Recommendation: Conditional approval

Proposal: Full application for the proposed erection of 1no. commercial storage building (Use Class B8) (retrospective)

Applicant: Mr M Bicknell

The Committee received and reviewed a report about this application, set out in agenda pages 89 to 106.

The Committee were advised that the Members’ Update included clarification that Local Ward Member Emma Hobbs had submitted concerns regarding this application, and inclusion of said concerns.

Emma Hobbs, Ward Member, raised concern with aspects of this application. Emma stated that she had no objection to the applicant’s business, and was supportive of the jobs that the applicant had created locally over the years. Emma commented that the road was quite narrow, with a lorry and a car struggling to pass each other. Emma added that with the size of the business growing as it was, it was becoming a little bit too big for a residential area with a school and 25 newly approved houses to be built. Emma was of the opinion that it may be time for the applicant to explore a separate site in a less residential area to provide for this expanding business. Emma concluded by stating that should this application be approved she hoped her comments would be taken into consideration of any future applications.

Carl Doran queried how this development was brought to Officer’s attention. Simon Taylor, Case Officer, confirmed that a separate application involving permission for caravans was being reviewed when this development was noticed.

The Committee raised concerns with the history of retrospective planning applications on site. Simon Weeks proposed that an informative be added, strongly advising the applicant to ensure that all future planning applications were not retrospective. This proposal was seconded and added to the list of informatives set out in the Officer recommendation.

Emma Hobbs commented that the applicant had always been very responsive to her requests as Ward Member in the past.

RESOLVED That application number 192713 be approved, subject to conditions and informatives as set out in agenda pages 90 to 91, and the additional informative as resolved by the Committee.