To report any issues with the information below please email executivecycle@westberks.gov.uk.

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Virtual Zoom Meeting. View directions

Contact: Jenny Legge 

Note: https://www.westberks.gov.uk/westernareaplanninglive 

Media

Items
No. Item

52.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 477 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 17 March 2021.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting held on 17 March 2021 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.

53.

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:

Councillor Hilary Cole declared an interest in Agenda Item 4(1), but reported that, as her interest was a personal or an other registrable interest, but not a disclosable pecuniary interest, she determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.

Councillors Phil Barnett and Tony Vickers declared an interest in Agenda Item 4(2), and reported that, as their interest was a disclosable pecuniary interest or an other registrable interest, they would be leaving the meeting during the course of consideration of the matter.

All Members of the Committee declared an interest in Agenda Item 4(2), but reported that, as their interest was a personal or an other registrable interest, but not a disclosable pecuniary interest, they determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.

Councillor Phil Barnett declared an interest in Agenda Item 4(3), but reported that, as his interest was a personal or an other registrable interest, but not a disclosable pecuniary interest, they determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.

54.

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).

54.(1)

Application No. and Parish: 20/03074/COND3, Mary Hare Grammar School, Arlington Manor, Snelsmore Common, Chieveley pdf icon PDF 299 KB

Proposal:

Application for approval of details reserved by condition 15 (highways -cms) of approved 18/01161/COMIND - Construction of a single-storey primary school building and associated two-storey boarding house incorporating a part-lower ground floor area for use by Mary Hare Primary School (and to facilitate the relocation of the current Mary Hare Primary School from its current Mill Hall site); two-storey business centre comprising earmould manufacturing facility, audiology clinics, hearing aid repair shop (HARS) and conference centre rooms; single storey vocational classroom block for existing secondary school and single storey works facility to replace existing; formation of extended access road to primary school building; reconfiguration of existing car parking including provision of additional car/cycle parking; provision of new/reconfigured hard and soft landscaping to include a new external covered space to front of existing Blount Hall secondary school building; and other related works.

Location:

Mary Hare Grammar School, Arlington Manor, Snelsmore Common, Newbury, RG14 3BQ

Applicant:

Mike Smithers - Beard Construction

Recommendation:

To delegate to the Head of Development and Planning to GRANT planning permission subject to the schedule of conditions (Section 8 of the report).

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(Councillor Hilary Cole declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that she was a member of Chieveley Parish Council, and had attended the meeting where the item had been discussed. However, she would consider the application afresh in light of further information that had been submitted following the Parish Council meeting. As her interest was personal and not prejudicial or a disclosable pecuniary interest, she determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.)

1.     The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 20/03074/COND3 in respect of an application for approval of details reserved by condition 15 (highways -cms) of approved 18/01161/COMIND - Construction of a single-storey primary school building and associated two-storey boarding house incorporating a part-lower ground floor area for use by Mary Hare Primary School (and to facilitate the relocation of the current Mary Hare Primary School from its current Mill Hall site); two-storey business centre comprising earmould manufacturing facility, audiology clinics, hearing aid repair shop (HARS) and conference centre rooms; single storey vocational classroom block for existing secondary school and single storey works facility to replace existing; formation of extended access road to primary school building; reconfiguration of existing car parking including provision of additional car/cycle parking; provision of new/reconfigured hard and soft landscaping to include a new external covered space to front of existing Blount Hall secondary school building; and other related works at Mary Hare Grammar School, Arlington Manor, Snelsmore Common, Newbury.

2.     Ms Cheyanne Kirby, 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 Head of Planning and Development be authorised to grant planning permission, subject to the conditions outlined in the main and update reports/for the reasons listed in the main and update reports.

3.     The Chairman asked Mr Paul Goddard, Team Leader (Highways Development Control), if he had any observations relating to the application. Mr Goddard stated that he had nothing further to add to the points already raised by the Planning Officer. Changes had been made to the Construction Management Statement, which meant that construction traffic would no longer travel along the narrow Arlington Lane and therefore had overcome the objections. Highways Officers were content with all other aspects of the submitted Construction Management Statement.

Removal of speaking rights

4.     As resolved at the Extraordinary Council meeting held on 29 April 2020, public speaking rights had been removed for virtual Council meetings. This right had replaced with the ability to make written submissions. This decision was made in accordance with The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panels Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020.

5.     The above changes to speaking rights were subsequently amended at the Council meeting on 10 September  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.(1)

54.(2)

Application No. and Parish: 19/02979/OUTMAJ, Land South of Tower Works, Ramsbury Road, Lambourn Woodlands, Lambourn pdf icon PDF 307 KB

Proposal:

Outline application for the erection of a new logistics warehouse building (for occupation by Walker Logistics) (Use Class B8) with ancillary office floorspace, an aircraft museum building (Use Class D1), and associated access, car parking and landscaping. Matters to be considered: Scale.

Location:

Land South of Tower Works, Ramsbury Road, Lambourn Woodlands, Hungerford.

Applicant:

Walker Logistics Limited

Recommendation:

To delegate to the Head of Development and Planning to GRANT planning permission subject to the schedule of conditions (Section 8 of the report)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(Councillor Tony Vickers declared a potential personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 4(2) by virtue of the fact that he was a member of Greenham Parish Council (GPC), which owned the freehold of Greenham Control Tower. Part of the function of the control tower was to act as a Cold War Museum, though to the best of his knowledge an enterprise similar to that proposed as part of this application had never been discussed by GPC. The management of the control tower was the responsibility of a separate charity Greenham Control Tower Ltd (GCTL). Councillor Vickers had no controlling interest in GCTL, nor did GPC have any say in how its asset was managed. However, he reported that should the decision hinge on the museum aspect, he would declare a disclosable pecuniary or an other registerable interest, and he would leave the meeting during the course of discussion of the matter.)

(Councillor Adrian Abbs and Phil Barnett declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(2) by virtue of the fact that they were members of Greenham Parish Council, which was promoting the use of the Greenham Common Control Tower as a Cold War Museum. However, they had not pre-determined the application and would consider it with an open mind. As their interest was personal and not prejudicial or a disclosable pecuniary interest, they determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.)

(All Members of the Committee declared that they had been lobbied on Agenda Item 4(2).)

1.     The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(2)) concerning Planning Application 19/02979/OUTMAJ in respect of Outline application for the erection of a new logistics warehouse building (for occupation by Walker Logistics) (Use Class B8) with ancillary office floorspace, an aircraft museum building (Use Class D1), and associated access, car parking and landscaping. Matters to be considered: Scale at Land South of Tower Works, Ramsbury Road, Lambourn Woodlands, Hungerford.

2.     Mr Simon Till, Team Leader (Western Area Planning), 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 on balance officers accepted the exceptional need for the development. As such, officers recommended that the Head of Development and Planning be authorised to grant planning permission, subject to the conditions outlined in the main and update reports.

3.     The Chairman asked Mr Paul Goddard, Team Leader (Highways Development Control), if he had any observations relating to the application. Mr Goddard highlighted two significant issues: traffic impact, and the sustainability of the location. He confirmed that the site layout and parking levels were acceptable, but those matters were reserved. He noted that transport statements had been submitted including a recent one with updated survey counts, which showed that there would be 160 additional vehicle movements per day from the proposal, including 38 HGVs. These would double the current traffic levels. He stated that he did not consider the impact on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.(2)

54.(3)

Application No. and Parish: 20/00912/FULEXT, Land at End Of Charlotte Close Hermitage Thatcham, Hermitage pdf icon PDF 657 KB

Proposal:

Erection of 16 dwellings and associated landscape and highway works.

Location:

Land at End Of Charlotte Close Hermitage Thatcham

Applicant:

CALA Homes Ltd

Recommendation:

To delegate to the Head of Development and Planning to GRANT planning permission subject to the schedule of conditions (Section 8.3 of the report) and the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement.

OR

If the legal agreement is not completed by the 28th July 2021 (3 months of the committee meeting), to delegate to the Head of Development and Planning to REFUSE planning permission, for the reasons set out in Section 8.4 of the report or to extend the period for completion if it is considered expedient to do so.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(Councillor(s) Phil Barnett declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(3) by virtue of the fact that he had visited the site with a resident. As his interest was personal and not prejudicial or a disclosable pecuniary interest, he determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.)

1.     The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(3)) concerning Planning Application 20/00912/FULEXT in respect of the erection of 16 dwellings and associated landscape and highway works on land at end of Charlotte Close, Hermitage.

2.     Mr Masie Masiiwa, 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 Head of Planning and Development be authorised to grant planning permission, subject to the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement by 28th July 2021 and in accordance with the schedule of conditions.

3.     The Chairman asked Mr Paul Goddard, Team Leader (Highways Development Control), if he had any observations relating to the application. Mr Goddard noted that this was an allocated site in the Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD), with an allocation of 15 dwellings. He explained that vehicular access would be via Charlotte Close, with pedestrian/cycle routes onto Station Road to the south and the allocated site on the Old Farmhouse to the north. He confirmed that parking and site layout were acceptable. He noted local concern about the impact on the B4009/Station Road mini-roundabout, but modelling showed the junction was operating close to capacity and traffic from the proposed development (and that of nearby proposals/recently approved developments) could be accommodated without causing extensive congestion. He concluded that the Highways Officers recommended approval of the application subject to the conditions listed in the reports.

Removal of speaking rights

4.     As resolved at the Extraordinary Council meeting held on 29 April 2020, public speaking rights had been removed for virtual Council meetings. This right had replaced with the ability to make written submissions. This decision was made in accordance with The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panels Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020.

5.     The above changes to speaking rights were subsequently amended at the Council meeting on 10 September 2020. It was agreed that parties making written submissions in relation to a planning application would be invited to attend the remote meeting of the Planning Committee to answer any questions that Members of the Committee might wish to ask in order to seek clarification on any part of their statement.

6.     In accordance with the Extraordinary Council resolution, written submissions relating to this application were received from Mr Simon Joyce, agent. Mr Joyce was able to attend the remote meeting.

7.     Individual written submissions were published online along with the agenda http://decisionmaking.westberks.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=155&MId=5743&Ver=4

 Applicant/Agent’s Submission

8.     The Clerk read out the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.(3)

55.

Appeal Decisions relating to Western Area Planning Committee pdf icon PDF 419 KB

Purpose: To inform Members of the results of recent appeal decisions relating to the Western Area Planning Committee.

Minutes:

Members noted the outcome of appeal decisions relating to the district.

Councillor Hilary Cole noted that appeal decisions were listed by committee, which was useful in allowing Members to see decisions in areas they were not directly involved with. She thanked officers for their work.