Agenda item

Report by the Director of Planning & Place (PN6).

The applicant wishes to build a rectangular building measuring 25 metres by 27 metres, which would encompass the existing concreted area, currently used for waste processing. It is also proposed to link the proposed processing building with small covered lean-to area linking to the existing shed (3.8 metres by 5 metres).

The proposed building would accommodate a new processing system with trommel, conveyors and picking stations. The proposed building will also include pre-sort recycling areas. The applicant states in the supporting statement ‘by enclosing all the waste processing operations in this manner, it is anticipated that any potential dust and noise emissions would be significantly mitigated’. After three objections in the first round of consultation, the building height was reduced from 10m to 8.5m and 8m (eastern end). The proposal would also see further planting to the south to screen the building, and will keep the hedgerow to the north. The roof is proposed to be juniper green with olive green for the walls.

It is RECOMMENDED that Application MW.0070/16 (16/01686/CM) be approved subject to conditions to be determined by the Director of Planning and Place including those set out in Annex 2 to the report PN6.

The Committee considered (PN6) an application for a rectangular building measuring 25 metres by 27 metres. The building would encompass an existing concreted area, currently used for waste processingand link the proposed processing building with small covered lean-to area which in turn would link to the existing shed (3.8 metres by 5 metres). The proposed building would accommodate a new processing system.

Mr Case presented the report and notified an amendment to paragraph 4 insofar as the whole site covered 0.34 hectares and the building itself 675 metres.  He then responded to questions from –

Councillor Bartholomew – planting to the south of the site could be conditioned.

Councillor Cherry – he confirmed the height of the existing shed at 7.2 metres while the proposed building would be 8.5 metres.

Councillor Greene – he confirmed that although the original proposal had been reduced from a proposed height of 10 metres the applicants had  confirmed that there could be no further reduction without compromising the ability to house machinery.

Councillor Purse – he confirmed that the hedge referred to in the ecologist’s report was the one proposed to be managed jointly between the applicant and neighbour to the north.

Suzi Coyne confirmed that B&E had been operating for over 50 years in the haulage business and for the last 20 years in the recycling business.  Currently that operation was in the open which was not ideal and would be best under cover.  The Environment Agency favoured operations under cover and this proposal would achieve that. There would be no increase in throughput or vehicle movements. The proposal had been designed to comply with other sites but because of objections it had taken some time to reach this final iteration which was the absolute minimum height to accommodate machinery. It was proposed that lorries would only tip at the western end of the site which although manageable was not ideal. There would be substantial health and safety benefits and controls such as noise and the building would be sited 65 and 83 metres from neighbouring properties. Although an urban area there were many other similar commercial units and she urged the Committee to approve the application.

She then responded to questions from –

Councillor Owen – the firm employed 30 staff.

Councillor Johnston – she confirmed the advantages to be gained from keeping material dry and confirmed what materials would be picked out.  Plastic would be baled separately.

Councillor Phillips – tipping had to be carried out at the western end as there were more open views to the south. The proposed building would only be 0.7metres above the approved building and even at the new proposed height it would not be possible for vehicles to extend fully.

Councillor Mrs Fulljames – the shadow over the neighbouring garden would be no greater than would arise from the previously approved building and would be 63 metres from the edge of the neighbouring property.

Responding to Councillor Sanders Mr Case could not confirm the height of other business units in the area but that there were some substantial units.

RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Greene, seconded by Councillor Johnston and carried by 11 votes to 0 with one abstention) that Application MW.0070/16 (16/01686/CM) be approved subject to conditions to be determined by the Director of Planning and Place which included those set out in Annex 2 to the report PN6.