Shrewsbury & Atcham
Borough Council

PRESENT: Councillor Rees * (Chairman)

Councillors Bebb*, Mrs Brennand*, Bushell*, Mrs Chaplin*, Cooke*, Freestone*, R Jones*, Owen, Price*, Thurston, Townsend*, Ms Wild*

(* Denotes attendance at site visits that day)

Also in Attendance: Councillors Armstrong, Mrs Parsons and Tandy

Officers in Attendance: Director of Development Services, Head of Development Control, Senior Area Planning Officer, Senior Solicitor and Committee Services Assistant

MINUTES: 5^th April 2005 - confirmed

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

22/05 APPLICATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT

The Planning Services 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.

Councillor Owen indicated that although he did not have an interest in Item 7 - The Shropshire Nuffield Hospital, Londgen Road, Shrewsbury he had agreed to represent the objector on this item. 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 and voting on the application.

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

• 1 Betley Terrace, Betley Lane, Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury;
• Longden Pre-School, Longden, Shrewsbury;
• The Shropshire Nuffield Hospital, Longden Road, Shrewsbury;
• 103B Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury;
• Land at Oteley Road, Shrewsbury;
• William Farr House, Mytton Oak Road, Shrewsbury;
• Royal Shrewsbury Hospital North, Mytton Oak Road, Shrewsbury;
• Land adjacent 50 Roman Road, Shrewsbury; and
• Blythe Cottage, The Mount, Shrewsbury.

The following Members spoke on the applications stated:

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:

(Councillor Thurston was not in attendance for Minute 22/05 (Items 10 and 12) in its entirety and took no involvement in the discussion or decision made by the Committee on the applications).

(Councillor Townsend was not in attendance for Minute 22/05 (Items 10 and 12) in its entirety and took no involvement in the discussion or decision made by the Committee on the applications).

(Councillor Ms Wild was not in attendance for Minute 22/05 (Items 10 to 20) in its entirety and took no involvement in the discussion or decision made by the Committee on the applications).

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

Item 4: 05/0317/F - Longden Pre-School, Longden, Shrewsbury

To confirm paragraph 2 on page 8 of the Officers' Report in the Schedule of Application summarised Shropshire County Council's Highways response.

Item 9: 05/0257/VAR - Land at Oteley Road, Shrewsbury

To amend the Officers' Report as detailed in the Schedule of Applications to read:

Proposal - delete reference to 'community pitch' (paragraph three)

Planning / Environmental Considerations - delete reference to 'community pitch (paragraph 1)

Conclusion - amend to read '…… to provide the children's facilities and a 5 a side pitch'.

Conditions - delete reference to …. 'and submission of Community Use Agreement' - include within an amended Section 106 agreement.

Members of the Development Control and Environmental Protection Committee determined that the application be refused contrary to Officer advice for the following reason:

The Local Planning Authority considered the provision of the community sports facilities to be an integral part of the original proposals for the development of a new stadium with associated facilities at Oteley Road with the community facilities contributing to the sport and recreation needs, particularly for young people, in the adjoining neighbourhoods. To defer the provision of the community sports facilities would be contrary to the Shrewsbury and Atcham Partnership's Community Strategy (2005-2012) well-being aim of "creating safe, healthy and vibrant neighbourhoods with access for all to economic, social, democratic and educational activities through the development of empowered and inclusive communities". Deferring the provision of the children's and 5-a-side pitches had not been justified on planning grounds and it is considered that the financial reasons put forward by the applicant are not a relevant planning consideration.

Item 10: 05/0324/F - Vets Practice, College Hill, Shrewsbury

Delegate approval to the Planning Services Manager subject to the receipt of amended plans.

Item 12: 05/0324/F - Vets Practice, College Hill, Shrewsbury

Delegate approval to the Planning Services Manager subject to the receipt of amended plans.

Item 20: 05/0398/F - Wroxeter Roman Vineyard, Wroxeter, Shrewsbury

To amend the Local Community Comments as detailed in the Officer's Report to read two letters of no objection have been received.

Item 21: 05/0302/O - Land adjacent to The Severn Hospice, Oxon, Shrewsbury

Members of the Development Control and Environmental Protection Committee determined that authority be delegated to the Planning Services Manager to approve the application subject to appropriate outline conditions and upon the expiry of the application being advertised as a departure, subject to no adverse comments being received.

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

1. That there is a demonstrable need for the development;

2. That the development cannot be accommodated on any suitable, alternative site within or adjoining the urban area of Shrewsbury; and

3. That there is a direct locational and operational benefit in siting the proposal adjacent to the hospice.

(Councillor Thurston requested that it be recorded that he voted in favour of the Officer recommendations.)

Item 23: 05/0391/O - Red Hill Mill, Red Hill, Shrewsbury

Application withdrawn by the applicant.

Item 25: 05/0372/O - Royal Shrewsbury Hospital North, Mytton Oak Road, Shrewsbury

Application withdrawn by the applicant.

23/05 OTELEY ROAD (LAND AT), SHREWSBURY

Consideration was given to a report of the Planning Services Manager in respect of various proposed amendments to the new Shrewsbury Town Football Club Stadium at Oteley Road planning application reference 02/0278/F granted in September 2003.

RESOLVED:

That the changes shown on plans SP.0.01 Rev Pl A received 23^rd March 2005 and C.0.0011 Rev Pl, C.1.012 Rev Pl, C.2.013 Rev Pl, C.R.014 Rev Pl, EW.E.141 Rev Pl, NS.E.142 Rev Pl and PS.01 Rev Pl received 14^th February 2005 be treated as acceptable working amendments to planning application 02/0278/F.

24/05 INTERIM AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICIES

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Planning Policy in respect of Interim Affordable Housing Policies. The Committee recorded their appreciation of the work undertaken by the Local Plan Advisory Group in respect of this issue.

RESOLVED:

(a)  That the decision of the Cabinet with regard to the proposed Interim Affordable Housing Policies be noted.

(b)  That the Interim Affordable Housing Policies be applicable with immediate effect.

25/05 PLANNING APPEAL

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

(a)  Land at Grafton Mews, Harlescott Ref 04/0054/F - Appeal dismissed 31^st March 2005

(b)  Two appeals at Former Garage, Walford Heath Ref: 04/0726/F and 04/0717/F - Both appeals allowed 31^st March 2005.

(c)  Unit 2, Monkmoor Trading Estate - Ref 04/0895/VAR - Appeal Allowed

(d)  Mill Cottage, Harley - Ref 04/1019/F - Appeal Dismissed 4^th April 2005

That the decisions for the above appeals be noted.

5.30 p.m. - 7.55 p.m.