Shrewsbury & Atcham
Borough Council

DEVELOPMENT CONTROL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMMITTEE

11^th January 2005

PRESENT: Councillor Rees* (Chairman)

Councillors Bebb*, Mrs Brennand*, Bushell*, Mrs Chaplin*, Freestone*, R. Jones*, Owen*, Price*, Townsend*, Ms Wild* and Mrs. Williams.

(* Denotes attendance at site visits that day)

Also in Attendance: Councillors Mrs. Allaway, Tandy and J. M. Williams.

Officers in Attendance: Principal Planning Officer, Area Planning Officer (North/ West), Conservation Officer, Assistant Chief Executive, Senior Assistant Solicitor and Committee Services Officer.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Councillor Thurston.

COUNCILLOR BANKS
The Chairman referred to the sad news of the death of Councillor Banks and paid tribute to his work on this Committee and the Council, after which a minute’s silence was observed in respect of his memory.

MINUTES: 7^th December 2004 – confirmed.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: The following members declared their personal and / or personal and prejudicial interests in the items shown below:

Member Minute Number and Matter

Councillor Mrs. Brennand Minute 01/05 (Item 17) - Furrows, Benbow Business Park, Harlescott, Shrewsbury – Personal and Prejudicial interest in that the Managing Director of the Company was well known to her. She left the room and took no part in the consideration of or voting on the application.

Councillor Bushell Minute 01/05 (Item 2) – Sundorne Sports Ground, Sundorne Road, Shrewsbury - Personal interest in that the public speaker was known to him. He remained in the room during the consideration of and voting on the application.

Councillor Bushell Minute 01/05 (Item 12) – Land adjacent 48 Porthill Gardens, Shrewsbury - Personal interest in that the applicant was well known to him. He left the room and took no part in the consideration of or voting on the application.

Councillor Freestone Minute 01/05 (Item 2) - Sundorne Sports Ground, Sundorne Road, Shrewsbury - Personal interest in that the public speaker was known to her. She remained in the room during the consideration of and voting on the application.

Councillor R. Jones Minute 01/05 (Item 17) - Furrows, Benbow Business Park, Harlescott, Shrewsbury Shrewsbury - Personal interest in that the Managing Director of the Company was known to him and a remote connection to the Company through marriage. He remained in the room during the consideration of and voting on the application.

Councillor Owen Minute 01/05 (Item 1) – Timberline, Old Coleham, Shrewsbury - Personal interest in that the applicant was known to him. He remained in the room during the consideration of and voting on the application.

Councillor Owen Minute 01/05 (Item 15) – Four Winds, Mousecroft Lane, Shrewsbury - Personal interest as the ward councillor for the area.

Councillor Owen Minute 01/05 (Item 17) - Furrows, Benbow Business Park, Harlescott, Shrewsbury – Personal and Prejudicial interest in that the Chairman of the Company was well known to him. He left the room and took no part in the consideration of or voting on the application.

Councillor Owen Minute 02/05 – Shrewsbury School, Kingsland, Shrewsbury - Personal and Prejudicial interest as a Governor of Shrewsbury School. He left the room and took no part in the consideration of or voting on that item.

Councillor Price Minute 01/05 (Item 17) – Furrows, Benbow Business Park, Harlescott, Shrewsbury – Personal and Prejudicial interest in that one of the Directors of the Company was a personal friend. He left the room and took no part in the consideration of or voting on the application.

Councillor Townsend Minute 01/05 (Item 4) – 8 Hereford Road, Shrewsbury - Personal interest as the applicant was known to him. He remained in the room during the consideration of and voting on the application.

Councillor Townsend Minute 01/05 (Item 12) – Land adjacent 48 Porthill Gardens, Shrewsbury - Personal interest in that the public speaker was well known to him. He left the room and took no part in the consideration of or voting on the application.

Councillor Ms. Wild Minute 02/05 – Shrewsbury School, Kingsland, Shrewsbury - Personal and Prejudicial interest in that her son attended Shrewsbury School. She left the room and took no part in the consideration of or voting on that item.

Councillor Mrs. Williams Minute 02/05 - Shrewsbury School, Kingsland, Shrewsbury – Personal interest as the local ward member and, in that capacity, having previously made representations opposing the proposal.

