Agenda item

Demolition of existing workshop and construction of new building for B8 storage purposes with associated works (amended plans received 27 September to reduce size and location of building).

The committee considered planning application P23/S2494/FUL for the demolition of existing workshop and construction of new building for B8 storage purposes with associated works (amended plans received 27 September to reduce size and location of building), on land at Redways Farm, New Inn Road, Beckley.  

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 the meeting. 

The planning officer introduced the report and highlighted that the application was brought to the committee due to the objection of Beckley and Stowood Parish Council.

The planning officer informed the committee that the site consisted of a former farmyard, located in Green Belt, and to the south of Beckley. He also noted that there were several neighbouring properties to south and east. He informed the committee that permission was sought for the demolition of buildings to the east of the site and for their replacement by a single storage building against an existing workshop to the west.

The planning officer highlighted that the footprint of the proposed building was 25 square metres larger than that of the demolished buildings and would have a maximum height of 4.8 metres. The planning officer had been concerned that the original application could harm the Green Belt due to its proposed height and footprint. However, he confirmed that the application had been amended to substantially reduce the size of the proposed building and to move it further away from the boundary. For these reasons, he did not consider that the application would have a greater impact on the Green Belt than the existing buildings.

The planning officer also highlighted that an additional proposed condition for the removal of the existing building prior to the occupation of the replacement dwelling was agreed to be placed on the approval of the application. 

Overall, as the proposed building accorded with Local Plan policies by allowing the local business to grow while remaining onsite, whilst also maintaining the amenity of nearby dwellings and not harming the Green Belt, the planning officer recommended that the application be approved.

Councillor Terence Goad spoke on behalf of Beckley and Stowood Parish Council, objecting to the application. 

David Burson, the agent representing the applicant, spoke in support of the application. 

Councillor Tim Bearder, a local ward councillor, spoke in support of the application. 

The committee enquired into the consultation response from the ecology officer and about if the biodiversity net gain requirement applied to the application. In response, the planning officer confirmed that the ecologist had suggested a requirement for a report on ecological mitigation methods to be submitted before construction was underway, and so this was added as a condition to the approval of the application. In addition, the planning officer informed members that only major applications would require biodiversity net gain, and as this application was not considered major there was no such requirement.

Members enquired into the comments by the parish council that the replacement buildings should not be bigger than the existing building, as the site was in the Green Belt. In response, the planning officer highlighted that proposal was only 25 square metres larger and so he did not consider it a significant increase, and as it was already located on a brownfield site, it was considered acceptable.

Overall, as the committee agreed that the development would have limited impact on the neighbours, none of which had registered an objection to the application, and that it was on a brownfield site, they agreed that the application should be approved subject to conditions.

A motion, moved and seconded, to approve the application was carried on being put to the vote. 

RESOLVED: to approve planning application P23/S2494/FUL, subject to the following conditions:

1. Commencement 3 years - Full Planning Permission

2. Approved plans

3. Contaminated land

4. Biodiversity Mitigation

5. Removal of original building prior to occupation

6. Remediation strategy

7. Unsuspected contamination

8. Materials

9. External lighting

Informatives:

10. Contaminated land - informative