Issue - meetings

Issue - meetings

Planning Application No CB/17/05311/FULL

Meeting: 23/05/2018 - DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (Item 8)

8 Planning Application No. CB/17/05311/FULL (Northill) pdf icon PDF 256 KB

 

Address:       Unit 5, The Ridgeway Business Park, The Ridgeway, Moggerhanger, Bedford, MK44 3PH

 

Extension to existing workshop building and construction of extension to existing parking area.

 

Applicant:     Pip Bayleys Limited

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

The Committee had before it a report regarding Planning Application No. CB/17/05311/FULL for the extension to an existing workshop building and construction of an extension to the existing parking area at Unit 5, The Ridgeway Business Park, The Ridgeway, Moggerhanger, Bedford, MK44 3PH.

 

In advance of consideration of the application the Committee’s attention was drawn to additional consultation/publicity responses, additional comments and additional/amended conditions as set out in the Late Sheet.

 

In advance of consideration of the application the Committee received a representation from the applicant under the public participation scheme.

 

A Member sought clarification from the applicant with regard to whether planting would be undertaken directly by the new fencing around the extended car park.  The Member referred to the planting by the existing fencing and how it had softened its appearance so effectively that it was impossible to see the fencing.  In response the applicant stated that the intention was to bund the area and construct the fence inside the bund.  He was uncertain as the planting required but he was willing to undertake high quality planting so it would not be possible to see the fence.

 

Another Member queried if the parking area would be for cars or Heavy Goods Vehicles.  In response the applicant stated that current facility was an unauthorised car park but the intension was to create a parking for both cars and HGVs.  The Member then asked if the fencing to be installed would be similar to that already in place for the existing parking area.  In response the applicant stated that it would not be dissimilar but would be a modern, more appropriate green fencing.

 

The ward Member indicated his full support for the application although he pointed out that Northill Parish Council was against it because of the traffic passing through Moggerhanger.  He acknowledged that the level of traffic was a problem given the small size of the village.  However, given the vehicle numbers submitted by the applicant it appeared that only three additional vehicles would pass through Moggerhanger as the majority of vehicles would turn left on to the A1.  Whilst there would be a slight increase onto an already busy road he believed the increase was acceptable as did the highways officer.  Following a query by the Chairman the ward Member explained that a small percentage of vehicles turned right onto the Ridgeway.

 

(Note: At this point in the proceedings Councillor Firth left the Council Chamber and took no further part in the debate or in the vote on this item).

 

The Committee considered the application and in summary discussed the following:

 

·         A Member commented that the Council had policies within its development framework that permitted the expansion of existing industrial areas whether or not those areas were allocated.  He stated that the application was, therefore, fully policy compliant.

·         Another Member stated he had some concerns which he had expressed on the site inspection.  He first referred to the aesthetically unappealing utilitarian industrial fence used on the main compound  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8