To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Joyce Barrow (substitute: Steve Davenport), Vince Hunt (substitute: Roy Aldcroft) and David Vasmer (substitute: Roger Evans).

Councillor Vince Hunt and Councillor Steve Charmley were both proposed and seconded as Vice-Chair of the Committee. On being put to the vote, it was

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Vince Hunt be appointed as Vice-Chair for the ensuing year.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the North Planning Committee held on 23^rd May 2023, attached, marked 2.

Contact:          Emily Marshall on 01743 257717; or

Shelley Davies on 01743 257718.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the North Planning Committee held on 23^rd May 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any public questions or petitions from the public, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 14.  The deadline for this meeting is 5.00 p.m. on Monday, 24^th July 2023.

There were no public questions or petitions received.

Members are reminded that they must declare their disclosable pecuniary interests and other registrable or non-registrable interests in any matter being considered at the meeting as set out in Appendix B of the Members’ Code of Conduct and consider if they should leave the room prior to the item being considered. Further advice can be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

Members were reminded that they must not participate in the discussion or voting on any matter in which they had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and should leave the room prior to the commencement of the debate.

In respect of agenda item 10, application number 23/00225/FUL Councillor Mike Isherwood stated that as he lived in close proximity to the application site he would withdraw from the meeting, take no part in the debate and would not vote on the item.

Mixed use development including retail, gym, drive-thru coffee shop and drive-thru restaurant (use class E), tanning and beauty salon (sui generis), and residential care home (use class C2) together with access, parking, landscaping and associated infrastructure.

The Principal Planning Officer introduced the application for a mixed use development including retail, gym, drive-thru coffee shop and drive-thru restaurant (use class E), tanning and beauty salon (sui generis), and residential care home (use class C2) together with access, parking, landscaping and associated infrastructure and confirmed that the Committee had undertaken a site visit to assess the impact of the proposed development on neighbouring properties and the surrounding area this morning and on 2^nd May 2023. The Principal Planning Officer explained that at the meeting held on 2^nd May 2023, members resolved to defer the application to allow the applicant the opportunity to provide additional information in relation to a number of concerns raised by the Committee.

The Principal Planning Officer drew members’ attention to the information contained within the Schedule of Additional letters and read out the following update to the Officer’s report:

Paragraph 4.1.6

Replace paragraph 4.1.6 with the following:

The pitch and putt site was bought by Shropshire Council in 1970 as part of a larger area of land and has been in its ownership since.  The applicant’s assessment states that there are no restrictions on the title relating to its use and that there are no obligations to retain the land for open space  The Site had historically been used as a “pitch and putt” course associated with the adjacent Meole Brace Golf Club.

Paragraph 4.1.19

Add the following to the end of paragraph 4.1.19:

The applicant has acknowledged that the land does comprise open space.  Any requirement for the land to be advertised, which may arise prior to any change of its use, will be an issue that would need to be dealt with after the planning application is determined and prior to any sale or change of use.  It is considered that the relevant tests for considering the appropriateness of changing the use of the land from open space in planning terms have been met.

Paragraph 4.2.2

Before ‘ATC’, add “Automatic Traffic Count”.

Mr David Kilby on behalf of the Shropshire Playing Field Association spoke against the proposal in accordance with Shropshire Council’s Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committees.

Councillor Bernie Bentick, local councillor for the adjoining ward spoke against the proposal in accordance with Shropshire Council’s Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committees.

Mr Ian Gill, Agent on behalf of the applicant spoke in support of the proposal in accordance with Shropshire Council’s Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committees.

In accordance with the Local Protocol for Councillors and Officers dealing with Regulatory Matters (Part 5, Paragraph 15.1) Councillor Ted Clarke, as local ward councillor, made a statement and then left the table, took no part in the debate and did not vote on this item.

In response to concerns raised by Members in regard to the impact of the proposals on the Meole Brace roundabout, the Highways Manager confirmed that a full review of the transport assessment had been carried out by the Highways Team which concluded  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

Erect and display three sponsorship signs placed on the roundabout

The Senior Planning Officer introduced the application for the erection and display of three sponsorship signs placed on the roundabout.

Having considered the submitted plans the majority of members expressed their support for the proposal in accordance with the officer’s recommendation. 

RESOLVED:  

That planning permission be granted in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation, subject to the conditions set out in Appendix 1 of the Planning Officer’s report.

Erect and display three sponsorship signs placed on the roundabout

Councillor Ted Clarke as local ward Councillor moved to the back of the room during consideration of this item, took no part in the debate and did not vote on this item.

