Redevelopment to include conversion of house to form cafe/community hub and flats; erection of 71 sheltered residential apartments; erection of health centre building; landscaping scheme including removal of trees; formation of car parking spaces and alterations to existing vehicular access

In accordance with his declaration at Minute 98, Councillor Gerald Dakin (Local Member) left the meeting during consideration of the following item.

The Principal Planning Officer introduced the application for the redevelopment to include conversion of house to form cafe/community hub and flats; erection of 71 sheltered residential apartments; erection of health centre building; landscaping scheme including removal of trees; formation of car parking spaces and alterations to existing vehicular access. The Principal Planning Officer explained that this application was a resubmission of the previous application for development on this site approved at the North Planning Committee held on 15th October 2019, which was currently subject to judicial review proceedings.

Members’ attention was drawn to the information contained within the Schedule of Additional letters Whitchurch Allotment and Community Orchard Association, local residents and Councillor Biggins. The Principal Planning Officer noted that additional representations had been received since publication of the Schedule of Additional Letters including comments from local residents and the Developing Highways Area Manager in response to concerns raised by Councillor Biggins, which was read out to the Committee. Additionally the Principal Planning Officer referred to an email detailing the Officers advice in relation to the open space which had been circulated to Members of the Committee this morning. A number of photographs of the site were displayed to the Committee.

In accordance with virtual meeting speaking protocol the Solicitor read the Public Speaker statements from:

·         Claire Bellingham, on behalf of Save Pauls Moss Campaign Group in objection to the proposal.

·         Councillor Ruth Sheppard, on behalf of Whitchurch Parish Council in support of the proposal.

·         Councillor Thomas Biggins, Adjoining Ward Member in support of the proposal.

·         Councillor Gerald Dakin, the local ward Councillor, in support of the proposal.

·         Jane Kind on behalf of the applicant, Wrekin Housing Group in support of the proposal.

During the ensuing debate some Members agreed with the comments raised by Councillor Biggins in relation to parking and sought reassurance from Officers regarding these concerns. In particular Members queried why the travel plan requested as part of the application did not have to be approved prior to the medical centre opening. The Developing Highways Area Manager outlined the condition referred to stating that the travel plan was required for the lifetime of the development and to be updated every 2 years, however if Members considered it necessary this condition could be strengthened. The Planning Services Manager added that if Members were minded to approve the application Condition 20 could be reworded to ensure that the travel plan was developed in consultation with user groups and was in place from when the building was first brought into use.

Having considered the submitted plans and noted the comments made by all of the speakers, Members unanimously expressed their support for the Officer’s recommendation subject to the rewording of Condition 20 to ensure that the Travel Plan was developed in consultation with the building end users and submitted to Shropshire Council prior to the development being first brought into use/occupied and every 2 years thereafter.

RESOLVED:

That authority be delegated to the Planning Services Manager to approve the application subject to:

•   The conditions as outlined in Appendix 1;

•   Any modifications to these conditions as considered necessary by the Planning Services Manager; and

•   The following re-wording of Condition 20:

The Travel Plan (TP) objectives shall be fully implemented in accordance with approved details for the lifetime of the development. The TP shall be developed in consultation with the building end users and submitted to Shropshire Council prior to the development being first brought into use/occupied and every 2 years thereafter.

Reason: To minimise the use of the private car and promote the use of sustainable modes of transport.