Demolition and clearance of existing operational buildings and erection of new headquarters/administrative office building (uco class b1), including ancillary staff canteen/mess facilities, dedicated staff and visitor car parking and modifications to form two separate vehicular accesses (to the new offices and to the operational farmstead/packhouse.

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

(Demolition and clearance of existing operational buildings and erection of new headquarters/administrative office building (uco class b1), including ancillary staff canteen/mess facilities, dedicated staff and visitor car parking and modifications to form two separate vehicular accesses (to the new offices and to the operational farmstead/packhouse).)

(Councillor Guthrie 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 criteria for public speaking, Mr R Brook of Marden Parish Council spoke in opposition to the Scheme.  Mr T Gregory, a Director of S & A Produce UK Ltd, spoke in support.

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

She made the following principal comments:

·        There had been no consultation with the local community.

·        There was concern about the overall size and scale of the complex which implied substantial expansion of the business was planned especially in the context of a number of current planning applications on the site as reflected in section 3 of the report on the planning history.  Marden was a small village and the scale of development was too great. The Parish Council had observed that the proposed office accommodation was over 50% larger than the existing provision.  It would support a much smaller proposal.

·        The access was off a narrow road and there was speeding traffic.  The roads in the area generally were too small for a large and expanding business.  The fabric of two grade II* listed bridges were also threatened.

·        It was accepted that the existing office accommodation was not fit for purpose but any replacement should be of a smaller scale. The design was also not appropriate for a rural area.  The proposal was therefore contrary to policy M7 of the Marden Neighbourhood Development Plan.  It was also contrary to Core Strategy policies E1 and RA6.

·        She drew attention to concerns expressed by the Transportation Manager at section 4.6 of the report.

·        If the application were to be approved the 30mph speed limit needed to be extended to the north encompass the lorry access point. 

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

·        The condition of the existing accommodation was poor and unsuitable for the company and its image.  The proposal would benefit the business

·        It would assist in keeping the business in Herefordshire.

·        The applicant should improve its engagement with the local community.

·        There was a consensus that the 30mph speed limit needed to be extended.

·        The access represented an improvement.

·        There would be benefit to the community in requiring the applicant to produce a travel plan.

·        There was a question as to whether the expansion of the business and the scale of development on the site was such that it was no longer sustainable development and some of the business should be relocated, noting the narrowness of the road network and the dissatisfaction of the local community.

·        It would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 112