Public Document Pack WEST DORSET DISTRICT COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY 8 DECEMBER 2016 Present: Cllrs F Horsington (Chairman), N Bundy (Vice-Chairman), T Bartlett, S Christopher, D Elliott, I Gardner, S Jones MBE, M Lawrence, F McKenzie, R Potter and G Symonds Apologies: Cllrs R Legg Also present: Cllr J Dunseith and Cllr M Rennie Officers present (for all or part of the meeting): Ian Madgwick (DCC Highways), Debbie Redding (Development Management Manager), Darren Rogers (Area Planning Manager), Linda Quinton (Democratic Services Officer), Catherine Williams (Senior Conservation Officer), Kevin Perry (Senior Enforcement Officer) and Jo Riley (Senior Planning Officer) 185. Code of Conduct Councillor N Bundy declared an interest in respect of application WD/D/16/2008 and would leave the room during discussion of the matter. 186. Minutes The minutes of the meeting held on 17 November 2016 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the chairman. 187. Planning Applications Planning applications, details of which are set out in the appendix to these minutes, were submitted together with parish council observations and the recommendations of the Head of Planning Development Management. All representations received in respect of those applications were reported. Arising from the reports, the following matters were addressed. 188. WD/D/16/1603 Land at Chickerell Link Road, Chickerell. The Senior Planning officer introduced the above hybrid application for the erection of a Class A1 food store (1,804sq m gross) with associated access, car parking and landscaping, together with an outline application for up to 500sq m of Use Class A1 to A5 floor space on land to the north of the ALDI store by ALDI Stores Ltd. Oral representations were received from A Williams, the agent for the applicant. The application had been well received in Chickerell and the existing store in Weymouth town centre would remain. The store would be of significant benefit to the local economy and there was capacity within the proposal to introduce an in-store bakery at a later date but there were no immediate plans to include one initially. The agent was unable to indicate a precise use for the land opposite the proposed ALDI store but class A1 to A5 uses could provide a shop, café or takeaway at a later date. The agent asked members to consider maintaining the delivery hours from 7am to 10pm Monday to Saturday, and 9am to 6pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays as requested and not restricting them to 7pm and 4pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays as suggested by officers. Cllr J Dunseith spoke as one of the ward members. Residents of Chickerell were delighted by the proposals from ALDI, as a supermarket was badly needed in the town. The lack of an in-store bakery was disappointing but it was noted that this could be incorporated at a later date. Officers clarified to the local ward member that appropriate acoustic fencing and a close-boarded fence would be provided to the boundary adjacent to the neighbouring caravan park. Lighting details would be required to be agreed by a condition. Cllr I Gardner, as another local ward member reinforced the urgent need for a supermarket in the town. Given the volume of traffic on the Chickerell link road adjacent to the site, he did not consider the delivery time of up to 10pm as requested, to be a problem. Members debated a proposed amendment restricting the delivery times to 8pm on weekdays and upon being put to the vote, the motion was LOST. It was proposed by I Gardner seconded by T Bartlett DECISION That the hybrid application WD/D/16/1603 be approved as set out in the appendix to these minutes, with condition vi amended to allow deliveries up to 10pm weekdays and 6pm on Sundays and Bank holidays.. 189. WD/D/16/1412 Owermoigne Service Station, 11 Wareham Road, Owermoigne The Area Planning Manager introduced the above application for alterations and extensions to the service station including enlarged kiosk/shop building with first floor office, new motor vehicle repair workshop, retention of farm shop in former car sales building on a permanent basis and re roofing of farm shop with insulated cladding material by Broadwey Motors Ltd. A number of photographs illustrated how the business had evolved since the 1970’s and where neighbouring properties had subsequently been built. Oral representations were received from B Twigg and Mrs Walker-Matthews as objectors. A Bennett, the applicant and R Burgess the agent, also addressed the committee. Objections were centred on the imposition of the buildings on adjoining dwellings and more specifically the gardens. The garden at no 7 Church Lane was 1m lower in height than the service station land and the proposed workshop would be over 6m high. Mrs Walker-Matthews