Agenda item

Report of the Head of Development Management – Community Development Services.

The Head of Development Management – Community Development Services sought determination of a planning application for construction of office building with associated workshop and vehicle storage space (Class E) along with external site compound, covered cycle storage building and associated accesses, car parking and landscaping on land South of Storey Close, Helmsley, for the North York Moors National Park Authority.

This matter was brought to Committee owing to the degree of public interest in the matter and the nature of the planning issues raised in representations.

The principle of the development was considered to be supported through the allocation of the land for employment purposes in the Local Plan. The main elements of the proposals were considered to be in line with the requirements of the allocation policy EMP2.

Third party representation highlighted the changes to the character of the area that had occurred as a result of the housing development in the vicinity of the application site. However, the area had been allocated for some time for both housing and employment uses, the fact that the housing had been developed more rapidly than the employment land should not count against a land-owner who had purchased land for employment uses as in this case.

Matters pertaining to bio-diversity, ecology, drainage, flooding, noise and highways were all considered to be acceptable, subject to conditions.

The key benefits of the proposals were considered to be the delivery of a high-quality office and depot facility for the North York Moors National Park Authority, delivering the development of an area of allocated employment land on the edge of Helmsley.

There were a number of concerns raised in third party representations, including noise and disturbance, road safety concerns, along with the change in the character of the area. The report identified and addressed these issues and whilst it was considered that the proposed development did result in a degree of change and to some extent harm, the identified harm was not sufficient to warrant the refusal of the application and it was considered that the benefits of the scheme outweighed those harms.

At the discretion of the Chair the speakers were allowed five minutes to speak instead of the usual three minutes.

Mr Dan Falchikov, Ms Sharron Sumner and Mr Mike Skehan spoke to object to the application.

Councillor George Jabbour spoke as the Division Member.

Mr Ian Nicholls spoke on behalf of the applicant.

Councillor Lindsay Burr proposed and Councillor Nigel Knapton seconded that the decision be deferred.

Decision

That the application be deferred for the following reasons:

·       Confirmation of the hours of operation for works and deliveries to form part of the Construction Management Plan.

·       The addition of a condition to remove permitted development rights for fencing.

·       The addition of gates or barriers across the entrances to the car parks to restrict access out of working hours.

·       Consideration of the footpath route thorough and adjacent to the site and its use and risk of loss.

·       The addition of a condition to restrict use class.

·       Clarification of the number of users of the site and an estimate of the likelihood of other third party users of the site.

Voting record

Unanimous