Agenda item

Recommended for Approval.

Mr Gary Kemp addressed the Committee in opposition to the application.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services recommended that, in respect of application 3/12/0256/FP, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.

Councillor A Burlton commented that if the building was fully insulated and all the conditions were adhered to, then there should be no noise.  He stated however, that in a metal storage style building such as this, it may not be possible to adequately insulate against noise.

Councillor Burlton raised concerns relating to car parking, although he acknowledged the presence of a car park at the end of the road where this site was located.  He expressed concerns relating to the proposed hours of use being longer than any previous use of the site.

Councillor M Newman stressed that for any insulation to be effective, there must be a clearly defined decibel (dba) rating at a certain distance from the structure that was the subject of this application.

The Director advised that condition 4 in the report now submitted had been put forward by the applicant and Officers would consult with environmental health to ensure that there was limited transmission of noise from the site.

Councillor Burlton commented on the likely transmission of noise once the doors to the outside were opened during periods of warm weather.  Councillor G Williamson stated that users of the site would make a certain degree of noise when arriving outside the building and also when being picked up.

Councillor N Symonds was concerned relating to the level of traffic, both commercial and domestic, on what was a very narrow road.  Councillor Symonds was also concerned in respect of the lack of parking provision and the likely parking habits of the people using the site.

The Director advised that condition 3 restricted the hours of use to less than what had been applied to a similar use on a site adjacent to the one that was the subject of this application.  Councillor M Alexander stated that whilst he had no wish to restrict this type of use, he could not support this application.

The Director advised caution regarding resisting this application with regard to the hours of use given that similar applications with longer hours had been approved in units in close proximity to this site.

Councillor A Burlton proposed and Councillor M Alexander seconded, a motion that application 3/12/0256/FP be refused on the grounds that; the proposal failed to make adequate provision for pedestrian access to the building and therefore would result in direct conflict between pedestrians and general commercial traffic within the Industrial Estate, contrary to paragraph 35 of the National Planning Policy Framework; insufficient information had been submitted in relation to noise operated by the proposed use and any steps to be taken to mitigate its impact, to enable the local planning authority to properly consider the impact of the development on neighbouring residential properties; and the proposal was contrary to policies ENV1 and ENV24 of the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.

The Committee rejected the recommendation of the Director of Neighbourhood Services as now submitted.

RESOLVED – that in respect of application 3/12/0256/FP, planning permission be refused for the following reasons:

1.           The proposal fails to make adequate provision for pedestrian access to the building and therefore would result in direct conflict between pedestrians and general commercial traffic within the Industrial Estate, contrary to paragraph 35 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

2.           Insufficient information has been submitted in relation to noise operated by the proposed use and any steps to be taken to mitigate its impact, to enable the local planning authority to properly consider the impact of the development on neighbouring residential properties.  The proposal would thereby be contrary to policies ENV1 and ENV24 of the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007.