was not opposed to development but was concerned that the proposed roof materials would have a potential glare. The southern boundary of the farm shop had increased and 2 was a dominant structure. There would be significant shadowing in the garden caused by the buildings, adversely affecting her amenity and the enjoyment of her garden. Mr Bennett, the applicant, gave a brief history of the business which pre-dated all nearby houses. As rural filling stations were becoming rare, it was necessary to include additional facilities from which the local population and others could benefit. There was strong support from the village for the proposals. Mr Burgess, the agent, stressed that the height of the workshop building was the minimum required for working on 4X4 and larger vehicles. He suggested that the shading experienced in the neighbour’s garden was caused, to a significant degree, by the large trees within the garden at the boundary edge. He reiterated the significant support for the proposals by the local residents. The Local Ward member had reservations about the height, proximity and massing of the proposals to no 7 Church Lane and the effect on the amenity of that dwelling. Officers clarified that the roof ridge sloped away from the boundary but the eaves were lower. It was proposed by T Bartlett seconded by R Potter DECISION That application WD/D/16/1412 be approved as set out in the appendix to these minutes. 190. WD/D/16/0691 Value House Stores, Mandeville Road, Wyke Regis The Area Planning Manager introduced the above application for the demolition of existing buildings and the erection of 37 no dwellings with associated works, including garages, parking, landscaping, open space, footpath links and junction improvements at the junction of Mandeville Road and Camp Road, Wyke Regis for Abbey Manor Developments. The development was outside of the defined development boundary and the benefits therefore had to be weighed against the disadvantages. In his view, the proposals were acceptable subject to a S106 agreement relating to affordable housing provision. He accepted that the design of the proposed, contemporary housing would not be to everyone’s taste but pointed out paragraph 60 of the National Planning Policy Framework on design matters. Oral representations were received from Cllr Kate Wheller, one of the ward members for neighbouring Wyke Regis. Cllr Wheller had concerns over the access to the site and the visibility of the development from the Jurassic coast world heritage site. She added that the local school was at full capacity, bus links were poor and the site was in an isolated location. M Frost spoke on behalf of the applicant . The application was supported by a number of statements and assessments including a Landscape Visual Impact Assessment and a Transport Statement. The traffic movements generated by the proposals would be 83% less than the previous use as a discount 3 warehouse. The AONB team had no objections to the application and design materials would be agreed with officers prior to commencement. Cllr Dunseith, as a local Ward Member, was not against the principle of development and hoped to see junction improvements at Camp Road and Mandeville Road where the roads were narrow and crowded with parked cars. I Madgwick for Highways emphasised that this proposal would significantly reduce traffic movements in the area and there were no grounds to refuse the application on highway grounds or insist on junction improvements. Cllr I Gardner, as another ward member agreed with the principal of development. He was in favour of the 2003 application for more traditional style dwellings which was refused previously. He thought the design of the proposed flat-roofed, contemporary, timber clad houses could be improved. Members debated the proposals and were broadly in favour of the design. It was proposed by S Christopher seconded by D Elliott DECISION That application WD/D/16/0691 be approved as set out in the appendix to these minutes. 191. WD/D/16/1971 15 East Street, Chickerell The Area Planning Manager introduced the above planning application for the removal of an existing single storey lean-to and the erection of a single storey lean to extension and the provision of a first floor extension and associated internal/external works by Mr G Webb. Oral representations were received from J Burnett and G Dickinson as objectors. J Burnett’s property would be directly affected by the proposal and would suffer from a loss of light to the kitchen particularly from May to August. She explained that there was a small gap between the neighbouring buildings which allowed light into her kitchen; one of two rooms downstairs that was heavily used. G Dickinson spoke as a representative of the CPRE and had concerns that the proposals would have on the Chickerell Conservation Area.