Agenda item

Recommendation: Conditional approval in principle, and deferral and delegation of the final decision to Assistant Director of Place Based Services, following consideration of representations received from neighbour notifications, and subject to legal agreement.

Proposal: Full application for the proposed change of use from existing mixed use to Sui Generis mixed use (B1c/B2/B8) to include erection of extension to Brook House, installation of solar panels and two silos, engineering excavation work, ancillary parking and demolition of existing ReadyPower building.

Applicant: Philip Glover, Intersurgical.

The Committee received and reviewed a report about this application, set out in agenda pages 13 to 74.

The Committee were advised that the Members’ Update included:

·           Amended condition 12;

·           Replacement of condition 14 (Employment Skills Plan, which was deleted because it instead formed part of the legal agreement) with a condition for a Project Community Liaison Group;

·           Clarification of the first sentence of condition 15;

·           Amended condition 21;

·           Amended condition 24 (incorrectly stated as condition 23 within the Members’ Update).

Emily Temple, Agent, spoke in favour of the application. She stated that Intersurgical was the second largest employer within Wokingham. Emily added that the NHS was one of Intersurgical’s largest clients, and the increase in their Wokingham headquarters would allow Intersurgical to respond to the NHS’s growing needs. Emily stated that the application sought to redevelop the adjacent and currently vacant site to allow Intersurgical to expand their manufacturing capacity. Emily added that the site would have ample parking for staff, and that environmental surveys had been conducted as part of the application process.

Angus Ross queried whether condition 23 as stated in the Members’ Update should have actually been stated as condition 24. Simon Taylor, Case Officer, confirmed that the ‘Doors’ condition should be stated as condition 24, as in the original agenda.

Wayne Smith queried whether there had been any comments on the application to date. Simon Taylor stated that as of the day of the Planning Committee, no comments had been received from neighbours or the Town Council. Simon added that should the Committee be minded to approve the application in principle, full planning permission would be granted subject to deferral and delegation of the final decision to the Assistant Director of Place Based Services, following consideration of representations received from neighbour notifications, and subject to a legal agreement.

Members of the Committee commented on their support for a large employment provider in the Borough such as Intersurgical, and welcomed their efforts to expand their Wokingham headquarters in line with planning policy and regulations.

Carl Doran queried why hours of use for delivery by heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) was not conditioned. Simon Taylor clarified that there would be on average four HGV movements per day. Simon added that the HGVs originated from Lithuania, making it hard to predict when they would arrive. Simon stated that there had been no complaints regarding noise from the currents HGVs to date.

Tim Holton queried how many of the proposed car parking space would be affected by flooding. Simon Taylor stated that 14 car parking spaces would be in situated within flood zone 3B, which equated to a 1 in 20 year flood risk. Simon added that these spaces would be signposted to inform users of the flooding risks, and that there were early warning systems in place with the Environment Agency.  

RESOLVED: That application 183208 be approved in principle, subject to deferral and delegation of the final decision to the Assistant Director of Place Based Services, following consideration of representations received from neighbour notifications; conditions and informatives as set out in agenda pages 14 to 24; amended conditions 12, 21, 24 and replaced condition 14 as set out in the Members’ Update; and subject to legal agreement.