Agenda and draft minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 6 March 2024.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 6 March 2024 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman subject to the inclusion of the following amendment:

·       Correction of typographical error ‘Lanford’ to ‘Langford’.

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 23/02965/FULMAJ in respect of a proposed Logistics Hub comprising a three-storey block of approximately 7,800 square metres Gross Internal Area (GIA) accommodating offices, laboratories and associated ancillary uses; a yard; a garage and storage building; a single storey gatehouse; and associated internal access roads, car and cycle parking, landscaping, lighting, drainage and boundary treatments at land east of Goddards Way, Thatcham.

2.      Ms Gemma Kirk (Senior Planning Officer) 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.      Mr Gareth Dowding confirmed that he had no further comments in relation to Highways matters.

4.      In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Mr Anthony Fenn, Parish Council representative, Mr Simon Pike, adjacent Town Council representative, Ms Tracey Underwood, objector, and Mr Danny Clarke, applicant, addressed the Committee on this application.

Parish Council Representation

5.      Mr Anthony Fenn addressed the Committee. This representation can be viewed on the recording: Eastern Area Planning Committee - Wednesday 8th May 2024 (youtube.com).

Member Questions to the Parish Council

6.      Members asked questions of clarification and were given the following response:

·       Mr Fenn was not aware of when the settlement boundary had last been reviewed.

Adjacent Town Council Representation

7.      Mr Simon Pike addressed the Committee. This representation can be viewed on the recording: Eastern Area Planning Committee - Wednesday 8th May 2024 (youtube.com).

Member Questions to the adjacent Town Council

8.      Members did not have any questions of clarification.

Objector Representation

9.      Ms Tracey Underwood addressed the Committee. This representation can be viewed on the recording: Eastern Area Planning Committee - Wednesday 8th May 2024 (youtube.com).

Member Questions to the Objector

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

·       Flooding had been particularly bad during the most recent winter due to heavy rainfall. The field adjacent to the proposed development had been flooded, and the extent of the flooding had been worse than in the previous two years.

·       It was confirmed that Network Rail had cleared their ditches two years previously. This had been the first time they had done this in many years, but it had not made much difference to the local flooding situation.

·       Areas of the proposed site had been flooded in the most recent winter.

·       Ms Underwood confirmed that she owned both fields to the east of the development site and that both fields had been flooded recently.

Applicant Representation

11.   Mr Danny Clarke addressed the Committee. This representation can be viewed in the recording: Eastern Area Planning Committee - Wednesday 8th May 2024 (youtube.com)

Member Questions to the Applicant

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

·       The proposal would provide  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.(1)