Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Wheeler.

Councillors Andrews, Dobie and Williams declared that they are councillors at Gloucestershire County Council. They confirmed that they had not been involved in the preparation of the county council’s response and were not predetermined on the application.

Councillors Allen, Barnes, Clark, Oliver, and Steinhardt declared that they had visited the site independently.

There were none.

Planning application documents.

The Principal Planning Officer introduced the report as published. The officer noted that late representations had been received from Gloucestershire County Council (GCC), NEMA and the MP but these had not raised any matters not already addressed in the report and had not changed the officer’s recommendations. She addressed the following points raised in representations:

• Land Use Parameter Plans – It had been brought to the LPA’s attention that there are individuals in the locality with sensitive issues in relation to noise and environmental disturbance.  This has been considered and on balance officers are content that noise matters can be dealt with the reserved matters stage.  This being from the residential developments surrounding the site and that it can been seen that largely the barriers between the site and the residential dwellings would be mixed use.
• Prematurity – The application has been through an extensive pre-application process and the outline has been with the local planning authority (LPA) for nearly two years. The government requires LPAs to determine applications when they are ready. Following extensive work by officers and the applicant the LPA are able to determine the application, which is why it has been brought forward to the Planning Committee. Joint Core Strategy (JCS) policy SA1 also clearly recognises that there are different approaches to bringing strategic allocations forward.
• Odour mitigation – the site requires Severn Trent Water to undertake mitigation works to remove large parts of the site from odour pollution. The test for the Grampian planning condition attached to mitigate any harm from odour is whether there is reasonable prospect of actions being completed within the time limits imposed by the permission. Severn Trent Water has indicated that this mitigation work will likely be undertaken between 2027 and 2028, further assurance on this timeline was provided to the LPA during meetings with senior representatives of the Severn Trent Water. If works do not come forward within the timescales envisaged the application is presented  with appropriate conditions in place to mitigate this.
• Lack of GP Surgery – Whilst it is possible that the St. Modwen application, which does contain a GP surgery, may not come to fruition this is considered unlikely. The current scheme for 576 homes would not justify the need for a GP surgery on its own. When the allocation is considered as a whole there is provision for a GP surgery and the developer of the current application and those at St. Modwen are in agreement. The LPA has taken a pragmatic approach and are satisfied the infrastructure requirements are met. The NHS has been fully engaged in the process of this application and agree with the approach taken.
• Disconnect between the views of the LPA and GCC – The LPA has been consistent in its approach both in terms of providing evidence to the M5 Junction 10 (J10) development control order examination, through pre-application and this application itself. There is a shared response with Gloucester and Tewkesbury councils to the revisions of the local  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

There were none.