Agenda and minutes

The Chair reminded Councillors to declare any known interests in any of the matters to be considered by the Committee.  No such declarations were made at this time.

The Committee was advised that the following public questions were received from Mr Dick Millard.

On behalf of the Swindon Cycle Campaign, I would like to ask about provision for cycling in the NEV and especially in the Lotmead development (item 5).

Could the committee please confirm that:

1  A cycle route from the development along the Wanborough Road and in to Covingham will be provided?

2  Within the Lotmead development

(i) Pedestrians and cyclists will get priority when crossing roads (use raised sections of road?).

(ii) The paths in the greenways will be constructed sufficiently wide to carry both pedestrians and cyclists with appropriate signage.

3  Can the planning team provide an map showing how cycling provision in the NEV, including in this development, links up to form a coherent network overall?

The Committee was advised that as these questions referred to application S/OUT/19/0582 and could not therefore be considered under public question time (paragraph 8 ( c) Public Question Time at Council Meetings – Protocol and Guidance. Part 5 of the Constitution. However, these questions had been circulated to members’ for information and would be considered as a representation during the discussion of the application.

In respect of application numbered S/OUT/19/0582- Outline Planning Application (means of access off Wanborough Road not reserved) for demolition and/or conversion of existing buildings and redevelopment to provide up to 2,500 homes (Use Class C3); up to 1,780 sqm of community/retail uses (Use Class D1/D2/A1/A3/A4); up to 2,500 sqm of employment use (Use Class B1); sports hub; playing pitches; 2no. 2 Form Entry primary schools; green infrastructure; indicative primary access road corridors to A420; improvements to Wanborough Road and associated worksthe Committee considered: -

            Name                                      Address/Organisation

            Mr Jeff Richards                     Agent

            Mr Julian Jones                     SCAN

            Ms Anish Harrison                Local Resident

            Councillor Gary Sumner       Cabinet Member

            Councillor Dale Heenan       Ward Councillor

Councillors John Ballman, Jane Milner-Barry, Nick Martin, Stan Pajak and Peter Watts spoke in respect of this application.

The application can be broadly summarised as:

·        The application before Members was an outline application for development at Lotmead which would comprise two of the New Eastern Villages, Lotmead and Lower Lotmead, and was the fourth strategic application for the new eastern villages to be presented to the Committee.

·        Previous strategic applications in respect of the New Eastern Villages approved 2,380 homes north of the A420 at Rowborough South Marston, 370 Homes at Redlands and strategic employment land at Symmetry Park (which would be considered later in the meeting).

·        An initial application for similar development at the site had been refused by the Head of Planning, Regulatory Services and Heritage under delegated authority in 2016.  Following an appeal by the applicant the appeal was dismissed by the Secretary of State in June 2018.

·        Following the refusal by the Secretary of State, the Local Planning Authority and developer worked together on a suitable application based upon the guidance following the refusal of the appeal This application had “designed out” failings in the previous application and had cme forward in accord with the Sectary of State’s Guidance and the requirements of the Local Plan.

·        The application is in line with the use for this site, as identified in the Council’s adopted and emerging Local Plans, which have been the subject of public examination in front of an Inspector.

·        Should the application not be agreed, the housing allocated to this site within the Local Plan would need to be built elsewhere in the Borough on sites that would be less sustainable and would be likely to place greater demand on existing infrastructure.

·        The recommendation for the grant of the application was subject to the signing of a Section 106 agreement, the heads of terms of which were set out within the report, along with the applicant agreeing to an extension of time to facilitate this.

·        The application included up  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.

In respect of application numbered S/19/1891 - Erection of storage or distribution building (use class B8), ancillary buildings, offices, landscaping, vehicular parking, bus depot, creation of 2no. passenger vehicle accesses and associated works, Symmetry Park (Phase 6), Shrivenham Road, South Marston the Committee considered: -

            Name                                      Address/Organisation

            Mr Tim Partridge                    Agent

            Councillor Gary Sumner       Cabinet Member

            Councillor Russell Holland   Ward Councillor/Cabinet Member

            Councillor David Renard      Leader of the Council

Councillors Jane Milner-Barry, Malcolm Davies, Stan Pajak and Peter Watts spoke in respect of this application.

