Agenda item

DC/19/0647 - First Choice Services Ltd, Unit 10, Church Lane Estate, Church Lane, Plummers Plain

Ward: Nuthurst & Lower Beeding

Applicant: Mr J Slade

Minutes:

The Head of Development reported that this application sought permission for two single storey industrial buildings to replace two existing ones, which would be demolished.  Building C would be in the southeast corner of the site and comprise six units.  Building D, to the northeast, would comprise four units.

 

The application site was part of an established industrial estate located outside the built-up area to the east of Church Lane, surrounded by open countryside with sporadic development. Two dwellings within the industrial estate were immediately north of the application site.  

 

Since publication of the report, the applicant had submitted proposed parking plans at the request of the Planning Department.  These were shown to the committee as part of the presentation. 

 

At committee, members were made aware that the last permission for this site dated back to 1990. Committee were advised that the only relevant permission was LB/22/90. There were no current permissions for the site as the uses that did not comply with the permission had become lawful through time, so the conditions imposed back in 1990 were not effective, and therefore the proposed conditions would be an improvement on the amenity of adjacent properties.

 

The Parish Council objected to the application.  Fourteen representations, from nine households, objecting to the application had been received. Since publication of the report additional representations had been received objecting on the grounds of a lack of clarity on the existing uses and planning history and the proposed hours of use.  One member of the public spoke in objection to this application.   The applicant and the applicant’s agent addressed the Committee in support of the proposal. 

 

Members considered the officer’s planning assessment which indicated that the key issues for consideration in determining the proposal were:  the principle of development; design and appearance; impact on the amenity of nearby residents; and highways impacts.

 

Members noted that the buildings to be replaced were in poor repair and discussed the scale of the replacement buildings, and noted that their footprint was no larger than the existing buildings.  It was agreed that delivery times should be further restricted on Saturdays to mitigate the impact on the neighbouring dwellings.  There had been no objection from the Highway Authority and Members concluded that the impact on the neighbouring dwellings would not be materially different to the existing use. 

 

At the meeting, members expressed concerns regarding the Saturday working proposed for 5pm. To protect residential amenity, it was resolved to approve the application in accordance with Officer recommendation, subject to amendments to conditions 13 and 14 so that Saturday hours of working and delivery times are restricted to between 07:00 and 13:00 (condition 13) and 09:00 and 13:00 (condition 14).

 

In response to concerns that the signage at the entrance to the site obscured the view for emerging traffic and needed updating, it was agreed that an Informative requesting the signage be improved would be submitted to the applicant.

 

RESOLVED

 

That planning application DC/19/0647 be granted subject to the conditions as reported, with an amendment to Conditions 13 and 14 so that Saturday delivery times and opening hours are restricted to between 07:00 / 9.00 and 13:00.

Supporting documents: