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Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Council Chamber Council Offices Market Street Newbury. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services Team 

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 362 KB

To approve as correct records the Minutes of the meetings of this Committee held on 3 October 2024 and 23 October 2024.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED: The Minutes of the meeting held on 3 October 2024 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.

RESOLVED: The Minutes of the meeting held on 23 October 2024 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.

2.

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:

Councillors Nigel Foot, Tony Vickers, and Phil Barnett declared an Other Registerable Interest in Agenda Items 4(1) and 4(2) by virtue of the fact that they were Newbury Town Councillors and Members of the Town Council’s Planning and Highways Committee. As their interest was not prejudicial or a disclosable pecuniary interest, they determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.

Councillor Adrian Abbs declared an interest in Agenda Items 4(1) and 4(2) by virtue of the fact that he was a Ward Member for both applications. He informed the Committee that he would not speak on the applications in that capacity, and he determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matters.

Councillor Phil Barnett declared an Other Registerable Interest in Agenda Items 4(1) and 4(2) by virtue of the fact that he was a Greenham Parish Councillor. As his interest was not prejudicial or a disclosable pecuniary interest, he determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.

3.

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).

3.(1)

24/00037/FULMAJ - Newbury pdf icon PDF 638 KB

Proposal:

Erection of Primary Care Centre with associated works.

Location:

Land South of Newbury College and North Of Highwood Copse School, Highwood Copse Way, Newbury

Applicant:

Greenham Trust Limited

Recommendation:

To delegate to the Development Manager to GRANT PLANNING PERMISSION subject to the conditions listed in section 8 of this report (or minor and inconsequential amendments to those conditions authorised by the Development Manager, in consultation with the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Western Area Planning Committee).

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

  1. The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 24/00037/FULMAJ in respect of the erection of a Primary Care Centre with associated works.
  2. The Planning Officer, Debra Inston, 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 the Highways Officer, Paul Goddard, if he had any observations on the application.
  4. The Highways Officer highlighted that the location had both advantages and disadvantages when compared to the existing facility on St Johns Road. On traffic volume and location of the site, he indicated that there was not expected to be an overall greater volume of traffic generated by the proposed facility, as it was a replacement for the existing one. In addition, he noted that the site was more central to its catchment area and that it had good potential for sustainable travel opportunities, such as cycle routes and bus services. For these reasons, he considered the location to be acceptable.
  5. For the access to the site, the Highways Officer noted that the road to the north was a private and unadopted road owned by Newbury College. Although the only initial access would come off the A339, he clarified to Members that this was temporary as a new additional access would also be delivered through the Sandleford Park West site.
  6. The Highways Officer confirmed that the small access serving the staff parking area and the access serving the larger car park were a suitable distance from the accesses to the school opposite. Also, as that part of Highwood Copse Way had road markings to keep vehicles clear, he believed that visibility should be clear and therefore that the access was suitable. The sightlines were subject to amended drawings and secured by conditions.
  7. On parking numbers, the Highways Officer indicated that they expected 24 staff present at a given time as well as 48 patients. As the total spaces provided was 72, this number was considered sufficient. 
  8. It was agreed that further detail would be required on sight lines and that further work was needed on pedestrian routes to the site and the Highways Officer confirmed that a dropped kerb should be provided across road adjacent to the site to link the site to the existing footways on the road. These matters could be secured through conditions.
  9. For the reasons presented, the Highways Officer recommended that the application be approved.
  10. In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Mr Tom Sadler, the Agent, Dr Anne Maloney, the applicant, and Councillor David Marsh, Ward Member, addressed the Committee on this application.

Applicant/Agent Representation

  1. Mr Tom Sadler and Dr Anne Maloney addressed the Committee. This representation can be viewed in the recording: Western Area Planning Committee – Wednesday 22 January 2025.

Member Questions  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.(1)

3.(2)

24/02029/FULMAJ - Newbury pdf icon PDF 401 KB

Proposal:

Section 73: Variation of Condition (10) Travel Plan and (20) Vehicle Parking and Turning of previously approved application 20/02779/COMIND: Section 73 variation of conditions 2 (plans), 3 (boundary treatments), 4 (hardscaping), 6 (BREEAM), 7 (external lighting), 9 (noise from services), 11 (sport England), 12 (travel plan), 13 (cycle and scooter parking), 17 (landscaping) and 24 (E V charging points) of approved 17/03434/COMIND - Construction of a new 1 FE single-storey primary school south of the existing Newbury College, with associated soft and hard landscaping. Construction of a temporary access to the school from the Newbury College site and a permanent access from the A339 to serve the allocated strategic housing site and form the permanent access to the school. Construction of bunds adjacent to the temporary and permanent access roads to prevent access from the roads to private land.

Location:

Newbury College Monks Lane Newbury RG14 7TD

Applicant:

West Berkshire District Council

Recommendation:

To delegate to the Development Manager to GRANT PLANNING PERMISSION subject to the conditions listed in the report.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

  1. The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(2)) concerning Planning Application 24/02029/FULMAJ in respect of Section 73: Variation of Condition (10) Travel Plan and (20) Vehicle Parking and Turning of previously approved application 20/02779/COMIND: Section 73 variation of conditions 2 (plans), 3 (boundary treatments), 4 (hardscaping), 6 (BREEAM), 7 (external lighting), 9 (noise from services), 11 (Sport England), 12 (travel plan), 13 (cycle and scooter parking), 17 (landscaping) and 24 (E V charging points) of approved 17/03434/COMIND - Construction of a new 1 FE single-storey primary school south of the existing Newbury College, with associated soft and hard landscaping. Construction of a temporary access to the school from the Newbury College site and a permanent access from the A339 to serve the allocated strategic housing site and form the permanent access to the school. Construction of bunds adjacent to the temporary and permanent access roads to prevent access from the roads to private land.
  2. The Planning Officer, Matthew Shepherd, 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 Highways Officer had no further comments.
  4. In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Councillor David Marsh, Ward Member, addressed the Committee on this application.

Ward Member Representation

  1. Councillor David Marsh addressed the Committee. This representation can be viewed in the recording: Western Area Planning Committee – Wednesday 22 January 2025

Member Questions to the Ward Member

  1. Members did not have any questions of clarification for Councillor Marsh.

Member Questions to Officers

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

·       It was not known why this was not completed with the original application.

·       If Members wanted to install railings on the A339 then the Ward Members would need to petition the Council’s Projects Team. The policy was that barriers would not be installed unless they were considered to be required.

Debate

  1. Councillor Clive Hooker opened the debate by highlighting that he considered the application to be necessary work and would like to see the application approved.
  2. Councillor Howard Woollaston concurred with Councillor Hooker, seeing no material planning reasons for refusal.
  3. Councillor Hooker proposed to accept Officer’s recommendation and grant planning permission subject to the conditions listed in the main report. This was seconded by Councillor Woollaston.
  4. The Chairman invited Members of the Committee to vote on the proposal by Councillor Hooker, seconded by Councillor Woollaston, to grant planning permission. At the vote the motion was carried.

RESOLVED that the Development Manager be authorised to grant planning permission subject to the conditions in the main report.