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Test Valley Borough Council – Southern Area Planning Committee – 9th May 2006 ITEM 10 APPLICATION NO. 06/00715/FULLS APPLICATION TYPE FULL APPLICATION REGISTERED 09 March 2006 APPLICANT Harving Ltd SITE Royal Naval Armament Depot, East Dean Road, West Dean, EAST DEAN WEST TYTHERLEY PROPOSAL Change of use of bunkers and buildings to south of complex to B8 use (warehousing/distribution) AMENDMENTS None CASE OFFICER Miss Katherine Fitzherbert-Green Background paper (Local Government Act 1972 Section 100D) 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 This application is presented to Committee in accordance with the Officer Code of Conduct in that a member of staff is related to a member of East Tytherley Parish Council who were notified of the application. 2.0 SITE LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION 2.1 DMC Dean Hill is a former Ministry of Defence (MoD) munitions depot situated to the south of the villages of East Dean and West Dean on the Hampshire/Wiltshire border. The site covers 237 hectares (585 acres) of which approximately two thirds lie in Test Valley and the remainder within Salisbury District. Established in 1938, the site was used for munitions storage and maintenance with approximately 90 persons employed on site, plus varying numbers of contractors and military personnel. The subject of this application is for the reuse of the 24 bunkers that have been cut into the hillside to the south of the site and historically used for munitions storage and adjacent ancillary buildings. The majority of the bunkers sit within Test Valley, although 9 straddle the boundary and 6 wholly fall within the area covered by Salisbury District Council. The bunkers are of two sizes, 334sqm and 753sqm and are accessed through the site and sited behind a blast bank. 2.2 The site is located within designated countryside, with a small section also within the West Dean Conservation Area. The remainder of the site is open and laid to grass and lies parallel to East Dean Road stretching southwards on rising land to a wooded and grassed scarp enclosed by security fencing. Adjacent land is used for agriculture let to local farmers. 3.0 PROPOSAL 3.1 In August 2002, ministerial approval was given for the closure of the site as being surplus to requirements. Rather than redevelop the site, this application seeks permission for the change of use of existing bunkers for storage uses other than for munitions. The bunkers are to be retained in their current form and are already temperature and humidity controlled. The scheme intends to make use of existing hardened surfaces for parking for both cars and motorcycles and cycle sheds for cycle parking. The number of people employed in this section of the site is likely to range below 2 – 10 persons to 67 Page 1 of 13 Test Valley Borough Council – Southern Area Planning Committee – 9th May 2006 oversee security and any loading or unloading. 4.0 HISTORY 4.1 There have been a number of applications at this site upon which the Council were consulted. These principally consisted of minor works to the site, such as installation of calor gas tanks, refurbishment of and extension to buildings, construction of storage buildings and provision of access roads. 4.2 More recently an application for a Compliance Determination was received under Section 302 Schedule 15 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. This application sought to establish that no breach of planning control took place when the buildings were constructed therefore all buildings within the site are immune from enforcement action when the site ceases to be in Crown ownership. The application was withdrawn in March 2006. 5.0 CONSULTATIONS 5.1 Landscape No objection subject to conditions. Highways Comments awaited at time of writing report. Environment & No objection. Health English Nature Comments awaited at time of writing report. Environment No objection subject to conditions. Agency Southern Water There is an existing private sewerage system with its on site treatment works. It is presumed that the existing arrangement will continue. There is obviously existing arrangements for the water supply. Salisbury District Comments awaited at time of writing report. Council 6.0 REPRESENTATIONS Expired 28.04.2006 6.1 West Tytherley No objection in principle however the following concerns are and West Dean raised: Parish Councils Increased noise and vehicular movements through the (joint response) villages contrary to the Planning Position Statement. Request restriction on delivery times to B1 units. Would like assurance that noise levels would be kept to a minimum by whatever means appropriate. East Dean Objection on the grounds of: Parish Council Increase in traffic giving concern about its frequency, movement and potential size of vehicles given narrow, windy roads. 