Agenda item

This matter is required to be considered as a matter of urgency due to the fact that if the application is not presented and determined at this meeting, the applicant will withdraw it and the district would lose out on £33.7 million of capital investment, the delivery of approximately 30,520 sqm of new mixed use floor-space and between 500 and 1000 new private sector jobs.

The report was delayed and did not meet the agenda deadline as additional highway modelling works were requested of the Felpham Relief Road/A29 roundabout at the entrance to the site by the Local Highway Authority.  The highway modelling work has now been completed and the results included in the report.

(Prior to the consideration of this item, in line with her personal and prejudicial interests declared at the start of the meeting Councillor Mrs Yeates left the meeting for the duration of this item).

BE/135/18/PL- Hybrid application comprising of Outline application for the principle of employment uses B1 – B8.  Full application for Class B8 warehouse with fuel-island and car parking (Unit 2), 2 No. Class B1/B8 employment units with associated parking and servicing (Units 6 & 7), Class A1 retail food store with car parking and servicing (Unit 8). 2 No. drive thru units with car parking and servicing (Units 4 & 5), car showroom, workshops (including MOT testing), vehicle storage, external display areas, service areas and parking (Unit 9) together with access roads, associated ground and engineering works, landscaping and ancillary works. This application affects the character and appearance of the Shripney Conservation Area and Public Right of Way.

With agreement from the Chairman, it was agreed that this application could be dealt with as a matter of urgency as it had been identified that if the application was not presented and determined at the meeting, the applicant would withdraw and the District would lose out on £33.7 million of capital investment, the delivery of approximately 30.520 sqm of new mixed use floor-space and between 500 and 1000 new private sector jobs.

            The Principal Planning Officer presented the proposal and highlighted the officer’s written report update which was circulated at the meeting in respect of:-

·         requested amendments from the applicant with regard to Conditions 2, 4, 15 , 34 and 43 of the Full application and Condition 13 of the Outline application

·         receipt of a late letter from a local resident raising concerns about traffic congestion and the impact of the proposed development on town centre shops

·         a revised surface water drainage strategy submitted by the applicant

·         the officer’s response to the matters raised

·         Amended recommendation to read “Authority be delegated to the Group Head of Planning, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman to

(a) authorise the execution and completion of the Section 106 Agreement;

(b) make amendments to the drainage conditions (Condition 12 of Full application and Condition 10 of Outline application) to reflect the drainage scheme when finalised, including subsequent amendments to plans listed in Condition 2 of the Full and Condition 4 of the Outline;

(c) approve planning permission subject to conditions and the S106 Agreement

            The Group Head of Planning clarified that the details regarding the surface water drainage scheme had only been received this week and that was the reason agreement to the change to the recommendation was being sought to enable the application to be determined under delegated authority following consideration of those details.

            Members participated in a full discussion on the matter and covered a number of issues which included:-

§  Infrastructure and highway concerns due to increased traffic movements in the locality.  Mr Gledhill from County Highways was in attendance and provided advice to Members.

§  Drainage and surface water issues – the Council’s Drainage Engineer was in attendance and provided advice to Members.

            In the course of debate it was acknowledged that employment opportunities with the District must be encouraged but that the serious concerns being voiced also needed to be addressed.

            On turning to the amended recommendation as set out above, the Committee

RESOLVED

That the officer recommendation to approve the application under delegated authority be rejected.

            As a request had been made for a recorded vote to be taken, those voting FOR were Councillors Bennett, Bower, Charles, Roberts and Mrs Stainton (5).  Those voting AGAINST were Councillors Mrs Baker, B. Blanchard-Cooper, Coster, Mrs Hamilton, Lury, Oliver-Redgate and Ms Thurston (7).  Councillor Mrs Pendleton ABSTAINED.

            It was then proposed and duly seconded that the application be deferred.  Although serious reservations had been expressed with regard to highways matters, Members received advice from the Group Head of Planning that these were irrelevant to this application as they had already been addressed and approved in the previous application. It was therefore agreed that the reason for a deferral should relate to the fact that the detail of the Surface Water Drainage plans were outstanding and required further assessment.

The Committee then

RESOLVED

That the application be deferred to enable further assessment of the Surface Water Drainage plans