Agenda item

Report No: DEV/SE/18/021

Planning Application - Planning Application - (i) Change of use of 10no parking spaces to hand car wash and valeting operation to include cabin and canopy and (ii) 7no floodlights

Planning Application – (i) Change of use of 10no parking spaces to hand car wash and valeting operation to include cabin and canopy and (ii) 7no floodlights.

The application had been referred to the Development Control Committee because Haverhill Town Council had submitted an objection to the scheme which was contrary to the Officer recommendation of approval. The application had also been referred to allow it to be considered alongside DC/18/0275/FUL (previous agenda item) which also involved the loss of car parking spaces within the same site.

The Senior Planning Officer started her presentation by informing Members of the Committee that there had been some amendments to the conditions listed under paragraph 27 of the report:

·         Condition four had been re-worded to read ‘The car wash lighting shall be provided and retained as shown on plan no. s CB9 7YL-PL004 and CB9 7YL-PL-005 and as described within the lighting specification included within the Design and Access Statement’.

·         Condition five had been removed. The screens along with the landscape buffer would prevent any spray from the cleaning operation being blown towards the A1307 highway so it was not necessary to list it as a condition.

Members referred back to the concerns that were raised during discussion of the previous application related to the loss of car parking spaces and the impact this could have on highway safety.

It was also highlighted that the plans on page 31 of the agenda pack implied that the proposed canopy would impose into the road and therefore caused concerns for safety. The Service Manager (Planning - Development) confirmed that the proposed canopy would not impose out into the road and obstruct vehicles.

A query was raised in relation to a photograph that had been submitted by Councillor Burns and included in the Case Officer’s presentation whereby temporary fencing had been erected in Sainsbury’s car park nearby to the application site. The Service Manager explained to Members that the fenced off site was unlikely to be related to the application, however if it transpired that the proposed buildings had been constructed on a different site to what had been applied for then the necessary enforcement action would be taken.

The application had received support from Members in the interest of job creation. The applicant estimated that the proposed car wash would create four full time and four part time jobs that would benefit the local economy.

Councillor Jason Crooks moved that the application be approved, as per the Officer recommendation, and this was duly seconded by Councillor Robert Everitt.

Upon being put to the vote and with 11 voting for the motion, 2 against and with 1 abstention, it was resolved that

Decision

Planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

1.   Development to commence within 3 years.

2.   The development shall be carried out in accordance with approved plans.

3.   The operating hours of the Waves Car Wash facility and any associated lighting shall be limited to 08:00 to 19:00 hours on Monday-Saturday and from 10:00 to 16:00 hours on Sundays, Bank and Public Holidays.

4.   The car wash lighting shall be provided and retained as shown on plan no. s CB9 7YL-PL004 and CB9 7YL-PL-005 and as described within the lighting specification included within the Design and Access Statement.