Agenda item

Report No: DEV/WS/22/008

Planning application - re-configuration of staff compound area; a. three bay garage (following demolition of existing concrete garage); b. drainage and irrigation system; c. water bowser area with hose store and greenhouse; d. tarmac surface and skip and compactor area

(Councillor Peter Stevens informed the meeting that he had sought advice as to whether he needed to declare an interest in this item, in view of having previously been the Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Abbey Gardens, but had been advised that it was not considered necessary.)

Planning application - re-configuration of staff compound area; a. three bay garage (following demolition of existing concrete garage); b. drainage and irrigation system; c. water bowser area with hose store and greenhouse; d. tarmac surface and skip and compactor area

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee because the applicant is West Suffolk Council.

Officers were recommending that the application be approved, subject to conditions, as set out in Paragraph 52 of Report No DEV/WS/22/008.

As part of his presentation the Planning Officer showed videos of the site by way of a virtual ‘site visit’ and drew attention the supplementary ‘late papers’ that had been issued after publication of the agenda, and which set out proposed fencing elevations.

Members were also advised that Scheduled Monument Consent was being sought separately to the planning process.

Some questions were posed by the Committee in respect of the consultation process and the timescale for the works which the Officer responded to.

Councillor Diane Hind raised a specific question in respect of the greenhouse which the Planning Officer agreed to seek clarification on and report back directly to the Councillor.

Councillor John Burns spoke in support of the scheme and moved that the application be approved as per the Officer recommendation. This was duly seconded by Councillor David Roach.

Upon being put to the vote and with the vote being unanimous, it was resolved that

Decision

Planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

1.   The development hereby permitted shall be begun not later than 3 years from the date of this permission.

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

3.   No development above ground level shall take place until details of a hard landscaping scheme for the site have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. These details shall include proposed finished levels and contours showing earthworks and mounding; surfacing materials; means of enclosure and boundary treatments; car parking layouts; other vehicle and pedestrian access and circulations areas; hard surfacing materials; minor artefacts and structures (for example furniture, play equipment, refuse and/or other storage units, signs, lighting and similar features); proposed and existing functional services above and below ground (for example drainage, power, communications cables and pipelines, indicating lines, manholes, supports and other technical features); retained historic landscape features and proposals for restoration where relevant. The scheme shall be implemented prior to the occupation of any part of the development (or within such extended period as may first be agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority).

4.   No development shall take place on site until the implementation of a programme of archaeological work has been secured, in accordance with a Written Scheme of Investigation which has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The scheme of investigation shall include an assessment of significance and research questions; and: 

a.  The programme and methodology of site investigation and recording.

b.  The programme for post investigation assessment.

c.  Provision to be made for analysis of the site investigation and recording.

d.  Provision to be made for publication and dissemination of the analysis and records of the site investigation.

e.  Provision to be made for archive deposition of the analysis and records of the site investigation.

f.  Nomination of a competent person or persons/organisation to undertake the works set out within the Written Scheme of Investigation.

g. Timetable for the site investigation to be completed prior to development, or in such other phased arrangement, as agreed and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

5.   A lighting design scheme for biodiversity shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The scheme shall identify those features on site that are particularly sensitive for bats and that are likely to cause disturbance along important routes used for foraging; and show how and where external lighting will be installed (through the provision of appropriate lighting location plan and technical specifications) so that it can be clearly demonstrated that areas to be lit will not disturb or prevent bats using their territory.

All external lighting shall be installed in accordance with the specifications and locations set out in the scheme and maintained thereafter in accordance with the scheme. Under no circumstances should any other external lighting be installed without prior consent from the local planning authority.

6.   Prior to development above slab level, details of biodiversity enhancement measures to be installed at the site, including details of the timescale for installation, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Any such measures as may be agreed shall be installed in accordance with the agreed timescales and thereafter retained as so installed. There shall be no occupation unless and until details of the biodiversity enhancement measures to be installed have been agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.