Agenda item

Report No: DEV/WS/20/050

Application for Advertisement Consent - 1 no. internally illuminated freestanding totem sign

(Councillor Andy Drummond declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item in light of the fact that he had taken part in Newmarket Town Council’s consideration of the application when they resolved to oppose the scheme.  However, Councillor Drummond stressed that he would keep an open mind and listen to the debate prior to voting on the item.)

Application for Advertisement Consent DC/20/0817/ADV – Land adjacent to Tesco Petrol Station, Willie Snaith Road, Newmarket

This application was originally referred to the Development Control Committee on 2 September 2020 following consideration by the Delegation Panel.

The proposal related to the site upon which planning permission had recently been granted by the Development Control Committee on 3 June 2020 for 2no. drive-through cafe/restaurant units (DC/18/2210/FUL).

At the September meeting the Committee resolved to defer the item to allow an opportunity for the applicant to address the objections of Newmarket Town Council.

Following liaison with the Town Council amended plans were submitted to the Local Planning Authority by the applicant which sought advertisement consent for a re-designed proposal.

Newmarket Town Council continued to object to the proposal which was in conflict with the Officer’s recommendation of approval, subject to conditions as set out in Paragraph 65 of Report No DEV/WS/20/050.

As part of his presentation the Senior Planning Officer made reference to the supplementary ‘late papers’ which had been circulated following publication of the agenda.

The Committee was further advised that since the late papers were produced the Town Council had submitted further comments reiterating that they would prefer no totem pole signage at all.  But, if granted, would ask that it was made no taller than 3m and to be designed in the same way as the Ely (Cambridgeshire) McDonalds totem pole sign.  The details of the Town Council’s comments were summarised in the Officer’s PowerPoint presentation to the meeting which, for Members’ benefit, included images of said signage.

Speaker:      Douglas Hall (resident objector) spoke against the application

Councillor Andy Drummond drew attention to the concerns raised by Newmarket Town Council in respect of the sign’s design and proposed that the application be refused, contrary to the Officer recommendation.  However, this motion failed to achieve a seconder.

During the continuation of the debate a number of Members remarked on the changes that had been made and the efforts the applicant had taken to work with the Town Council on the matter.

Councillor David Roach asked if it would be possible to condition the height of the signage to 3m but was advised by the Service Manager (Planning – Development) that it was not possible to change details of an application by way of conditions.

Councillor Andy Neal proposed that the application be approved, as per the Officer recommendation.  This was duly seconded by Councillor Roger Dicker.

Upon being put to the vote and with 11 voting for the motion and with 4 against, it was resolved that

Decision

Planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

1             The development hereby permitted shall not be carried out except in complete accordance with the details shown on the approved plans and documents.

2             The maximum luminance from the freestanding 5m totem sign shall not exceed 300 candela/m2 unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.