Issue - meetings

Application for construction of a Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) testing track, a control tower and storage building, ground works, landscaping and associated infrastructure.

Late items:

Additional information submitted by applicant:-

The applicant has confirmed that the temporary construction access from Fenn Lanes will be removed and all construction vehicles will use the existing A5 access to the MIRA site.

The applicant has also submitted a document which is a response to the Battlefield Trust and Richard III Society comments. This can be found in Appendix 3 of this supplementary agenda.

Consultations:-

Highways England: Has been re-consulted due to the removal of the temporary access from Fenn Lanes. Highways England have no objection to the proposal, however request that condition 18 require the Construction Traffic Management Plan to be submitted for formal approval by the Local Planning Authority in conjunction with Highways England.

Leicestershire County Council (Highways): Has been re-consulted as the local highway authority due to the removal of the temporary access from Fenn Lanes. The local highway authority state: ‘The LHA would welcome the scheme amendment and removal of the temporary access proposals onto the Fenn Lanes which gave rise to significant concerns over highway safety. The LHA would formally remove the previously advised objection and reason for refusal to application 18/00425/FUL.’

Battlefields Trust and Richard III Society: Additional comments have been received. These comments can be found in Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 of this supplementary agenda.

Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP): Have written in support of the application. THE LLEP state:

‘The LLEP is a key stakeholder in MIRA Technology Park, which is seen as one of the UK’s leading Enterprise Zones, and a recent recipient of the prestigious Queens Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

Being closely involved in the development of the Enterprise Zone, we see the Technology Park as having a continued important role in attracting considerable inward investment to the region and as a major economic driver in the creation of high-value jobs locally. This is reflected through the recognition of the site as an important growth opportunity within our Local Industrial Strategy Prospectus.

The proposed Connected Autonomous Vehicle test facility is a significant opportunity to support this growth, and the associated job creation, by the establishment of a national centre within the region for this important growing industry sector. We therefore fully support the proposals for this facility and hope that its full economic impact is appropriately recognised in consideration of the application.’

The American Battlefield Trust: Have written a letter in opposition to application 18/00425/FUL. The American Battlefield Trust raise the following issues:

• Any development of this area as currently envisioned would cause irreparable harm to this historic landscape
• The hallowed grounds, when properly protected, are living memorials – not just to the soldiers who fought there, but to all those across time who have answered their country’s call to service in the armed forces
• Preserved battlefield are outdoor classrooms, teaching students of all  ...  view the full agenda text for item 190

Application for construction of a connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) testing track, a control tower and storage building, ground works, landscaping and associated infrastructure.

It was moved by Councillor Hall and seconded by Councillor Morrell that permission be granted subject to the conditions contained in the officer’s report and late items. Upon being put to the vote, the motion was CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED – permission be granted subject to the conditions contained in the officer’s report and as amended in the late items.

Councillors Bill, Crooks, Lynch, Richards and Wright wished it to be recorded that they voted against the motion.

Application for construction of a Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) testing track, a control tower and storage building, ground works, landscaping and associated infrastructure.

Late items:

Further Information submitted:

Following the objection received from Leicestershire County Council Highways Authority the applicant has provided further details to clarify the reasons why the HGV traffic cannot access the proposed site via the existing A5 access. A plan has been submitted which identifies the pinch point at the proving ground bridge to be the main site constraint, and any potential mitigation is restricted by the proximity of water main, storm water pipe, foul water pipe and communication and telecom cables and the location of existing embankments. Supporting text has also been provided which states that the primary reason for not being able to use the existing A5 access is not conflict from a health and safety perspective as has been highlighted by LCC Highways. The applicant has highlighted that around 4metres of widening of the existing access at the bridge junction would be required to allow the flow of vehicles to not be impeded. A 4 metre widening is not possible as it would extend past the verge into the ditch and vegetation and it would mean construction over services of which the water main is a particular constraint. The applicant highlights that the water main was only recently put in (2014-15) and was never intended to be built over (it has a way leave in agreement with Severn Trent Water over it), it is buried as 0.9metres and haulage vehicles moving over this main could create pressure that can’t be sustained by it. The assessments that the applicant has undertaken shows the road could only be widened by approximately 0.5 metres which would not over come the traffic issues highlighted. The applicant also stresses that ‘It is also important to note that we are not saying that this access is unsuitable for all construction access. We are looking to provide construction access for workers, and all deliveries (with the exception of aggregate and asphalt surfacing materials) from the A5. It is only when you introduce the aggregate and asphalt vehicles as well, when the pinch point becomes a major issue.Fenn Lanes will be used for 5 months only. For the first 2.5 months this will be up to 75 vehicles a day but we can manage these deliveries to ensure they are pulsed or spaced out depending on desired timings to mitigate impact. The final 2.5 months there will be a reduction in the amount of trucks falling to a maximum of 30 vehicles a day by September 2019.’

Consultation:-

Leicestershire County Council has submitted a statement to Planning Committee in its capacity as the Highway Authority. This statement has been included as Appendix A to this late item. The Highway Authority recommends the following reason for refusal:

1.    The Applicant has failed to demonstrate that an appropriate and safe construction access would be provided and the proposal, if permitted  ...  view the full agenda text for item 154

Application for construction of a connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) testing track, a control tower and storage building, ground works, landscaping and associated infrastructure.

Notwithstanding the officer’s recommendation that permission be granted subject to conditions, concern was expressed about the siting of the proposed track and the Highways Authority’s objections. It was moved by Councillor Bray and seconded by Councillor Richards that the application be deferred to allow the applicant to investigate re-siting of the track and to discuss the concerns of Leicestershire County Council. This motion was accepted as the substantive motion for discussion.

Following further discussion, Councillor Richards proposed an amendment that a site visit also be undertaken. This amendment was accepted by Councillor Bray.

Councillor Bray along with eight other councillors stood to request a recorded vote on the motion to defer the application. The vote was taken as follows:

Councillors Bill, Bray, Cook, Crooks, Hodgkins, Hollick, Ladkin, Richards, Roberts, Smith, Witherford and Wright voted FOR the motion (12);

Councillors Sutton and Ward voted AGAINST the motion (2);

Councillor Hall abstained from voting.

The motion was therefore declared CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED – the application be deferred for the following reasons:

(i)            To allow the applicant to consider re-siting the track;

(ii)           To allow a member site visit to take place;

(iii)          To allow discussion with Leicestershire County Council on the highways authority’s objections.

The meeting adjourned at 7.52pm to allow those in the public gallery to leave and reconvened at 7.59pm.