Agenda item

Arla Dairies Smisby Road Ashby De La Zouch Leicestershire LE65 2UF

The Principal Planning Officer presented the report to Members.

Mr J Derbyshire, General Manager of KP Snacks, addressed the Committee. He advised Members that the company wanted to ensure noise mitigation to protect the proposed neighbouring properties from noise generated by the factory. He highlighted that the factory had been there since 1948 and employed over 400 local people. He informed Members that they had been working with the developers to reduce the risk of noise complaints, who following a noise survey, had agreed to construct and fund a sound bund with acoustic fence, and that he had been led to believe that this condition would form part of the planning application. He stated that he did not believe that acoustic glazing and garden fences would be sufficient to protect future residents from the noise that was generated. He requested that a sound bund be included in the application by way of a Grampian condition.

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

Councillor J G Coxon stated that it was a Brownfield site and formed part of the Ashby Neighbourhood Plan. He acknowledged Mr Derbyshire’s request in relation to noise mitigation and asked if the sound bund could be included in the conditions, adding that he had never received any complaints in relation to noise from the site. He informed Members that the connectivity to the Money Hill site was paramount due to the potential employment opportunities on that site and to the Ashby Neighbourhood Plan.

Councillor J Bridges stated that he agreed wholeheartedly with Councillor J G Coxon.

Councillor D Harrison stated that he welcomed the application and that it was a pleasure to see development on a Brownfield site rather than trying to build on green land. He added that he supported Mr Derbyshire as often the last in were the first to shout and therefore, if possible requested that  noise mitigation be put into the consent. He supported the application.

The Head of Planning and Regeneration advised Members that officers had been alive to the issue throughout the application. He drew Members’ attention to condition 14 whereby the developer had to agree with officers how they would deal with the noise issue from the factory and that the update sheet had a reference to a sound bund on the KP site as mitigation to protect the factory against complaints from future residents. He stated that it was the officers’ views that as there was insufficient technical evidence to suggest that a bund would be required and therefore condition 14 and the note to applicant that was included on the update sheet would be the next best thing.

Councillor J Legrys stated that he was very pleased to see the opening up of the watercourse and the removal of the culverts as it would help alleviate flood risks and protect the water voles that resided there. He also welcomed building on a Brownfield site, and requested that officers maintained contact with KP Snacks over the noise mitigation issue and that their concerns should not be dismissed. He did not want the issue to be forgotten about at the reserved matters stage.

Councillor D J Stevenson stated that finally there was forward planning on an application and that anything that could be done to prevent a noise nuisance must be welcomed and the issue would not be forgotten.

Councillor J G Coxon stated that he was happy with condition 14.

It was noted that all Members of the Committee were totally in favour of keeping KP Snacks in the loop over the application.

RESOLVED THAT:

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