The application can be broadly summarised as:

·        The application was to develop phase 2 of the Symmetry Park Employment Area in the New Eastern Villages and this area already benefited from planning permission.

·        The application sought to replace the existing phase 2 consent with a large warehouse and office unit bespoke design to allow an inward investment opportunity.

·        The application had not been called in by either Councillors or the Parish Council but offered an important employment generating scheme comprising a large single building which is of significant size and scale and although replacing a scheme that has already been consented should be considered by Committee.

·        The scheme was of similar parameters to the existing consent and with regard to the Local Plan is of the nature that is acceptable for the site. The proposed development replaced an application that no longer met market demand with one that does.

·        The report recommendation was to grant the application subject to the signing of a Section 106 Agreement and subject to the applicants agreeing to an extension of time in order for the application process to be completed.

·        Unit 1 to the north of the site received reserved matters approval (reference: S/RES/16/1233) on 24th October 2016 and this has been completed and is currently occupied. A proportionate financial contribution has been made to highway improvement projects and the Great Western Community Forest.

·        Elements of the reserved matters for completing unit one, including the junction with the A420 and the highway leading to the roundabout junction with the east-west link road and the east-west link road itself, have been carried out.

·        Strategic landscaping which formed part of the outline application and reserved matters for the development has been approved but also forms part of the application before the Committee. This would be affected by two additional accesses through the previously approved landscaping to serve the staff and visitors car park, which had disabled parking and a number of electric vehicle charging points in accordance with the Local Plan.

·        In addition, the footpath and landscaping would be completed.

·        The application was for a warehouse with an office development to its front and also  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

In respect of application numbered /HOU/19/1691/SASM - Erection of viewing platform (for the existing manege), lean-to equipment shed, muck out bays and gravel driveway to link to the previously approved access, Hannington Hall, Queens Road, Hannington, the Committee considered: -

            Name                                      Address/Organisation

            Councillor Alan Bishop       Ward Councillor

Councillors Nick Burns-Howell and Stan Pajak spoke in respect of this application.

The application can be broadly summarised as:

·        The application was presented to Committee at the request of Hannington Parish Council.

·        Planning permission is sought to construct a viewing platform, equipment shed and muck out bays on an existing manege relatively recently constructed opposite Hannington Hall.

·        The manege and vehicular was granted planning permission by Planning Committee in July 2018.

·        Design, appearance and amenity were the main issues with the site located within a conservation area and close to listed buildings and the impact on these buildings was material.

·        The application must also be considered in the context of an extant and implemented previous permission for the manege.

·        The original permission included a condition restricting it to the private domestic needs of the applicant and their family and any persons residing or staying at Hannington Hall and Hannington Hall Coach House and not for use for any business or commercial purposes.

·        The use will continue to be used in accord with the permission for example the training of horses for the private use of Hannington Hall owners and guests.

·        The permission also required details be submitted for approval in respect of the location of the storage of manure and the proposed muck out bays provide some details in that respect for members to consider.

·        Officers did not consider that the application would cause significant harm to the nearby listed buildings or conservation area and considered that the character and appearance of the conservation area would be preserved.

·        Special regard had also been given to preserving the building and setting of the nearby designated and non-designated heritage assets and consider the setting and significance and features of those assets will be preserved.

·        The proposal did not conflict with Local Plan Policy DE1 (High Quality Design) or Policy EN10 Historic Environment and Heritage Assets and the National Planning Policy Framework given the lack of identified harm and neutral impact.

·        Officers considered that the additional elements of the application would not cause a loss of residential amenity of nearby residents.

·        The development was appropriate to its location and in accord with national and local planning policy and was subject to control through recommendations set out within the report and was therefore considered acceptable by officers and recommended for approval.

Submissions in support of the application can be broadly summarised as:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.