Agenda item

Demolition of existing buildings and structures, erection of buildings for B2/B8 use with ancillary offices and welfare floorspace, gatehouse, service yards, parking and circulation routes, together with revised access from Peckleton Lane, associated hardstanding, landscaping, diversion of bridleway R119 and ancillary works (resubmission of 20/01009/FUL)

Late items received after preparation of main agenda:

Consultations:-

One additional letter of support has been received raising the following points;

1)            The proposed development would bring a longstanding allocated employment site forward for development;

2)            In doing so, it will generate significant additional employment opportunities and inward investment for the Borough;

3)            The clustering of general industrial / logistics development around established industrial estates bring added benefits to the local economy;

4)            The range of unit sizes proposed would help diversify the Borough’s employment land portfolio and compliment the larger units adjacent to the site;

5)            The added floorspace and flexible uses would provide opportunities for existing businesses in the Borough to grow locally and not have to re-locate outside the Borough;

6)            The proposals constitute a high-quality development that raises the bar for future development within the Borough, helping to put the Borough at the forefront of the general industrial / logistics market and re-enforce the Midlands’ stellar reputation as the centre of the UK logistics;

Following the publication of the agenda and the officer report, further correspondence from LCC Ecology has been received. This commentary follows a site visit carried out by LCC Ecology and the applicant’s ecologist. Comments were provided in regards to certain areas having potential higher habitat value than contained within the submitted biodiversity metric.

Appraisal:-

Notwithstanding LCC Ecology comments condition 30 as printed on the agenda will required the final habitat enhancement scheme to be submitted and agreed which is site wide. However, condition 30 should be amended to include the resubmission of an updated metric to include the additional habitats identified by the Ecologists most recent site visit. The submission of the updated metric will ensure the biodiversity management plan considers all habitats identified on site.    

Conditions:-

Condition 30 should be amended to read as follows;

30.      No development other than demolition shall commence on site until an updated site wide Biodiversity Metric and a Biodiversity Management Plan have been submitted to the local planning authority for their approval in writing. The Biodiversity Management Plan shall set out the site-wide strategy for protecting and enhancing biodiversity including the detailed design of proposed biodiversity enhancements, a timetable for their implementation and completion and details of their subsequent management once the development is completed. The submitted plan shall include all retained and created habitats including SUDs and all landscaping. Development shall be implemented and thereafter maintained in accordance with the approved Management Plan. The submitted Plan shall be based on the advice and identified mitigation contained within Ecological Assessment (8786M.EcoAs.vf1) dated September 2020

Reason: To enhance the ecological value of the proposed development in accordance with Policy DM6 of the SADMP.

Recommendation:-

The recommendation remains as printed on the agenda with the amended condition.

Demolition of existing buildings and structures, erection of buildings for B2/B8 use with ancillary offices and welfare floorspace, gatehouse, service yards, parking and circulation routes, together with revised access from Peckleton Lane, associated hardstanding, landscaping, diversion of bridleway R119 and ancillary works (resubmission of 20/01009/FUL).

It was moved by Councillor R Allen and seconded by Councillor Boothby that permission be granted. Councillor Bray moved an amendment to add a condition to include a reduced height bund around the existing trees and to consider inclusion of a pedestrian crossing which was supported by the mover and seconder of the original motion and adopted as the substantive motion. Upon being put to the vote, the motion was CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED –

(i)            Permission be granted subject to:

a.    The completion within six months of this resolution of a S106 agreement to secure the following obligations:

·         £464,625 towards Desford cross roads;

·         The provision of a bus service;

·         £11,337.50 for travel plan monitoring;

·         £7,500 for traffic regulation orders (weight restriction);

·         Provision of bus passes for six months;

b.    The conditions contained within the officer’s report and late items;

c.    An additional or amended condition requiring reduction of the height of the bund around the existing trees.

(ii)          The Planning Manager be granted delegated authority to determine the final detail of planning conditions;

(iii)         The Planning Manager be granted delegated authority to determine the terms of the S106 agreement including trigger points and clawback periods;

(iv)         Officers be requested to contact Leicestershire County Council to discuss the appropriateness of a pedestrian refuge or crossing, the decision upon which be delegated to the Planning Manager.