Agenda and minutes

Venue: Civic Suite, North Warehouse, The Docks, Gloucester, GL1 2EP. View directions

Contact: Democratic and Electoral Services 

Items
No. Item

16.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 180 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on July 5th , 2022.

Minutes:

RESOLVED that: - the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 5th July 2022 were approved and signed as a correct record by the Chair.

17.

Declarations of Interest

To receive from Members, declarations of the existence of any disclosable pecuniary, or non-pecuniary, interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any agenda item. Please see Agenda Notes.

Minutes:

Councillor Sawyer declared a non-prejudicial interest in agenda item 7 (Longlevens Rugby Club, Longlevens, Gloucester, 22/00248/FUL) owing to her position as ward Councillor for Longlevens.

18.

Late Material

Please note that any late material in respect of the applications detailed below will be published as a supplement on the Council’s website in the late afternoon of the day before the meeting. Additional late material will be uploaded as a supplement on the Council’s website on the day of the meeting, should further relevant representations be received thereafter.

Minutes:

There was no late material to circulate on this occasion.

19.

FORMER CONTRACT CHEMICALS SITE, BRISTOL ROAD, GLOUCESTER - 22/00293/FUL pdf icon PDF 443 KB

Application for determination:

 

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

Minutes:

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.

20.

11 NORTHGATE STREET, GLOUCESTER - 22/00384/FUL pdf icon PDF 232 KB

Application for determination:

 

Proposed change of use from Class E to sui generis (betting office) with internal and external alterations.

Minutes:

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report detailing an application for a change of use from Class E to sui generis (betting office) with internal and external alterations.

 

The Senior Planning Officer explained that the application concerned a grade II listed building and fronted onto Northgate Street. She noted that the site was located in a primary shopping area and whilst the change of use away from retail would be regrettable, the proposal would bring a vacant historic building back into use.

 

 

The Senior Planner for Lichfields addressed the Committee in support of the application.

 

 

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

 

 

- The application was in accordance with the statutory development plan and consistent with planning policy framework.

- The proposal met policy tests for change of use, including increased footfall in the area to generate income for local businesses.

- The unit was no longer considered suitable for A1 (retail) use as the vacant unit had been advertised since 2017 through marketing brochures and boards. - No proposals had been received from ARC retail aside from Boyle Sports.

- The proposal was in line with policy SD2 concerning retail and city centres.

- The applicant had worked collaboratively with the local planning officers.

- The applicant had amended the initial plans to satisfy policy SD4 in the Joint Core Strategy, which requires the design of the development to be appropriate to the setting.

- Listed building and advertisement consent had been obtained since the application was submitted.

- In respect of concerns raised regarding the existing number of betting shops in Gloucester city centre, it was noted that the establishments had reduced from 7 to 5. Therefore, the proposal would reinstate one of the closures rather than adding an additional premises.

- The change of use would contribute towards the economic development of the city, as the betting shop would create 3 full-time and 3 part-time jobs.

 

 

The Senior Planning Office responded to Members’ questions concerning whether the proposal was based on the same site as a previous application considered by the Committee for a gaming centre, how children would be prevented from entering the establishment, why the signage had not been reviewed by a conservation officer, the location of betting shops in the city, whether the Licensing Committee could review the proposal, opening times, whether a license had been applied for and listed building considerations, including whether a statutory body had been approached, as follows:

 

- The gaming centre proposal which had previously been considered by the Committee related to a different site.

- Age restrictions at the premises would be a licensing matter.

 - The signage review had since been resolved.

- There were two betting shops located on Westgate Street and two on Southgate. All betting shops had city centre locations.

- All gambling premises needed to adhere to the law and would need to apply for the appropriate license. This matter would be dealt with outside of the planning application  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

21.

LONGLEVENS RUGBY CLUB, LONGLEVENS, GLOUCESTER - 22/00248/FUL pdf icon PDF 522 KB

Application for determination:

 

Proposed extension and alteration to clubhouse to include new gym, larger ground floor lounge bar, addition of balcony and bar area on the first floor. Extension to existing store and extended car parking area.

Minutes:

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report detailing an application for a proposed extension and alteration to Longlevens Rugby Club clubhouse to include a new gym, larger ground floor lounge bar, addition of a balcony and bar area on the first floor, and an extension store and extended car parking area.

 

The Senior Planning Officer noted that Longlevens Rugby Club comprises buildings associated with the club, a car park area, playing fields and a recreational play area. She explained that the Longlevens Football Club building was immediately next to the Longlevens Rugby Club building and other surrounding developments included residential properties to the south, east, north and Milestone School to the west. She further noted that the proposal included a number of extensions and alterations to the existing clubhouse building.

 

A representative of Longlevens Football Club addressed the Committee in opposition of the application.

 

He objected on the following grounds:

 

 - The proposal was not discussed with the football club beforehand.

- The gap between the proposed extension would leave just 1 metre space between the Longlevens Rugby Club and Longlevens Football Club’s changing rooms, which would have safety implications for football club members accessing the changing rooms as the gap would reduce to 25cm when the door to the changing room was open.

- The club had met with the applicant to request that the proposed extension be amended to provide a gap of 2 metres, but the parties were unable to reach an agreement

- The club had looked into amending the angle of the changing room door to open inwards but had found this was unlikely to resolve the issue.

- Longlevens Football Club already experienced issues with drainage due to root damage from nearby trees. There were concerns that the proposed rugby club extension would exasperate this further.

- Concerns had been raised regarding the proposed new tarmac car park and the implication that the rugby pitch would move further into the sports field and take up more space which was regularly used by the football club.

- The football club were in the process of applying for a lease which would allow them to make improvements to the pitches.

 

A representative of Longlevens Rugby Club (applicant) addressed the Committee in support of the application.

 

 

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

 

- Access to the football club changing rooms was the main concern and the rugby club would argue that amending the changing room door to open inwards would resolve this problem.

 - The football club had no legal right to use the door as it opened onto rugby club property.

- The rugby club had outgrown the facility and needed more space to meet the needs of its membership. It was noted that the rugby club accommodated over 250 players, including over 50 senior players, 30 walking rugby players and many mixed ability, girls, and women players. It was noted that at the moment, there were no changing facilities  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

22.

Delegated Decisions pdf icon PDF 140 KB

To consider a schedule of applications determined under delegated powers during the month of June 2022.

Minutes:

The schedule of applications determined under delegated powers during the month of July 2022 was noted.

 

RESOLVED that: - the schedule be noted

23.

Date of next meeting

Tuesday September 6th, 2022 at Civic Suite, North Warehouse.

Minutes:

Tuesday 6th September 2022.