Agenda and draft minutes

To disclose any pecuniary, other registerable or non-registrable interest as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their disclosure councillors are asked to state the agenda item, the nature of the interest and any action they propose to take as part of their declaration.

If required, further advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

Cllr O’Leary declared an interest in application P/VOC/2024/06716, due to also being a member of Weymouth Town Council.

Cllr Bown declared an interest in application P/VOC/2024/06716, due to also being a member of Weymouth Town Council.

Cllr Northam declared an interest in application P/VOC/2024/06716, due to also being a member of Weymouth Town Council.

Cllr Wheller declared an interest in application P/VOC/2024/06716, due to also being a member of Weymouth Town Council and in application P/FUL/2024/05538.

Cllr Bolwell declared that he was the Ward Member for application P/FUL/2024/04044, but was not pre-determined.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 23 January 2025.

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 January 2025 were confirmed and signed.

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.  Guide to Public Speaking at Planning Committee.

The deadline for notifying a request to speak is 8.30am on Tuesday 25 February 2025.

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.

Erect extensions & alterations to existing Abattoir including associated drainage & landscaping works. Form car parking area.

With the aid of a visual presentation including plans and aerial photographs, the Senior Planning Officer identified the site and explained the proposal, which included extending and alterations to, an existing abattoir in Bridport. The nearby listed buildings and Conservation Area were highlighted on a map and the public footpaths that run adjacent to the site were identified.

The elevation and floor plan of the existing building was shown, as well as the ancillary buildings. Photographs of various points around the site were shown to members, including the access to the site and nearby public footpaths, to give an indication of the presence of the site in the landscape.

It was explained that the proposal included an extension to the existing buildings to create a new facility, along with additional car parking around the site, with the access to remain the same. A new security building at the entrance to the site was proposed, in addition to landscaping works. Acoustic fencing was proposed to be erected around the site to mitigate against noise.

The proposed elevations were shown and the Senior Planning Officer noted that the proposed building would not be taller than the existing one, although the building would increase in volume. The visual impact of the site would be mitigated by the use of grey and green cladding on the exterior of the building. The proposed landscaping plan was shown to members, as well as the proposed elevations of the ancillary buildings.

The Senior Planning Officer explained that although the site was currently vacant, there was existing permission for the site to be used as an abattoir and benefits of the application included the ability to include conditions on the new permission that was being sought.

The key planning issues were summarised and it was considered that the application as a whole was acceptable subject to conditions.

Public representation was received in objection to the application from Mrs Harrop, Mrs Le Lievre and Mr Hine, who raised concerns about the increased level of traffic and HGV’s that would be passing though the village and the increase in noise, light and odour pollution.

The applicant, Mr Pickstock and Mr Bowditch spoke in support of the application, noting that the facility would mean that livestock wouldn’t have to travel out of the county and that it would provide jobs to the area.

In response to member’s questions the Senior Planning Officer provided the following responses:

·       Environmental permit regulations would apply.

·       A transport assessment had been submitted, which showed an acceptable level of vehicle movements.

·       The applicant had indicated that the maximum size of vehicle used by the site would be an HGV with a maximum length of 16.5m.

·       The nearest dwelling was approximately 200m away from the site, which was considered an acceptable distance.

·       The committee was not able to impose a condition that controlled what vehicles used the public highway.

One member raised concerns about the size of the development and whether it was appropriate for the location, however  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.

Application WP/18/00010/VOC - (variation of condition 2  regarding size and location details of facilities) of planning permission 10/00118/FUL3 (Arrangement and design of beach attractions and kiosks)

Variation of Conditions 1 and 2 - to relocate the attraction sites A3 and A4 and combine these with site A5 to be tendered as one site. Provide an Observation Wheel on the current A6 site.

Cllr O’Leary and Cllr Bown left the room at 11:29.

Cllr Wheller and Cllr Northam moved to the public speaker’s section of the Council Chamber.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the application for the variation of a condition on a planning permission granted in 2018, to combine attraction sites on Weymouth seafront and create an additional site for an observation wheel.

The location of the site was shown, which ran along the length of the seafront, however the changes proposed were limited to moving sites A3 and A4 and combining them with A5 and situating an observation wheel on A6. The current and revised schedule of attractions was shown to members.

A photo of the type of wheel that would be situated was shown, to give an indication of the size and design of the proposed wheel and it was noted that a condition would require that the attractions were removed over the winter months. The wheel would be no taller than 33m and would include at least one accessible gondola and no concrete foundations would be required.

The nearby listed buildings and the Conservation Area were highlighted on a map of Weymouth. The key planning issues were summarised and the application was considered acceptable with the benefits of bringing in visitors to the town centre offsetting the impact to heritage assets.

