Agenda item

PROPOSAL: Removal/variation of conditions 2 (plans as set out), 4 (landscaping compliance), and 11 (noise assessment) of planning application reference 17/01131/FUL.

OFFICER RECOMMENDATION: Permit.

54.15        This application was for the removal/variation of conditions 2 (plans as set out), 4 (landscaping compliance) and 11 (noise assessment) of planning reference 17/01131/FUL.  The application had been deferred at the Planning Committee meeting on 21 September 2021 in order to investigate installation of bollards or other measures to address highway safety concerns; to allow revised plans to be submitted to address the minor discrepancies in relation to the location of the cycle storage area and landscaping; and to enable the Environmental Health Officer to explain in more detail the response to the Parish Council’s concerns regarding the noise assessment being outdated.

54.16        The Planning Officer advised that the Environmental Health Officer had now provided a more detailed comment in relation to the noise assessment and the Parish Council had subsequently withdrawn its objection.  Discussions had taken place with the applicant in respect of the Committee’s concerns regarding public safety and the lack of a physical barrier between the road and grass verge and the possibility of installing bollards; however, the applicant’s proposal was to extend the existing hedgerow, which had been retained in part, with additional planting along the boundary to the southern edge of the site and revised landscape plans had been submitted to reflect that.  The Officer view was that the hedgerow would provide a barrier to the highway which would prevent children lying down on the verge and so would be an appropriate way forward in terms of the landscape character.  It was noted that the additional hedge would be a mix of native species.  On that basis, the Officer recommendation was to permit the application but with condition 9, as set out in the Committee report, omitted.

54.17        The Chair indicated that the Officer recommendation was to permit the application and he sought a motion from the floor.  A Member indicated that she had raised the road safety concern as she regularly drove past the site; the site was outside of the 30mph speed limit and she had seen cars increase their speed when driving around the roundabout.  She still had some concerns regarding the proposal to extend the hedgerow as it would take a long time for it to grow to the thickness necessary to provide the protection required.  She felt something needed to be done more urgently and asked if it was possible to put a temporary measure in place whilst the hedge was growing – a few twigs in the ground would not provide adequate separation between pedestrians and cars in her view.  In response, the Development Manager confirmed that it was possible to require a mature specimen which was fully grown when it was planted and would therefore be more of a deterrent.  The Member agreed that it would stop people from lying on that piece of ground so she was happy with the proposal provided it was a mature specimen.  Another Member asked whether ‘fully grown’ referred to thickness as well as height and assurance was provided that it would be required to reflect the existing hedge in terms of both thickness and height.  It was subsequently proposed and seconded that the application be permitted in accordance with the Officer recommendation, subject to a condition requiring a mature specimen to be used for the extension of the existing hedgerow to reflect what was already there in terms of height and thickness.

54.18        Upon being put to the vote, it was

RESOLVED           That the application be PERMITTED in accordance with the Officer recommendation omitting condition 9, subject to a condition requiring a mature specimen to be used for the extension of the existing hedgerow to reflect what was already there in terms of height and thickness.