Agenda item

Construction of a Class E(a) retail unit for the sale of food and non-food goods, associated customer car park, cycle parking, hard and soft landscaping, infrastructure and associated works.

The Lead Project Officer presented the application for the construction of a Class E(a) retail unit. The application site was shown on a map and it was noted that it was located just under 2km away from Weymouth Town Centre. An aerial photograph of the site was provided and nearby points of interest and occupiers of the surrounding business units were detailed.

It was explained that the main constraint of the application was that the site was designated as a key employment site and identified for Class-B employment use, however the site had not received interest from any potential occupiers. The applicant had carried out a marketing exercise which concluded that the site was not viable in the current market under Class-B employment use, the Dorset and BCP Land Employment Study corroborated the findings of the applicant.

The proposed plan consisted of one retail unit and the Lead Project Officer provided details around the design and scale of the building and associated ground works and landscaping. It was explained that the applicant had altered the design of the building following advice, to make it less imposing on the landscape.

It was considered that the proposal had several benefits, including the creation of 104 permanent full time and part time jobs and temporary jobs from the construction of the unit.

Public representation was received from Mr Newns, the agent for the application and Mr Marsden, representing the potential occupier of the unit, who spoke in support of the application. They noted the need to fill the space on the business park and the economic benefits that this would bring.

Public representation was also received from Cllr Bown, who spoke as the Ward Member for the item. She explained that there were significant concerns from local residents about increasing the strain on the sewage system and worsening flooding by building on the vacant site.

Cllr Bown left the Council Chamber at 10:43.

In response to public speakers, the Lead Project Officer explained that Wessex Water had been consulted about the application and they had confirmed that there was capacity within the system to support the proposed unit, however a sewer would have to be diverted and this was included in the conditions should the application be approved.

The Lead Project Officer provided the following responses to questions from members:

·       An assessment was carried out to identify the level of harm that the proposal would have on Weymouth town centre and other nearby towns and the harm was not considered significant enough to warrant refusal of the application.

·       Wessex Water had been consulted about the application and had said there was capacity in the system to support the unit.

·       The site was first advertised in February 2018, so had been marketed for over 5 years without any developer showing interest in the site.

Having had the chance to debate the merits of the application, members considered that the proposal would provide a positive economic boost the area and provide a number of jobs.

The Lead Project Officer provided assurance that the sewer diversion condition was robust and that details of the work would be required prior to commencement of construction.

Proposed by Cllr Wheller and seconded by Cllr Bawden.

Decision:

A)   That authority be delegated to the Head of Planning or the Service Manager for Development Management and Enforcement to grant planning permission, subject to the Secretary of State notifying the authority that he does not intend to issue a direction under Section 77 of the Town and County Planning Act 1990 and completion of a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) in a form to be agreed by the Head of Legal Services to secure:

·       Sustainable transport measures in the form of 10 e-bike spaces and two 2-bikes.

And subject to the planning conditions detailed in the appendix to these minutes.

B)   Refuse permission for the reasons set out in the appendix to these minutes if the legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) is not completed by 3 April 2025 (6 months from the date of committee) or such extended time as agreed by the Head of Planning.