Agenda item

Two Drive Thru (A1, A3, A5) Pods with associated landscaping, hardstanding and other associated works.

(Bat survey submitted 21 August 2019, letter received 16 September 2019 in response to Thame Town Council's comments and Flood Risk Assessment Addendum received 26 September 2019.) (Updated Flood Risk Addendum and Annexe submitted 25 November 2019).

Part way through the consideration of this application, members took a vote just before the meeting guillotine of 8:30pm to continue the item they were on.

Councillor David Bretherton and Councillor Kate Gregory, local ward councillors, stood down from the committee for consideration of this item.

The committee considered application P19/S0480/FUL for two Drive Thru (A1, A3, A5) Pods with associated landscaping, hardstanding and other associated works (Bat survey submitted 21 August 2019, letter received 16 September 2019 in response to Thame Town Council's comments and Flood Risk Assessment Addendum received 26 September 2019.) (Updated Flood Risk Addendum and Annexe submitted 25 November 2019) at Thame Service Station, Long Crendon Road, Thame.

Consultations, representations, policy and guidance and the site’s planning history were detailed in the officer’s report which formed part of the agenda pack for this meeting.

The planning officer reported an error in paragraph 2.2 of the report, where the descriptions of the units’ size were reversed; the larger proposed unit was Burger King and the smaller one was the coffee shop. Also, paragraph 6.2 referred incorrectly to a proposed use comprising a mixed Class E (café), whereas it was in fact Class A.

The planning officer also reported that recommended condition 7, ‘Development to be carried out in accordance with tree protection details’ required further explanation to the committee; the forestry officer was satisfied with the details without the need for a formal agreement prior to commencement.

The committee was advised that Thame Town Council objected to the removal of 7 bays of heavy goods vehicle and coach parking. The local highway authority did not wish to object to the granting of planning permission.  A condition requiring parking and manoeuvring areas to be retained was recommended, which had been included in the recommended conditions in the report. The committee noted that where Thame town council had alleged an illegal use of some hardstanding for storage and jet wash facilities, these uses had now been discontinued. The committee was provided with a slide presentation of the existing parking areas. In response to a question from the committee regarding a possible different mix of uses for parking spaces in this scheme, the planning officer advised that the National Planning Policy Framework (at paragraph 107) placed councils under an obligation to expand lorry parking and that in the case of this application the owner had a discretion as to the use of the spaces.

Councillor Graeme Markland, a representative of Thame Town Council, spoke objecting to the application.

Mr Bruce Risk, the agent, spoke in support of the application.

Councillor David Bretherton, a local ward councillor, spoke to the application.

The planning officer concluded by reporting that although a small number of objections related to the loss of some lorry parking, the proposal would provide sustainable economic development that made effective use of previously developed land and would not be harmful to existing businesses within the Thame town centre.

A motion moved and seconded, to grant planning permission was declared carried on being put to the vote.

RESOLVED; to grant planning permission for application P19/S0480/FUL subject to the following conditions:

1.         Development must commence not later than the expiration of three years beginning with the date of this permission.

2.         The development must be implemented in accordance with the approved drawings.

3.         A construction environmental management plan for Biodiversity (CEMP: Biodiversity) shall be submitted and implemented in accordance with the approved details. 

4.         A full surface water drainage scheme, including details of the size, position and construction of drainage works, shall be submitted and implemented in accordance with e approved details.

5.         A revised Flood risk Assessment shall be submitted and implemented in accordance with the revised approved details. 

6.         A scheme of landscaping of the site to be agreed and implemented

7.         Development to be carried out in accordance with tree protection details

8.         Trees planted next to hard surfaces must be planted in specific tree pits.

9.         Development shall be carried out in accordance with the details shown on the approved plans.

10.       Parking & Manoeuvring areas shall be laid out in accordance with approved plans and retained thereafter.