Agenda item

Application for determination:-

Construction of new public square, associated engineering works and hard landscaping (including relocation of heritage features) (proposed as an interim scheme pending implementation of previously approved scheme of works ref. 14/00415/FUL) on land at the Docks (former British Waterways car park).

Councillor Cook had declared a non-prejudicial interest in this application as a non-executive director of Gloucester Docks Estate Company.

The Principal Planning Officer presented his report which detailed an application for the construction of a new public square, associated engineering works and hard landscaping, including relocation of heritage features, proposed as an interim measure pending implementation of previously approved scheme of works (14/00415/FUL) on land at The Docks (former British Waterways car park).

He referred Members to the late material which confirmed that the applicant intended to use resin bonded gravel instead of coloured asphalt.

Ian Woodward, a resident of the Docks, addressed the Committee in respect of his concerns regarding the application.

Mr Woodward stated that he had lived in the Barge Arm for twelve months and, in the main, had enjoyed the events held in the Docks. He stated that although the proposal was acceptable, he asked Members to consider the following areas of concern:-

·         Seating should not be directly in front of residences

·         Lighting should not be on all night

·         Trees would be welcome to limit noise and the provision of exterior power points to reduce reliance on noisy generators.

Members were advised that the surrounding public houses, restaurants and cafes were not part of this application and already in place in terms of generating customers to the area, and were advised to limit their considerations to the content of this application. They were also advised that a permission had already been granted for the public square including seating provision.

The Chair moved to grant permission but requested that he and the Vice Chair be consulted regarding discharge of Condition 4 in respect of seating and lighting.

RESOLVED that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions in the report with the following amendments:-

Amended Condition 2

The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the approved plan referenced M 5392-100 Rev. D08 - Interim Landscape Proposal received by the Local Planning Authority on 2^nd September 2016 except where otherwise required by conditions of this permission.

Reason

To ensure that the works are undertaken in accordance with the approved plans.

Amended Condition 5

The railway tracks across the site shall be retained in full in situ as an exposed surface feature and only localised repairs shall be undertaken to the tracks or the retained brick setts between and alongside the tracks, unless an alternative methodology for their treatment is submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority under which circumstances works shall be undertaken to the railway tracks and brick setts between and alongside only in accordance with the approved methodology.

Reason

In the interests of good design and protecting the character and appearance of the Conservation Area and the setting of listed buildings, in accordance with Policies SD5 and SD9 of the Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Joint Core Strategy Submission Version November 2014, Paragraphs 17, 58 and 131 of the National Planning Policy Framework and Policies BE.5, BE.17, BE.23 and BE.29 of the Second Deposit City of Gloucester Local Plan (2002) and the National Planning Policy Framework.