Agenda and minutes

To be informed of the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

There were no Substitute Members reported.

You are invited to declare any registerable and/or non-registerable interests in matters appearing on the agenda, and the nature of that interest.

You are also requested to complete the Declarations of Interests card available at the meeting and return it to the Democratic Services Officer before leaving the meeting.

You are also invited to disclose any dispensation from the requirement to declare any registerable and/or non-registerable interests that have been granted to you in respect of any matters appearing on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations reported.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 24 October 2023.

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 24 October 2023 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

To receive the attached guidance to members in determining planning applications and to give consideration to the planning applications listed in the following agenda items.

The Committee received guidance in relation to the principles of decision making when determining planning applications and then gave consideration to the planning application listed in the following minute.

To determine a full planning application from Smulders Projects UK for the erection of a new workshop building (55m x 270m x 41m) at Yard C to accommodate welding and fabrication activities (Re-submission to amend windows).

The Committee considered a report from the planning officers, together with three addenda circulated prior to the meeting, in relation to a full planning application from Smulders Projects UK for the erection of a new workshop building (55m x 270m x 41m) to accommodate welding and fabrication activities.

A planning officer presented details of the application with the aid of various maps, plans and photographs.  It was explained that there had been a legal challenge in relation to the previous permission granted for the site and that the previously approved building had been substantially completed although the windows did not match what had previously been approved.  The Committee was reminded that it must consider the current application on its merits and not attach any weight to the previous application when determining the application currently before the Committee. It was also explained that further details of the lighting scheme and landscaping would be submitted and an additional condition would be imposed in relation to a scheme to specify how apprenticeships, training and employment opportunities would be delivered.

In accordance with the Committee’s Speaking Rights Scheme Chris Black, a local resident, addressed the Committee.  He explained that he considered that it would be unlawful for the Committee to determine the current application, which was substantially the same as the previous application, prior to the High Court’s consideration of the judicial review in respect of the previous application in relation to the site.  He suggested that a short deferral of the application would allow the judicial review to take place.  Mr Black then made reference to the development’s height and impact on amenity and he also referred to the failure to abide by the planning restrictions in relation to the creation of dust, construction outside of authorised hours and the noise associated with the operation of the site.  He explained that residents had not been considered during the course of the construction of the development and he made reference to the impact that the lighting on site had had on peoples sleep and the associated effect on the residents’ quality of life.

James Cullingford of Lambert Smith Hampton addressed the Committee on behalf of the applicant.  He explained that he supported and agreed with the conclusions reached by the officers.  He also explained that a review of the lighting scheme had been commissioned and would be available by the end of January 2024.  He also confirmed that the applicant had taken appropriate action as soon as it had been made aware of the issue regarding lighting and had installed timers on the lighting to ensure that the lights were switched off at a suitable time, he also explained that further consideration was to be given to the orientation of the external lighting.  He also confirmed that the applicant had been reminded of the obligation to comply with the noise conditions and that noise validation was to be carried out and submitted in January 2024.  In relation to concerns over the control of dust  ...  view the full minutes text for item PQ47/23