Agenda item

Planning application documents

In the absence of Planning Officer, Victoria Harris, the Interim Head of Planning, Andy Robbins, introduced the application relating to the change in use of an existing supermarket to a self-storage business use at the former Lidl food store in Grosvenor Terrace.  This application was deferred at the last meeting because of the design of the proposed office building and the impact on the amenity of neighbours and the long opening hours.  The applicants had amended their scheme and proposed a flat roof structure instead of a shipping container; on the same footprint and with a mixture of materials.  The applicant had also amended the opening hours to 8am – 6pm Monday to Saturday and 10am – 4pm on Sundays, which put their hours of operation in line with other similar businesses and those of the High Street which should reduce the impact on neighbourhood amenity.

Mr Richard Lanyon spoke on behalf of the applicant in support of the application stating they had taken on board the concerns of the committee and had reduced the hours and amended the design. He said they were different to other out of town self-storage facilities and catered for residents and small businesses alike, based on local convenience and did not have noisy lorries.  He pointed out that they were situated next to a car park anyway.  The Lidl space was redundant so they were investing in an empty space which had been subject to anti-social behaviour whilst empty, and reoccupying the site would help prevent this.  He said the new usage would create employment and regenerate this area.

Cllr Barbara Clark, ward councillor, spoke on behalf of the residents stating they were pleased about the conditions attached to change in use. She requested confirmation that the opening times were 10am - 4pm on Sunday and wished it recorded that no container would be used for office space and that the opening hours were reduced to mirror other similar businesses.  She also requested a condition be attached that the unit would never become, under this change of use, a distribution centre for other large businesses such as Amazon.  She concluded that although not happy, the residents were satisfied with the planning conditions and thanked the Planning Officers.  Cllr Clark then left the Chamber.

The Interim Head of Planning corrected his error and confirmed Sunday opening was from 10am and not 9am as he had inadvertently said.

In reply to a question about the Lidl frontage, the Officer confirmed there would be no changes to the very front of the building other than signage which would be changed.

During the debate, a member congratulated the applicant and Planning Officers and cited this as a good example of planning, where discussion and amendments had resulted in an application that could be supported.

Another member thought it was a lost opportunity for the Council to regenerate this part of the town with some flats and town houses as it was Council land.

There being no further comments or questions, the Chair moved to vote on the Officer’s recommendation to permit.

FOR : 7

AGAINST : 1

ABSTAIN : 0

PERMITTED