning Committee in consultation with the Assistant Director of Planning.