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 that the methodology used was appropriate and that the development traffic would be adequately accommodated on the existing highway network.

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 proposals in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation. 

RESOLVED:  

That authority be delegated to the Planning and Development Services Manager to grant planning permission subject to the conditions listed in Appendix 1 of the original committee report, as amended by section 4.6 of this update report, and to any modifications to those conditions as considered necessary by the Planning and Development Services Manager.