Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence

No apologies for absence were received at the meeting.

To receive any declarations of interest

Cllr Kate Wheller declared that she had previously commented on the land east of Mercery Road site, however, as this was a fresh application with new information she stated that she had not predetermined the application.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2021.

The minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2021 were confirmed as a correct record and would be signed at a future date.

To receive questions or statements on the business of the committee from town and parish councils and members of the public.

Public speaking has been suspended for virtual committee meetings during the Covid-19 crisis and public participation will be dealt with through written submissions only.

Members of the public who live, work or represent an organisation within the Dorset Council area, may submit up to two questions or a statement of up to a maximum of 450 words.  All submissions must be sent electronically to denise.hunt@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk by the deadline set out below.  When submitting a question please indicate who the question is for and include your name, address and contact details.  Questions and statements received in line with the council’s rules for public participation will be published as a supplement to the agenda.

Questions will be read out by an officer of the council and a response given by the appropriate Portfolio Holder or officer at the meeting.  All questions, statements and responses will be published in full within the minutes of the meeting.  The deadline for submission of the full text of a question or statement is 8.30am on Friday 5 March 2021.

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.

Erect retail development comprising five units (Use Classes A1, A3 and A5) with associated car parking, servicing arrangements, landscaping and groundworks.

The Committee considered an application to erect a retail development comprising five units (Use Classes A1, A3 and A5) with associated car parking, servicing arrangements, landscaping and groundworks.

The Senior Planning Officer gave a presentation on the application with the site being a key employment allocation site within the Weymouth Defined Development Boundary (DDB) and part of the wider Mount Pleasant Business Park with the proposed access off of Souter Way. The key planning matters were outlined including the principle of development, residential amenity, visual amenity, highway safety and biodiversity.

An update sheet circulated to the Committee prior to the meeting included amendments to conditions 4, 7 and 8.

A number of written representations were received that are attached to these minutes.

Cllr Tony Ferrari, Dorset Council - Littlemoor & Preston Ward, addressed the Committee to explain the reasons why the aspiration to retain the site for key employment use had failed and why this scheme was now favourable. 

Cllr David Gray, Dorset Council - Radipole, objected to the application referring to extant and emerging Local Plan policies in relation to employment land, the failure of the impact assessment to comply with test conditions and comments made by the Council's Economic Development Officer against the application.

Cllr Peter Barrow, Dorset Council - Radipole, drew attention to deprivation and the reliance of the local economy on low wage jobs, the comments by the Economic Development Officer, the impact of the development on the town centre and the need to create demand for high skilled jobs in the area.

The Senior Planning Officer responded to comments made during the public participation in relation to the loss of an employment site, noise, car parking, odours, lighting, fast food outlets and impact on the town centre. Members were further informed that the development would not add to peak time traffic movements and that the funding resulting from the development would improve the cycle network between Mercery Road and Radipole Park Drive.

In response to technical questions raised, the Senior Planning Officer confirmed that the sequential test had concluded that there were no suitable locations for the retail elements of the scheme within the town centre; that there was no delivery restriction time for units 7/8 which were located furthest away from residential properties; and that Souter Way, the private access road, would not be adopted by the Highways Authority.

Some Members wholly supported the arguments for this application, including the lack of alternative space in the town centre or a local skilled workforce and no interest in the site.  They also acknowledged the need for investment and permanent jobs, the ability of the development to attract visitors to the area and avoid the need for local residents to drive greater distances to visit these stores elsewhere.

Other members felt conflicted having heard arguments for and against the application. Comment was made on the reliance of the scheme on car use. 

On this point, it was noted that the site was located near to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

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.

Condition 4:

Amended wording to condition 4, it would now read as follows:

Unit 3 shall be used for the sale and display of the following goods:

·         Fabric, home and garden furniture, soft and hard furnishings, carpets and floor coverings, bulky electrical home goods, DIY home improvement goods and the ancillary sale of household goods and homewares, non-bulky electrical items and decorative products and the sale of other non-bulky comparison goods where ancillary to the main use and for the avoidance of doubt shall not sell fashion clothing and footwear.

·         The sale of fashion accessories, jewellery, watches, health and beauty and personal care items, pharmaceutical/medical products, toys, sports and hobby goods, books and stationery from this unit is not permitted unless ancillary to the main use.

·         An ancillary in-store customer café is permitted. The unit shall include an ancillary in-store customer café.

Unit 3 shall only be used for the sale of the goods above and shall not be used for the sale and display of any other goods.

REASON: The application is justified on the basis of the provision of goods as stated because the Council is concerned to ensure control is retained over the use of the development for this purpose in the interests of the vitality and viability of Weymouth Town Centre.

Condition 7:

Amended wording to condition 7, it would now read as follows:

The use of Unit 7 hereby approved shall only be used for purposes of the sale of sandwiches or other cold food for consumption off the premises falling within as use Class A1 and for the purposes falling under A3 and A5 of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Use Classes Order 1987 (as amended) and shall not be used for the display or retail sale of goods within the Class A1 use without the express written consent of the Local Planning Authority first being obtained entirely for Class A1 Uses.

REASON: The application is justified on the basis of the provision of the use class as stated because the Council is concerned to ensure control is retained over the use of the development for this purpose in the interests of the vitality and viability of Weymouth Town Centre.

Condition 8:

Amended wording to condition 8, it would now read as follows:

The use of Unit 8 hereby approved shall only be used for purposes falling within as use Class A3 and A5 of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Use Classes Order 1987 (as amended) and notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) shall not be used for the display or retail sale of goods (Class A1 use), without the express written consent of the Local Planning Authority first being obtained entirely for Class A1 Uses.

REASON: The application is justified on the basis of the provision of the use class as stated because the Council is concerned to ensure control is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78.