Councillor Mrs Williams Minute 03/05 – 40 Longner Street, Shrewsbury - Personal and Prejudicial interest in that her son – in – law and daughter lived opposite the site. She left the room and took no part in the consideration of or voting on that item.

Councillor J.M. Williams Minute 01/05 (Item 2) – Sundorne Sports Ground, Sundorne Road, Shrewsbury - Personal interest as Chairman of the Shrewsbury Railway Heritage Trust which worked informally with the Shrewsbury/Newport Canal Trust.

01/05 APPLICATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT

The Development Control Manager submitted a schedule of applications for development with his recommendations detailed thereon. In addition to the objections and representations detailed on the schedule, the Committee also considered further schedules of additional objections/representations received, copies of which are attached to the signed minutes, which were circulated at the meeting.

Members had made visits to the following sites prior to the start of the meeting:

• Timberline, Old Coleham, Shrewsbury;
• Sundorne Sports Ground, Sundorne Road, Shrewsbury;
• 255 Copthorne Road, Shrewsbury;
• Tree House Barns (Adjacent to Grove Farm), Pitchford, Shrewsbury;
• The Old Police House, 23 Swan Hill, Shrewsbury;
• Land adjacent 48 Port Hill Gardens, Shrewsbury;
• Four Winds, Mousecroft Lane, Shrewsbury; and
• Furrows, Benbow Business Park, Harlescott, Shrewsbury.

The following Members spoke on the applications stated:

Member:	Application:
Councillor Tandy	Minute 01/05 (Item 14) - Cycleway (land at), Sutton Road, Shrewsbury.
Councillor J. M. Williams	Minute 01/05 (Item 2) – Sundorne Sports Ground, Sundorne Road, Shrewsbury

Councillor Mrs Brennand indicated that in relation to Item 14 - Cycleway (land at), Sutton Road, Shrewsbury she had previously made representations opposing the application. In accordance with paragraphs 8.7 and 8.8 of the Local Protocol for Councillors and Officers dealing with Planning Matters, she made a statement on the application and then left the Chamber and took no part in the consideration of and voting on the application.

Councillor Bushell indicated that in relation to Item 17 - Furrows, Benbow Business Park, Harlescott, Shrewsbury he was the local ward member and had previously made representations opposing the application. In accordance with paragraphs 8.7 and 8.8 of the Local Protocol for Councillors and Officers dealing with Planning Matters, he made a statement on the application and then left the Chamber and took no part in the consideration of and voting on the application.

The following members of the public were permitted to speak on the application stated in accordance with the Council’s scheme for public speaking on planning applications:

Application:		Member of the public:
Minute 01/05 (Item 2) - Sundorne Sports Ground, Sundorne Road, Shrewsbury		Mr C. Chambers spoke in favour of the proposals on behalf of the Shrewsbury/Newport Canals Trust.
Minute 01/05 (Items 10 & 11) - 23 Swan Hill, Shrewsbury		Mr Bukhari spoke against the proposals. Mr Thorne, the applicant, responded.
Minute 01/05 (Item 12) - Land adjacent 48 Port Hill Gardens, Shrewsbury		Mr C. J. Hope spoke against the proposals.
Minute 01/05 (Item 17) - Furrows, Benbow Business Park, Harlescott, Shrewsbury		County Councillor Ioan Jones spoke against the proposals.

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the amendments set out below, the recommendations of the Development Control Manager, as contained in the Schedule of Applications (a copy of which is attached to the signed minutes), be approved:

Item 3 04/1571/O - Salop Music Centre, St. Michaels Street, Shrewsbury

Subject to a Section 106 Agreement for the provision of 30% minimum affordable housing with a caveat to increase this if the emerging Government guidance on affordable housing recommends a greater figure.

Item 5 04/1673/F - 255 Copthorne Road, Shrewsbury

Delete reference to the balcony from the application description.

Item 7 04/1631/F - Bank House Farm, Shrawardine, Shrewsbury

Application withdrawn.

Item 14 04/1680/MAS - Cycleway (land at), Sutton Road, Shrewsbury

Recommendation amended to read:

"Prior approval is required and is refused for the following reason:

In the opinion of the Local Planning Authority, the installation of a 12.5 metre high column mast and its associated equipment in this prominent roadside location, would result in a form of development that would project significantly above surrounding dwellings and be visually obtrusive and detrimental to both the amenities of this residential area and the visual amenities of the occupiers of the adjacent dwellings, contrary to policy INF 17 of the Borough Local Plan."