The Senior Planning Officer introduced the application for the erection and display of three sponsorship signs placed on the roundabout.

Having considered the submitted plans the majority of members expressed their support for the proposal in accordance with the officer’s recommendation. 

RESOLVED:  

That planning permission be granted in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation, subject to the conditions set out in Appendix 1 of the Planning Officer’s report.

Erect and display four sponsorship signs placed on the roundabout

The Senior Planning Officer introduced the application for the erection and display of three sponsorship signs placed on the roundabout and drew members’ attention to the Schedule of Additional Letters which noted that the description of the development had been amended.

Having considered the submitted plans the majority of members expressed their support for the proposal in accordance with the officer’s recommendation. 

RESOLVED:

That planning permission be granted in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation, subject to the conditions set out in Appendix 1 of the Planning Officer’s report.

Proposed residential development of 83 dwellings with associated access, public open space, electricity sub-station, drainage and landscaping (re-submission)

In accordance with his declaration at Minute 22, Councillor Mike Isherwood withdrew from the room during consideration of this application. 

The Planning Manager North introduced the application for the proposed residential development of 83 dwellings with associated access, public open space, electricity sub-station, drainage and landscaping (re-submission) and confirmed that the Committee had undertaken a site visit that morning to assess the impact of the proposed development on neighbouring properties and the surrounding area. It was noted that during the site visit the Committee had also viewed the site from the hillfort.

Members’ attention was drawn to the information contained within the Schedule of Additional Letters and the Planning Manager North explained that the photographs submitted with the representation from Hands Off Old Oswestry Hillfort (HOOOH) had been included in the meeting presentation. The Planning Manager North reported that further representations had been received following the publication of the Schedule of Additional Letters. These were summarised and it was noted that all issues raised apart from housing targets had been addressed in the Officer’s report and a sustainability checklist had been received from the applicants which was compliant with policy.

The Policy & Environment Service Manager confirmed to members that the hillfort is a heritage asset of the highest significance and considerable weight should be attached to its conservation in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework.  

Dr Rachel Pope, Vice President of the Prehistoric Society spoke against the proposal in accordance with Shropshire Council’s Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committees.

Stuart Wells, Agent on behalf of the applicant spoke in support of the proposal in accordance with Shropshire Council’s Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committees.

In response to queries from members, it was confirmed by Officers that:

·       Condition 9 required a phased programme of archaeological work prior to any development;

·       The council’s policy team’s position is that the Council has a secure 5 year housing land supply;

·       The affordable housing agreed by the developer was in line with policy;

·       The footpaths providing access to the hillfort were pointed out at the site visit;

·       The current policy did not require developers to include solar panels; and

·       If the developer was to include solar panels the sensitive nature of the site would need to be taken into consideration and balanced against the benefits they provide.

Having considered the submitted plans and listened to the comments made by all of the speakers, the majority of members expressed their support for the proposal, in accordance with the officer’s recommendation. 

RESOLVED:

That planning permission be granted in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation, subject to:

•   The conditions set out in Appendix 1 of the Planning Officer’s report and any amendments to these conditions as considered necessary by the Planning and Development Services Manager; and

•   The signing of a Section 106 agreement in order to ensure affordable housing and open space provision in accordance with the detail as set out in the report.

Building clearance, asbestos removal and partial demolition of Units 2, Units 44-48, and the pedestrian walkway canopy to make access for a geo-environmental ground investigation

Councillor Nat Green as local ward Councillor moved to the back of the room during consideration of this item, took no part in the debate and did not vote on this item.

The Senior Planning Officer introduced the application for building clearance, asbestos removal and partial demolition of Units 2, Units 44-48, and the pedestrian walkway canopy to make access for a geo-environmental ground investigation.

Having considered the submitted plans members unanimously expressed their support for the proposals, in accordance with the officer’s recommendation. 

RESOLVED:

That planning permission be granted in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation, subject to the conditions set out in Appendix 1 of the Planning Officer’s report.

          That the Schedule of Appeals for the northern area be noted.

To note that the next meeting of the North Planning Committee will be held at

2.00 pm on Tuesday 15^th August 2023, in the Shrewsbury Room, Shirehall, Shrewsbury.

It was noted that the next meeting of the North Planning Committee would be held at 2.00 p.m. on Tuesday 15^th August, in the Shrewsbury/Oswestry Room, Shirehall, Shrewsbury.