Public representations in objection to the application were received from Mr Tiller, Mr Palucsis and Mr Jessop, who raised concerns about the safety of the structure and questioned whether the wheel would be able to fit onto the size of plot that was allocated. In addition, they did not believe that the wheel represented the type of attraction that would improve Weymouth town centre.

The representative of the applicant Mrs Denny, Cllr Northam and Cllr Wheller spoke in support of the application, noting that the attraction would be in an appropriate area and would help to bring in visitors to Weymouth and generate additional income.  

In response to the public speaker’s the Senior Planning Officer clarified that it would be down to the applicant to ensure that the wheel would fit on the allocated plot and to ensure the safety of the structure.

Cllr Northam and Cllr Wheller left the Council Chamber at 11:59.

In response to questions from members the Senior Planning Officer provided the following responses:

·       Consultation had taken place with Historic England to decide on the appropriate amount of time the wheel could be situated and it was determined that it would be acceptable to remove the wheel between October and March.

·       The time span that the wheel would be removed would be consistent with the other attractions on the seafront.

Having had the opportunity to debate the merits of the application, several members expressed support for the proposal noting the economic benefits.

Proposed that permission be granted as per the officer recommendation (as per the update sheet) by Cllr Kimber and seconded by Cllr Roper.

Decision: That the application be granted subject to conditions  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

Erection of brick enclosure for electrical supply meters.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:18 – 12:22

Cllrs O’Leary, Northam and Wheller returned to the Council Chamber at 12:22.

Cllr Bown returned to the Council Chamber at 12:24 and did not take part in the deliberation of the item as she was not present for the full presentation.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the application and explained the proposal to members, which was for an enclosure for an electrical supply meter.

The application site was shown, which fell within the Defined Development Boundary and Underhill Conservation Area. Photographs of the site were provided, showing where the meter box would be situated. The proposed plans were shown and it was noted that the box would not obstruct views from any habitable room.

The key planning issues were summarised and the proposal was considered acceptable subject to conditions.

Proposed that permission be granted as per the officer recommendation (as per the update sheet) by Cllr Monks and seconded by Cllr Wheller.

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

Demolition of a pair of semi-detached dwellings Nos 9-11.

Cllr Roper moved to the public speaker’s section of the Council Chamber.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the application, which was for the demolition of a pair of semi-detached dwellings. The site location was shown to members and it was noted that the site was within the Defined Development Boundary and the Underhill Conservation Area. Although the building itself did not have any heritage value, it was considered to contribute to the value of the street scene.

Photographs of the existing building were provided, showing its current condition, with a large visible crack running along the length of the building. A structural survey had been conducted, which had concluded that the building could collapse within 1-2 years.

Proposed plans were provided, showing the demolition of the building. It was noted that although it was unusual to demolish a building without any plans for a replacement, in this case it was justified due to the health and safety concerns and because Dorset Council was the landowner, so there was a degree of control of how the site would be redeveloped.

Members agreed to extend the meeting beyond three hours.

Cllr Roper spoke in support of the application as the Ward Member, noting that the buildings were a well-known eyesore on Portland and demolishing them would prevent them from collapse in the future and allow for redevelopment of the site.

Cllr Roper left the Council Chamber at 12:50.

In response to a question from one member the Senior Planning Officer stated that the standard commencement condition would be in place, requiring work to start within 3 years.

Proposed that permission be granted as per the officer recommendation (as per the update sheet) by Cllr O’Leary and seconded by Cllr Monks.

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

Replacement and strengthening of harbour walls F and G through installation of new sheet pile walls in front of the existing walls, for the portion of the new wall where it is located above the mean low water mark, tie bar extension and ground works, works to the footpaths, creation of open space along with ancillary works.

Appendix 1 – Report from the January 2025 committee meeting.

Appendix 2 – Update sheet from the January 2025 committee meeting.

Cllr Roper returned to the Council Chamber at 12:55.

Cllr Wheller left the Council Chamber at 12:55.

The Lead Project Officer presented the application for the variation of conditions on an application previously presented to the committee in January 2025. The original proposal was summarised, with the site location, photographs and site plans shown to members. The Lead Project Officer detailed the conditions that were proposed to be changed.

Proposed that permission be granted as per the officer recommendation (as per the update sheet) by Cllr O’Leary and seconded by Cllr Kimber.

Decision: That authority be delegated to the Service Manager for Development Management and Enforcement and the Development Management Area Manager for the Southern and Western Team to grant planning permission subject to:

1. receiving written confirmation from the Marine Management Organisation that the parallel marine licencing application secures appropriate mitigation and compensation for marine ecology; and

2. the planning conditions set out in the appendix to these minutes.

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972

The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items.

To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered.

There is no scheduled exempt business.

There was no exempt business.