Agenda item

Recommended for Approval.

The Head of Planning and Building Control recommended that in respect of application 3/17/1861/FUL, subject to a legal agreement, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.

The Head outlined the application for 2380 square metres of net employment floor space, 68 car parking spaces and access roads.  A majority of the site had been allocated for employment in the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007 and the emerging District Plan.

Officers reminded Members of the lack of employment sites in Buntingford and advised that this fact had to be given significant weight when considering applications for employment use.  Members were referred to the late representations summary in respect of the comments of Buntingford Town Council, the Council’s Engineer and the Lead Local Flood Authority.

Mr Reeves addressed the Committee in objection to the application.

Councillor S Bull commented that one solution to the traffic congestion was to have traffic exiting onto the A10.  He referred to the revised drainage strategy and the anticipated re-consultation response due to be reported to Members.  He also emphasised that the requested £55,000 financial obligation to include improvements to the Aspenden Road junction was insufficient.  He concluded by questioning who would police the discharge of grey water into the River Rib.

Councillor J Jones referred to a significant lack of employment and he was fully supportive of the application due to a dire need for employment areas.  He felt that it was a shame that opportunities to improve design quality had not been taken up.  He also commented on the opportunity to improve the footway into Luynes Rise and potential improvements to street lighting.

Councillor J Jones concluded that the applicant should be encouraged to improve the internal estate roads and he referred to the importance of compliance with Neighbourhood Plan Policy T6 and a contribution towards the Buntingford Community Area Transport Scheme.

Councillor D Andrews commented on the dire state of the road network and referred to the architectural elements of the proposed development.

Officers commented that Members could defer the application on the basis of the design.  The Committee was advised however, that Officers had not identified sufficient justification to recommend refusal on design grounds.

A number of Members commented on the roads and junctions, the design and layout of the proposed development and whether the application constituted sustainable development.  Councillor D Andrews commented that condition 3 could be amended to include a requirement that the estate roads should be brought up to a reasonable and acceptable standard.

Councillor R Brunton proposed and Councillor B Deering seconded, a motion that application 3/17/1861/FUL be deferred to allow the applicant to improve the layout and design of the proposed development.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared LOST.  After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the Committee accepted the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Building Control as now submitted, subject to condition 3 being amended to include a requirement that the estate roads within the applicant’s control should be brought up to a reasonable and acceptable standard.

RESOLVED – that in respect of application 3/17/1861/FUL, subject to a legal agreement, to include a contribution towards the Buntingford Community Transport Scheme, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report submitted and subject to condition 3 being amended to include a requirement that the estate roads within the applicant’s control should be brought up to a reasonable and acceptable standard.