Agenda item

Agenda item

20/01823/FUL: Erection of office development (class E(g)) including new vehicular access

Land South Of A512 Between Loughborough Road And Moor Lane Coleorton LE67 8FQ

 

Minutes:

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report to members.

 

Mr Golby, applicant, addressed the committee highlighting that the application would allow the business to expand whilst ensuring it remained local to key clients, and that there was a shortfall in office provision in the district. He noted that the landscape was central to the location and as such, 87% of the land under their control was being secured as landscape enhancement, adding that the application was to develop on the site what was needed, not what was the most profitable. He advised that there would be no large vehicles accessing the site and no vehicles, machinery or materials stored there. He noted that there were no technical objections and that they were happy to accept a cap on the size of the business in line with the business plan to ensure the vehicle movements did not exceed what had been assessed as acceptable.

 

Councillor R Boam, Ward Member, addressed the committee highlighting that the site was greenfield and was outside the Limits to Development, that there were other office sites within the area that would have been suitable for the applicants and that there were highway safety concerns, even though there was no objection from LCC. He questioned the number of vehicle movements to and from the site. He noted that both Parishes had objected to the application and the detrimental impact it would have on the visual amenities. He urged the committee to refuse the application.

 

In determining the application, many members raised concerns over issues relating to highway safety due to the single track road the site was accessed from and then on to the A512. They also raised concerns that the application was contrary to policy S3k, that it was outside Limits to Development and a development, such as the one in front of them, would have a detrimental impact on the local amenities. Some members acknowledged that there were no objections from statutory consultees including the highway authority and that the NPPF allowed for development on greenfield sites and consideration was given to the suitability of the design of the building within the rural context.

 

Members had regard to the fact that a condition could be included that would limit use to that of an office only, as the application was the first under the new class E use. It was also noted that the current guidance does show a shortfall in small office units, the application was being assessed under policy S3k rather than policy EC2 and that there was no definition as to what a small scale business was in the Local Plan.

 

A motion to refuse the application on the grounds that the application was contrary to S3k as it did not constitute small scale development was moved by Councillor D Bigby and seconded by Councillor J Legrys.

 

The Chairman put the motion to the vote. A recorded vote being required, the voting was as detailed below.

 

RESOLVED THAT:

 

The application be refused on the grounds that the application was contrary to policy S3k and authorisation to word the decision notice be delegated to the Head of Planning and Infrastructure.

 

Supporting documents: