Agenda item

2 Ashby Road, Ibstock, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 6HA

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report to Members.

Mr D Pritchard, Agent, addressed the Committee. He highlighted to Members that the proposal was for three small scale units that would be located between the supermarket and the filing station, adding that the units would share the existing car park and service area. He advised that the current building was in a poor state of repair and that it would be more cost effective to build new than repair. He stated that there were no technical objections and the application met all the polices and would provide new jobs for the area. He urged Members to approve the application.

The officer’s recommendation was moved by Councillor J G Coxon and seconded by Councillor D Harrison.

Councillor J Coxon stated that it was an enterprising application in a trading area, especially with the new housing estates in the village.

Councillor D Harrison advised that it was an ideal location between commercial buildings and the units would blend in well. He was happy to support the recommendation.

Councillor V Richichi stated that he had lived and worked in the area all his life and that he felt that there was no need for any further hot food takeaways or empty shops, he stated that he supported the removal of the decaying house, but could not support the takeaways.

Councillor J Legrys stated that he believed in individual choice that the application may bring and that the sequential test had been carried out, but the petrol station was 24/7 and owned by a competitor, and there were several hot food takeaways in the village, and he therefore could not support the application.

The Head of Planning and Regeneration advised Members that officers were satisfied that the sequential test had been applied correctly, and that when they went out to verify its findings there were no vacant units on the high street at that time. He confirmed that, since the time of the sequential assessment, one unit had become vacant in the High Street, but that unit would not be suitable to accommodate this proposed development.

Councillor D Everitt stated that in reality there was parking provided and as with other supermarkets in the District it was a natural development to have other units on the site.

Following a question from Councillor R Johnson, the Head of Planning and Regeneration confirmed that the site was outside the defined centre boundary by 400m, but was within the Limits to Development.

Councillor M Specht stated that he was in support of the application, adding that due to the growing size of the village the additional commercial units would be of benefit. He clarified that the application did not specify a single end use.

Councillor D J Stevenson agreed with Councillor D Everitt, that the site was ideal as there were already retail units in the area and that there was parking at the Co-op, he questioned why it had come to Committee.

RESOLVED THAT:

The application be permitted in accordance with the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Regeneration.

Having declared a non-pecuniary interest in the items A4 and A5 Councillor D J Stevenson moved that Councillor D Harrison take the chair for the items. It was seconded by Councillor J Cotterill.

Councillor D J Stevenson left the chair and the meeting and took no part in the consideration or voting thereon.

Councillor D Harrison took the chair for the consideration of the item.