Hybrid planning application proposed for the development of employment uses including b1, b2 and b8, including full details of the access, internal road infrastructure and circulation routes, and landscaping within a landscape buffer zone providing surface water attenuation and planting.

The application was approved in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation.

(Hybrid planning application proposed for the development of employment uses including b1, b2 and b8, including full details of the access, internal road infrastructure and circulation routes, and landscaping within a landscape buffer zone providing surface water attenuation and planting.)

(Councillor Cutter fulfilled the role of local ward member and accordingly had no vote on this application.)

The Principal Planning Officer gave a presentation on the application.

In accordance with the Planning Code, Councillor DG Harlow – Cabinet Member (economy and communications) spoke on the application.  He commented on the importance of the project to the Herefordshire economy and encouraged the Committee to support it, expressing the view that the scheme was well designed, flexible to the needs of a range of occupiers and provided mitigation to address any impacts associated with the scheme.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the local ward member, Councillor PGH Cutter, spoke on the application.

He made the following principal comments:

·        He endorsed the comments of the cabinet member on the economic value of the project.

·        He expressed sympathy towards the tenants who were vacating smallholdings currently on the site and expressed the hope that the council would provide such assistance to them as it could.

·        Issues relating to highways and transportation had been satisfactorily addressed as set out in the report to the Committee.

·        His principal concern was to ensure that the housing estate neighbouring the site was well screened from the development, with a buffer zone in place before development commenced.

·        It would be important that sub-contractors provided infrastructure of the appropriate quality to support the development.

In the Committee’s discussion of the application the following principal points were made:

·        It would be important to ensure that the landscaping was good.

·        It was to be hoped that drainage costs could be contained.

·        It was important to ensure the provision of walking and cycling routes.

·        The economic benefits of the scheme should be welcomed.

·        The geographical location was suited to the development.

·        One of the positive aspects of the development was the prospect that people living on the neighbouring residential development would secure employment on the economic development site, so minimising travel and reducing congestion.  A concern was expressed that if the phasing of the two developments was not managed this aim would not be achieved.

·        Clarification was sought on the buffer zone between the employment uses and the neighbouring residential areas and whether it would be preferable to provide more trees around the perimeter of the development.

The Lead Development Manager commented that the delivery of the site was in accordance with the Core Strategy policies to provide housing and employment. It was to be hoped that provision made in the capital programme would enable the economic development site to be delivered in a similar timespan to the neighbouring housing development.  With reference to concerns expressed by Weston under Penyard Parish Council he observed that significant funding had been provided for highway works as part of the planning permissions granted for housing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 139