Agenda item

Erect 1 No. dwelling, form new vehicular access and create 1 No. parking space, (demolish existing garage).

With the aid of a visual presentation, The Case Officer showed members aerial photographs and a map of the site. Details regarding the site being near the AONB but not within it as well as Rights of Way were also discussed. The presentation also included photographs of the existing building, site, and proposed floor plans for the extension. The recommendation was to grant.

Public Participation

Mr Summers spoke in favour of the proposal. He informed members that the proposed extension would allow for further employment and would make the workplace more efficient for a local business. He informed members that a lot of consideration had gone into the extension plans to ensure they would fit in with other dwellings. The applicant also discussed the installation of solar panels if granted as well as controlled deliveries and collections to support the local villages requests. Mr Summers assured members that the site would only be used during normal working hours and no chemicals were on site. He hoped members would support the officer’s recommendation.

Mr Ebdon spoke on behalf of the Parish Council. He informed members that the Enterprise Park was the main employment for Piddle Valley and the Parish Council supported the economic benefits. However, Mr Ebdon could not support the application as he believed it was contrary to policy 10 of the neighbourhood plan and the proposed scale of the extension would be detrimental to the visual immunity and therefore would impact the character of the area. Concerns were also raised regarding an increase in traffic, particularly larger vehicles. Mr Ebdon believed that the site would be better suited for smaller businesses. He hoped members would refuse this application.

Members questions and comments

·       Clarification regarding job creation on the site as well as whether the proposed extension would be the tallest building on site.

·       Condition to mitigate light pollution. Prior to the commencement of any development above foundation level, details of a lighting scheme shall have been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority.  Thereafter, the lighting scheme shall be installed, operated, and maintained in accordance with the approved scheme and there shall be no further lighting of the development, other than in accordance with the approved scheme.

·       Condition per minable surfaces to reduce water runoff. Drainage condition for surface water. Prior to the commencement of any development hereby approved, details of the surface water drainage work shall have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and the approved drainage scheme shall have been completed before the occupation of the development.

·       Members were pleased to support a growing business.

Having had the opportunity to discuss the merits of the application and an understanding of all this entailed; having considered the officer’s report and presentation; the written representatives; and what they had heard at the meeting, a motion to approve the officer’s recommendation to approve planning permission as recommended, was proposed by Cllr Les Fry, and seconded by Cllr Carole Jones, subject to the added conditions of lighting and drainage.

Decision: To grant subject to conditions.