Agenda and draft minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 10 December 2025.

The Minutes of the previous meeting will be to follow.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2025 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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.

There were no declarations of interest received.

(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).

1.      The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 25/00357/FUL in respect of retrospective change of use of land to B8 storage use with retention of ancillary temporary office use. Compound A3, Youngs Industrial Estate, Paices Hill.

2.      Ms Sian Cutts introduced the report to Members, which took account of all the relevant policy considerations and other material planning considerations. In conclusion the report detailed that the proposal was acceptable in planning terms and officers recommended that the Development Manager be authorised to grant planning permission subject to the conditions outlined in the main and update reports.

3.      The Chairman asked Mr Paul Goddard if he had any observations relating to the application, who made the following points:

·       The location of the site was well within the Paices Hill industrial estate, quite some distance from the A340. The existing access onto the A340 would be used. The proposal was projected to employ seven staff and would therefore generate low levels of traffic generation.

·       Officers noted that traffic levels were a concern on the A340, particularly through Aldermaston, however the traffic associated with the proposal should be low and should not cause harm.

·       Officers highlighted that the site was previously used as a garden centre, which would have generated an amount of traffic.

·       The layout of the site was considered acceptable, and the site would be conditioned to limit the use to B8 Industrial storage rather than a general industrial B2 use which would have generated higher traffic levels.

·       The Local Highway Authority raised no objection to the proposal.

4.      In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Ms Sophie Crawford and Mr Rob Smith, Parish Council representatives, Mr Adam Place, agent, and Councillor Dominic Boeck, Ward Member, addressed the Committee on this application.

Parish/Town Council Representation

5.      Ms Crawford and Mr Smith addressed the Committee. This representation can be viewed on the recording: Eastern Area Planning Committee – Recording

Member Questions to the Parish/Town Council

6.      Members did not have any questions of clarification.

Agent Representation

7.      Mr Place addressed the Committee. This representation can be viewed on the recording: Eastern Area Planning Committee – Recording

Member Questions to the Applicant/Agent

8.      Members asked questions of clarification and were given the following responses:

·       The tenant had been on-site for approximately three years.

·       The agent did not know the specific hours of operation on the site but noted that the wider industrial estate had overnight barriers, limiting access.

Ward Member Representation

9.      Councillor Boeck addressed the Committee. This representation can be viewed on the recording: Eastern Area Planning Committee - Recording

Member Questions to the Ward Member

10.   Members did not have any questions of clarification.

Member Questions to Officers

11.   Members asked questions of clarification and were given the following responses:

·       It was confirmed that the Emergency Plan involved using the office for shelter and the Emergency Planning Officer was satisfied with its current suitability. A seven-year review condition was proposed to ensure it remained fit for purpose over  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.(1)

1.      Ms Sian Cutts introduced the report to Members, which took account of all the relevant policy considerations and other material planning considerations. In conclusion the report detailed that the proposal was acceptable in planning terms and officers recommended that the Development Manager be authorised to grant planning permission subject to the conditions outlined in the main and update reports.

2.      The Chairman asked Mr Paul Goddard if he had any observations relating to the application.

·       The location of the site was some distance from the highway, all existing accesses were being used. The site was once part of a garden centre, so it would have had a level of traffic generation. The traffic levels with this application were expected to be very low, as the site would only be used for storage. Highways Officers raised no objection subject to the condition that had been applied limiting the use to B8.

3.      In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Ms Sophie Crawford and Mr Rob Smith, Parish Council representatives, Mr Adam Place, agent, and Councillor Dominic Boeck, Ward Member, addressed the Committee on this application.

Parish Council Representation

4.      Ms Crawford and Mr Smith addressed the Committee. This representation can be viewed on the recording: Eastern Area Planning Committee - Recording

Member Questions to the Parish/Town Council

5.      Members did not have any questions of clarification.

Agent Representation

6.      Mr Place addressed the Committee. This representation can be viewed on the recording: Eastern Area Planning Committee – Recording

Member Questions to the Agent

7.      Members asked questions of clarification and were given the following responses:

·       The agent confirmed that the next step for the Council, if the application was refused, would be to serve an enforcement notice requiring a return to the previous lawful use, although a revised application could also be submitted. He maintained that B8 use had the least impact of all possible uses.

·       Regarding the distance from the compounds to the designated office for shelter in an emergency, the agent believed that it was a suitable distance which could be covered quickly.

Ward Member Representation

8.      Councillor Boeck addressed the Committee. This representation can be viewed on the recording: Eastern Area Planning Committee - Recording

Member Questions to the Ward Member

9.      Members did not have any questions of clarification.

Member Questions to Officers

10.   Members asked questions of clarification and were given the following responses:

·       Regarding a question on whether the Atomic Weapons Establishment’s (AWE) views were being given sufficient weight, and whether the Council should undertake a wider strategic review of the area, officers stated that these were strategic issues for the Local Plan Review process, not individual development management decisions. The recently adopted Local Plan contained a policy for managing development in the On-site Emergency Plan (OSEP), which was itself subject to continuous review by all stakeholders, including the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and AWE. The ONR was the paramount authority in the hierarchy and that AWE, whose primary concern was the operation of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.