Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence

An apology for absence was received from Cllr L O'Leary.

To receive any declarations of interest

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made at the meeting.

Cllr Kate Wheller declared a non-pecuniary interest in application WP/19/00150/FUL - Beach Control Office, The Esplanade, Weymouth, due to her previous involvement as Briefholder for Community Facilities at Weymouth & Portland Borough Council.

Members of the public wishing to speak to the Committee on a planning application should notify the Democratic Services Officer listed on the front of this agenda. This must be done no later than two clear working days before the meeting. Please refer to the Guide to Public Speaking at Planning Committee.

Representations by the public to the Committee on individual planning applications are detailed below. There were no questions, petitions or deputations received on other items on this occasion.

To consider the applications listed below for planning permission

Members considered written reports submitted on planning applications as set out below.

Outline application for a mixed use development comprising: up to 500 dwellings, including affordable housing; up to 8 ha of employment land (to include a new hotel, residential care home, car show rooms and other employment land); land for a new primary school; a new local centre; public open spaces, new accesses and roads, and associated infrastructure

The Chairman clarified that the two duplicate applications were due to the cross boundary location of the application site of the former West Dorset District Council and Weymouth & Portland Borough Council areas.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the outline application for a mixed use development for up to 500 dwellings, up to 8ha employment land, land for a new primary school, a new local centre, public open spaces, new accesses and road and associated infrastructure.

An update sheet had been circulated to the Committee that included alteration of the wording of the recommendation on page 39 so that this was consistent with the wording in the recommendation summary on page 5.  There were also amendments to conditions 1, 3, 8, 15, and 16 further to discussions with the applicant.

Dr G Dickinson addressed the Committee on behalf of the West Dorset Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) who opposed the application as it was in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and contravened the National Planning Policy Framework.  The AONB would be vandalised and Dorset's answer to urgent action on climate change should not be to build a car showroom in the AONB. He commented on the need for a hotel when many of the existing hotels were struggling; that only half the number of homes on the council's register were required, mainly for 1 and 2 bed houses and that 35% affordable housing was unlikely to be achieved due to Section 106 viability deals.  He considered that there was a huge difference between what was being built and what was needed and that only those homes that were needed to address the housing crisis should be built and be environmentally friendly. 

Cllr R Tarr, Dorset Council - Winterborne and Broadmayne Ward, stated that he had only recently been made aware of the application and had not had sufficient time to come to any conclusion after reading the report and associated documents.  His ward included 12 parishes and all had been concerned about the relationship between parish councils and the new Dorset Council.    He therefore suggested that the application be deferred so that there was further time to consider the documentation.

Cllr G Brant stated that Bincombe Parish Council was grouped with 4 other parishes that operated as Winterborne and Farringdon Council.  The Council had been aware of the proposals for the past 4 years with continuing concerns about an application for 500 homes and commercial buildings in the AONB.  He had been informed that an application was to be considered by the Dorset Echo giving very little time for consideration. He noted that all of the precept would go to Bincombe Parish Council and a rural district would become urban as a result of this application and more time was needed to work through these implications. 

Martyn Chase, the Applicant, addressed the Committee and stated that the report and presentation by the Senior Planning Officer had been very comprehensive.  The application had clear regard to the allocation of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Refurbishment and extension of existing Beach Office to provide extra WCs, extended kiosk and first floor office with lift access

The Development Manager presented the application that sought approval for the refurbishment and extension of the existing Beach Office to provide additional WCs, an extended kiosk and first floor office with lifts.  The location was set within the seafront environment and the Town Centre Conservation Area.

The ground floor plan retained the changing places facility and added an extra 22 unisex toilets, including accessible toilets, a parent room and a family room.  Provision had been made for the  accessible toilets to be  left or right “handed” with appropriate signage to indicate this.

The extension encompassed the former outside seating area to provide rentable kiosk space and the proposed first floor projection would be larger than the existing and built on stilts over the Esplanade towards the beach so as not to obstruct pedestrian movement.  This would provide additional facilities for beach staff that included a viewing balcony as well as mitigate the loss of meeting space on the ground floor that would be used for the additional toilets.

The key planning matters were highlighted including the principle of development, scale, design, impact on character and appearance of the larger projection, impact on amenity, impact on landscape and heritage assets, economic benefits, access and parking, flooding and environmental performance.

The Development Manager advised that a lot of representations had been received regarding the level of provision of solar panels.  Upon further investigation it was found that the roof of the building would need to be reinforced to take the additional weight and that not all of the roof surfaces were suitable.

In response to a question the Development Manager advised that, if more panels were installed on the south elevation the visual impact of this on listed buildings and the conservation area would need to be considered further as this roof was more prominent than the existing roof.  The proposed number of panels was therefore considered satisfactory as they would support the operation of the building, although not sufficient to provide feedback of electricity to the national grid. 

Members considered the matters arising from the application and made the following comments during the discussion:-

• The option to use the rentable space for the 2 kiosks for a Tourist Information Centre.
• Additional solar panels introduced on the western elevation or new structure or the use of photo voltaic tiles.
• The lack of an internal shower facility.
• The impact of the design of the additional WCs from an operational and safety perspective (arising from doors opening outwards as opposed to opening into an enclosed area with an attendant).

Members highlighted that the plan had altered from previous iterations over the past 2 years and that internal shower facilities and doors opening onto the pavement had not featured in plans as recently as 3-4 months ago.  It was noted that the existing underground toilets would remain in use during the summer and be closed during the winter period.

Mr Madgwick, the Transport Development Liaison Engineer, stated that toilet doors that opened onto pedestrian  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Erect cloakroom extension

The Development Manager presented the application for the erection of a cloakroom extension in a recessed central part of the existing building.

Proposed by Cllr Ireland, seconded by Cllr Dunseith.

Decision: That the application be granted subject to the conditions outlined in the appendix to these minutes.