Agenda and minutes

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded)

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting)

There were no appeals.

There was no exempt information

There were no late items.

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct. 

There were no declarartions.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor C Campbell.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 29 April 2021.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 29 April 2021 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Planning Officer regarding an application for the erection of a garden centre incorporating a restaurant, indoor soft play, outdoor play area, outdoor sales area, service area, outdoor adventure play area and associated access improvements, car parking and landscaping.

The report of the Chief Planning Officer presented an application for the erection of a garden centre incorporating a restaurant, indoor soft play, outdoor play area, outdoor sales area, service area, outdoor adventure play area and associated access improvements, car parking and landscaping at Acanthus Golf Club, Thorpe Lane, Tingley.

The application was deferred at the meeting of the South and West Plans Panel held in April 2021 to allow for the following:

·  An additional condition regarding local employment.

·  Explore with the applicant the possibility of a shuttle bus for employees/customers as at Tong site.

·  Provision of better photographs illustrating poor condition of the site at present.

·  Provision of CGI’s of the proposed development.

·  Ask if the applicant was prepared to offer a travel plan.

·  A condition that clearly describes and limits retail development, particularly those elements that go beyond goods which might normally be expected at a garden centre.

·  Need to show that there is a net biodiversity gain on site.

Site photographs and plans were displayed and referred to throughout the discussion of the application.

The following was highlighted:

·  Members were informed of the previous planning history at the site including a consent given in 2016.

·  The application was debated in length at the previous meeting of the Plans Panel and Members were reminded that it was considered that special circumstances for development in the greenbelt had been met.

·  Reasons for deferral at the previous meeting.

·  The applicant had held further discussion with Ward Councillors since the last meeting.  There had been supportive comments regarding the principal of development and regeneration of the land.  There were still concerns with regard to traffic and accessibility via public transport.

·  There had been a further biodiversity assessment carried out which showed that there was still a shortfall of 5.6 biodiversity units. Both local and national policy required for there to be a biodiversity gain and where this was not possible benefits could be made via financial contributions for off site provision.  A contribution of £150,000 had been proposed by the applicant which equated to 6 biodiversity units and would be a net gain.

·  Sustainable travel – the applicant operated a centre in a similar location with similar transport links.  Surveys had shown that 98% of customers and 84% of staff used cars.  First Bus had reported that it would not be commercially viable to extend existing services to the centre.  The applicant has considered options for sustainable travel and submitted a travel plan. There would be improved pedestrian links to the site with the provision of cycle facilities to encourage sustainable travel.

·  There would be conditions to the sale of goods to match that of the approval made in 2016/

·  Local employment would be included within the Section 106 agreement and every effort would be made to employ local people.

·  Photographs demonstrating the existing condition of the site.

·  It was felt that the applicant had addressed the issues that had previously been raised by Panel and it was recommended that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Thursday, 3 June 2021 at 3.30 p.m.

Thursday, 3 June 2021 at 3.30 p.m.