2 letters Support The site needs to be used for something. Business premises are in short supply and local employment is needed. No objection to principles of reusing the site. 68 Page 2 of 13 Test Valley Borough Council – Southern Area Planning Committee – 9th May 2006 100 letters Objection on the grounds of: Traffic No traffic survey submitted to demonstrate that the local road network can cope with traffic generation likely to occur. Large numbers of commercial and employees vehicles using local road network in an area where there are few pavements and inadequate road structure. Affected network extends to West Dean, East Dean, Lockerley, West Grimstead, Alderbury, Broughton, West and East Tytherley, A3057 (Kimbridge/Mottisfont), Whiteparish. Despite notices discouraging large vehicles, the area remains affected by such vehicles making local deliveries. When the depot was operational, numerous articulated lorries used the road. A reversion to this (or worse) is viewed with horror 24/7. Weapons storage was long term with few large vehicle movements and trains were used for large deliveries. Adjacent roads are narrow and cannot cope with large vehicles. ‘Distribution’ suggests large and constant vehicle movements which would difficult and dangerous, particularly with a low bridge. Site should be for light use with means of limiting traffic. Size of the proposal will require 125-250 parking spaces equating to a major industrial estate. Hazard to pedestrians/cyclists/horseriders and leisure walkers in an area with no verges or paths. Local routes would be used as rat runs for quick access to the A27 and A36. Grass verges are already being eroded by heavy and large sized vehicles. Levels of traffic crossing level crossings will be increased and is considered to be a safety hazard. Vehicular collisions with Barn Owls have occurred. Several local residents have damaged cars from trying to avoid large vehicles. The Parish Council told villagers of West Dean that there would be no increase in traffic and no extra lorries. Access to the site is along agricultural routes already used into the night particularly during harvest. Consideration should be given to using West Gate to access the site. Potholes and damage is occurring to the roads despite being top-dressed within the last two years. Current speed restrictions are not adhered to. Fatalities have occurred in area which will increase. Inadequate sight lines in the area. 750 – 1000 car parking spaces will be required. One of the reasons for the closure was because of the local road network. 69 Page 3 of 13 Test Valley Borough Council – Southern Area Planning Committee – 9th May 2006 Misc Restrictions should be imposed on future expansion. No local residents welcome this proposal. There is no demonstrated demand for B1/B8 space in the area and there are always empty units at East Tytherley. There are no guarantees over the storage of hazardous materials has been provided. Encouragement of increased commuting. Damage to quality of life. Landscaping should extend along the entire north boundary to minimise the visual impact. Development needs to protect the water quality of the River Dun and local aquifers. The application excludes the most easterly building on the site – what is to happen to this building? Re-use of the site requires approval from English Nature. Other small industrial estates (e.g. Old Sarum) has grown significantly. Is an Environmental Assessment required? Change of use is for financial gain only with no view of long term implications. Planting may conflict with a proposal for an access route to agricultural land to the south of the site. Change of use would be like reverting to the days when the site was fully operational (1938 – 1945 +). Unlimited hours of working. Unspecified type and size of businesses. Overlooking of adjacent properties from buildings sited at higher ground levels. The site is a wildlife haven and should be returned to green belt into an ugly concrete pile. West Dean is a historic, conservation village, a natural treasure and should be protected from industrial or residential development. The site will become impoverished and biodiversity diminished. The site lends itself to office/light industrial use developed with low cost housing. Increase in the carbon footprint of the area Risk to the SSSI. Impact upon residential amenities from noise and traffic, potentially 24 hours a day. No noise impact statement has been submitted. Houses sited close to the highway with potential for damage. 70 Page 4 of 13 Test Valley Borough Council – Southern Area Planning Committee – 9th May 2006 Change to the tranquil nature and rural environment of the Dun Valley. Suggest operating hours of 7am – 7pm, or 8.00am – 9.00pm Monday to Saturday and on Sundays. Blight to West Dean. No vehicle movements should occur before 7.30am and after 18.00pm. The site should be returned to peaceful countryside since the site is no longer needed to store ammunition. Industrial estates should be sited close to large conurbations and major road links.