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Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Stephen Chard / Jessica Bailiss 

Items
No. Item

6.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 637 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 2 June 2021.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting held on 2nd June 2021 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman subject to the following amendment: page 27, final paragraph to be amended to Councillor Pask.

7.

Declarations of Interest

To remind Members of the need to record the existence and nature of any personal, disclosable pecuniary or other registrable interests in items on the agenda, in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest received.

8.

Schedule of Planning Applications

(Note: The Chairman, with the consent of the Committee, reserves the right to alter the order of business on this agenda based on public interest and participation in individual applications.)

8.(1)

Application No. & Parish: 20/02527/OUTMAJ - Blacks Lake, Paices Hill, Aldermaston pdf icon PDF 463 KB

Proposal:

Outline Planning Application for the construction of an industrial estate to comprise up to 15,917 sqm of flexible commercial floorspace for B8 (Storage or distribution), Former B1 (c ) now Class E (Commercial, Business and Service Use) and B2 (General Industry) with associated access, parking, infrastructure and landscaping. Matters to be considered: Access.

Location:

Blacks Lake, Paices Hill, Aldermaston, RG7 4PG

Applicant:

Lesimar Ltd

Recommendation:

Delegate to the Head of Development and Planning to grant planning permission subject to conditions and completion of a S106 legal agreement by the 6th September 2021.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 20/02527/OUTMAJ in respect of an Outline Planning Application for the construction of an industrial estate to comprise up to 15,917 sqm of flexible commercial floor space for B8 (Storage or distribution), Former B1 (c) now Class E (Commercial, Business and Service Use) and B2 (General Industry) with associated access, parking, infrastructure and landscaping. Matters to be considered: Access.

Ms Emma Nutchey (Principal Planning Officer) introduced the item and highlighted the key points within the report. There was one amended condition (condition 23) included in the update sheet. The purpose and nature of the condition remained the same however, there was an error in the numbering. The application was recommended for approval subject to conditions and the completion of a S106 legal agreement by the 6th September 2021 (or such longer period as maybe authorised by the Head of Development and Planning).

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Ms Sophie Crawford and Mr David Shirt, Parish Council representatives, Mr George Porter, Adjacent Parish Council Representative, Mr John Collins (DHA Planning) and Mr Lee Chapman (Lesimar Ltd) agent/applicant and Councillor Dominic Boeck (Ward Member) addressed the Committee on this application.

Parish Council Representation:

Ms Crawford and Mr Shirt in addressing the Committee raised the following points:

·         Aldermaston Parish Council objected to the application. The case Officer was recommending approval however, it was felt that the decision was based on erroneous assumptions and the full impact on residents was being underplayed.

·         The Parish Council’s concerns related to four areas. The first area of concern was the increase in traffic that would be caused, which would expose local residents to more vibration, noise, congestion and pollution.

·         The proposal would generate almost 1000 vehicles movements over the working day and half of these would pass through Aldermaston village. A proportion of the vehicles would be HGVs. 

·         A recent survey showed that the A340 already had nearly 10,000 vehicles passing daily and 15 percent of these were HGVs. Any traffic increase would be significant on the road. Despite the A340 being designated as part of the freight route network it was not purpose built infrastructure and in part was made up of narrow historic roads, like the street that ran through the centre of Aldermaston’s conservation area. In this area the road ran close to listed buildings, which did not have foundations. Further to the north the road crossed a single lane lifting bridge.

·         The case Officer has stated that Paices Hill was a suitability located employment site, similar to Beenham industrial area and Theale Lakes Business Park. The Parish Council felt that it was quite markedly different as Beenham and Theale Lakes could access the M4 without passing directly through villages or towns.

·         The Parish Council was concerned about the effect of numerous but small increases in traffic in the area.

·         The second main area of concern was regarding safety in the detailed emergency planning zone. Blacks Lake was within 100 metres of AWE  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.(1)

9.

Application No. & Parish: 21/01086/COMIND - The Grange Nursery, 18-21 Church Gate, Thatcham pdf icon PDF 210 KB

Proposal:

Change of use from Class E(g) (i), E(f) and E(e) to F1(a) for a special educational needs school and associated works.

Location:

The Grange Nursery, 18-21 Church Gate, Thatcham, RG19 3PN

Applicant:

Phoenix Childcare Limited

Recommendation:

Delegate to the Head of Development and Planning to grant planning permission subject to conditions.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(2)) concerning Planning Application 21/01086/COMIND in respect of the change of use from Class E(g) (i), E(f) and E(e) to F1(a) for a special educational needs school and associated works.

Principal Planning Officer, Ms Emma Nutchey, introduced the report and highlighted the key points. The application was recommended for approval subject to conditions.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Philip and Sarah Harris, Objectors, and Mrs Lucy White and Mr Mark Heywood, agent/applicant, addressed the Committee on this application.

Objector Representations:

Mr and Mrs Harris in addressing the Committee raised the following points:

·         Mr Harris stated that he and his wife were the owners of Harris Mind and Body, which was the business that currently occupied the Atrium and had done so for six years. It was believed that they provided a valuable service to the local population and they wished to continue.

·         There was a few points they wanted considered. First of all because of the way the planning notice was displayed, it was not clear that all the buildings were involved in the proposal. If there had there been more time to object, Mr Harris believed that there would have been a larger number of objections.

·         Mr Harris added that given the pandemic had disrupted the amount of people travelling, fewer people had seen the planning notice. It was not until 7th June 2021 that Mr and Mrs Harris had seen the notices and they only had until 10th to raise any objections.

·         Mr Harris stated that whilst it was understood that there was a need for Special Educational Needs schools and that the provision of such as school was part of one of the Council’s objectives, the benefit of a community health and wellbeing service could not be underestimated.

·         Mr and Mrs Harris’ business supported local General Practitioners and their populations. The multidisciplinary approach that they delivered ensured general health and wellbeing could be provided to people locally.

·         The benefit of the business compared to the proposed school was that Mr and Mrs Harris were able to provide the service for all the local population to access and not just small minority. They disagreed with the summation in the report that suggested that one service was required above another.

·         Mrs Harris reiterated that Harris Mind and Body was a well-established business and was family run. They had worked incredibly hard to survive recessions and lockdowns through offering a very diligent and professional service to anyone who needed their support.

·         It was a historic site and it was important to bring the buildings back in to action. Mr and Mrs Harris agreed that it was a shame to see the large Grange Manor house looking derelict however, the Atrium was already in use and a quality service was being provided.

·         It was noted that that the proposal would only use the site in term time, so there would be a large period of time when all the buildings would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.