Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director – Community Development Services

Considered:-

The Assistant Director Planning – Community Development Services sought determination of a planning application for the proposed storage and distribution unites (Use Class B8) totalling 107,640 sq ft at Scotch Corner Caravan Park, Richmond DL10 6NS.  This report had been brought to the Committee as the Head of Planning considered a planning application to raise significant planning issues such that it was in the public interest for the application to be considered by Committee.

The decision:-

Permission Granted subject to conditions detailed in the Committee report and amendments to conditions 2, 20 and 21 as set out below and delegated approval to officers to draft and agree two additional conditions to list all agreed plans and reports and compliance with these; and a condition to secure archaeological investigations and recording in line with the NYC Heritage Officer’s comments.

Condition 2: To include Scale as a reserved matter to be approved including the height of the buildings.

Condition 20: To be replaced in its entirety with the following new text: Condition 20 Biodiversity (discharge required)

With the Layout Reserved Matter application a Biodiversity Net Gain Scheme (BNGS) including Biodiversity Metric Calculation shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. This scheme shall demonstrate how a biodiversity net gain can be delivered and secured for the lifetime of the development.

The BNGS shall include planting details, establishment scheme, management scheme including funding and responsibilities, and timetable for implementation. Thereafter wards, the development shall take place in complete accordance with the BNGS and in perpetuity.

Reason: Details are required at the Reserved Matters stage as there is limited land to provide mitigation for the tree loss and no indicative Biodiversity Net Gain Scheme has been submitted with this outline application. The need for a Biodiversity Net Gain is likely to affect the layout and thus why the information is needed at this stage. This condition is applied having regards to paragraph 174 of the NPPF. 

Note: Without a Biodiversity Net Gain a new application or Section 73 application would be required so that a planning balance exercise could be undertaken in the context of the confirmed percentage loss. Opportunities such as ponds and brown roofs may need to be explored to achieve Biodiversity Net Gain for this development.

Condition 21: First sentence amended to “With the Layout Reserved Matter application a scheme detailing foul and surface water drainage shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.”. Reason amended to : “Details are required at the Reserved Matters stage as SUDs are the most sustainable form of drainage and can also act as ecology and landscaping features. These can take up a reasonable amount of space and therefore need to be considered alongside the layout. This condition is applied to ensure the provision of adequate and sustainable means of drainage in the interests of amenity and flood risk; together with contributing towards biodiversity net gain having regard to Sections 12, 14 and 15 and of the National Planning Policy Framework 2021”.

(Tom Cook spoke on behalf of the applicant in support of the application.)

(Steve Hill spoke objecting to the application.)