Item 16 04/1707/F - 91 Mount Pleasant Road, Shrewsbury

Members of the Development Control and Environmental Protection Committee determined that the application be approved on the following conditions:

GO I G10 I (Plans received 24^th November 2004)

Members of the Committee determined that the application be approved contrary to Officer advice for the following reason:

It is considered that the use of the first floor for residential purposes will not be detrimentally affected by the neighbouring commercial uses and is an appropriate land use for the area.

 

02/05 SHREWSBURY SCHOOL, KINGSLAND, SHREWSBURY

Consideration was given to a report of the Development Control Manager on proposed amendments to planning permission 03/0771/F to raise the overall height of the new 3 storey boarding house by approximately 1 metre above the existing ground level at Shrewsbury School, Kingsland, Shrewsbury.

Members had visited the site.

RESOLVED:

That the amended plans received on 12^th November 2004 be treated as acceptable amendments to planning permission 03/0771/F.

03/05 40 LONGNER STREET, SHREWSBURY

Consideration was given to a report of the Development Control Manager on proposed amendments to planning permission 03/0943/F to include four additional windows on the north elevation of the 2 storey block of four apartments at 40 Longner Street, Shrewsbury.

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the satisfactory completion of an associated Section 106 undertaking, the amended plans received on the 12^th November 2004 be treated as acceptable amendments to planning permission 03/0943/F.

04/05 TOWN CENTRE FLAG ADVERTISING SCHEME

Consideration was given to a report of the Development Control Manager on extending the town centre advertising scheme to include the use of existing Christmas tree brackets on shops and businesses in the town for the display of approximately 150 flags to advertise the Shrewsbury Summer Season and Britain in Bloom.

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the terms of approval for the scheme agreed by this Committee on 18^th February 2003, approval be granted for the Shrewsbury Summer Season and Britain in Bloom flag advertisements for a period of 10 weeks between the beginning of June and mid August 2005.

 

05/05 REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT CONTROL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMMITTEE PROCEDURE RULES

Consideration was given to a report of the Development Control Manager on the review being undertaken of the Development Control and Environmental Protection Committee and Planning Committee Procedure Rules and seeking the views of members on possible changes to the rules for submission to the Standards Committee and Council as part of the review of protocols and codes etc. in the Council’s Constitution.

RESOLVED:

That the Development Control and Environmental Protection Committee and Planning Committee Procedure Rules be amended as set out in the report of the Development Control Manager and be referred to the Standards Committee for consideration.

 

06/05 THE GOOD PRACTICE GUIDE TO MAKING THE PLANNING SYSTEM ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE: OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Consideration was given to a report of the Development Control Manager on the Good Practice Guide for Local Authorities, produced by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, on how to ensure that the planning system was accessible to everyone.

An assessment of the Council’s planning practices and procedures had been carried out to check compliance with the guide and details of how the Council’s practice compared with the Good Practice Guide was set out in the report.

RESOLVED:

That the report of the Development Control Manager be noted.

 

07/05 PLANNING APPEALS

Consideration was given to appeal decisions by the Planning Inspectorate in respect of the following sites which had been received by the Development Control Manager:

1. Land between Preston Gubbals Lane and Windsor Lane, Bomere Heath (Pool Meadow) (Application for costs – 03/1486/F)
2. Land at the rear of Radbrook College, Shrewsbury (04/0270/O)
3. Land at Kinton House, Nesscliffe (04/0190/O)
4. Land to rear of Moreton Cottages, Coleham, Shrewsbury (04/0342/F)

RESOLVED:

That the decisions for the following appeals be noted:

1. Land between Preston Gubbals Lane and Windsor Lane, Bomere Heath (Pool Meadow) (Application for costs – 03/1486/F)
2. Land at the rear of Radbrook College, Shrewsbury (04/0270/O)
3. Land at Kinton House, Nesscliffe (04/0190/O)

d.      Land to rear of Moreton Cottages, Coleham, Shrewsbury(04/0342/F)

 

 

5.30 p.m. - 8.05 p.m.