Issue - meetings

Application for determination:

Erection of 43 dwellings, comprising 13 houses and 30 flats, together with associated parking and landscaping

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report detailing an application for the erection of 43 dwellings, comprising 13 houses and 30 flats, together with associated parking and landscaping.

The Noise Consultant for Tetra Tech addressed the Committee in support of the application.

He argued that it should be granted for the following reasons:

- Numerous noise surveys had been undertaken during both daytime and nighttime, and all had retuned assessments which were under statutory noise limits and within the criteria of Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS).

- WRS had been consulted and had not raised any objections to the proposal or the submitted noise survey.

- Avon Metals Ltd had objected to the application due to the ‘Agent of Change’ principle of the NPPF but, a freedom of information request had confirmed that no complaints regarding noise had been made (from nearby residential properties) regarding previous noise generating operations at Avon Metals.

- Avon Metals had sought a mitigation payment, however an independent assessment had confirmed that this was not required.

- It was likely that Bristol Road traffic would be the main source of noise in the area.

The Senior Planning Officer responded to Members’ questions concerning the distance between the proposed development and the Avon Metals site, the purpose of the storage warehouse, the opening and closing times of Avon Metals Ltd and the storage warehouse, details of the s106 agreement, whether there were any concerns about contamination, refuse arrangements, landscaping, proposals for open space improvements and whether viability assessments were subject to any auditing or scrutiny as follows:

- In relation to the distance between the proposed development and Avon Metals, the Senior Planning Officer confirmed that the site boundary ran approximately 180 metres to the South of the existing Avon Metals site. He noted that there was a large storage unit located between the development site and Avon Metals and it was his assessment that this could largely block noise from the development site. He further noted that the main source of noise in the area was the traffic along Bristol Road, and that an assessment had been undertaken by Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS). The Noise Consultant confirmed that they were satisfied that the levels met the necessary criteria and no noise complaints had been made by occupiers of existing dwellings located the same distance from the Avon Metals site.

- The storage warehouse was used for commercial purposes relating to the hire of cars and other vehicles (B8 storage and distribution use).

- The operating times of both Avon Metals and the adjacent storage warehouse would have been assessed as part of the noise survey. It was anticipated that operating times would likely be broadly in line with office hours.

- With regard to the s106 agreement, it was confirmed that approval would be subject to a provision of a £27k contribution for affordable housing. The Senior Planning Officer explained that a greater contribution had originally been requested, however the applicant had submitted a viability  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19