Agenda and minutes

The Members had before them:

A.    The Agenda papers (previously circulated);

B.    A copy of the summary presentations from the public participants invited to speak (previously circulated); and

C.   The Minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2021 (previously circulated).

Apologies were received from Cllr Martin Allen, Cllr Bill Hopkins, Cllr Jack Satterthwaite, and Cllr Kit Taylor.

Cllr Mel Allcott substituted for Cllr Jack Satterthwaite.

None.

The Council has put in place arrangements which usually allow one speaker each on behalf of objectors, the applicant and supporters of applications to address the Committee.  Speakers are chosen from those who have made written representations and expressed a desire to speak at the time an application is advertised.  Where there are speakers, presentations are made as part of the consideration of each application.

Those presentations made are recorded at the minute to which they relate.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2021. (previously circulated)

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2021 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Committee considered the proposed Groundwork and Civil Engineering Depot and Recycling Facility, associated landscaping and surface water attenuation on land at former Valecrest site, Evesham Road, Fladbury, Worcestershire.

The report set out the background of the proposal, the proposal itself, the relevant planning policy and details of the site, consultations and representations.

The report set out the Head of Planning and Transport Planning’s comments in relation to the Waste Hierarchy, Location of the Development, Landscape Character, Visual Impacts and Historic Environment, Impact on neighbouring land uses, including residential amenity, Traffic and Highways Safety and Public Rights of Way, Ecology and Biodiversity, Water Environment, Other Matters – Minerals, Climate Change, Need for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Consultation, Utilities including pipeline, and Human Rights Act 1998.

The Head of Planning and Transport Planning concluded that the proposed development would include the collection, treatment, recycling and reuse of soils and inert wastes generated from building projects.  It would comply with the objectives of the waste hierarchy and policy in the Waste Core Strategy and help to address the capacity gap identified in the Waste Core Strategy.

Although the site was at the lowest level in the Waste Core Strategy geographic hierarchy, the applicant had demonstrated that it provided proximity to the target market and ease of access to the primary road network.  Given the scale of the proposal and noting the National Planning Policy for Waste which stated that Waste Planning Authorities should "drive waste management up the waste hierarchy, recognising the need for a mix of types and scale of facilities", on balance, it was considered that the proposal would comply with the Worcestershire Waste Core Strategy.

Whilst the proposal was located in the open countryside, as defined by the South Worcestershire Development Plan, it was noted that the site could reasonably be described as an employment site (though not currently in operation) and would constitute the retention of an existing local business with growth ambitions generating new employment opportunities and was for the re-use of land.

A number of concerns had been raised about the landscape and visual impacts of the proposal.  A Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment had been undertaken which showed that, although the buildings on the site would be tall and therefore, visible from the surrounding area, sufficient mitigation had been proposed to reduce these visual impacts to a satisfactory level.  This included using materials and colours that were in keeping with other agricultural structures in the local area, retention of existing vegetation and construction of bunds with additional planting to screen the development. The Head of Planning and Transport Planning considered the proposal accords with Sections 12 and 15 of the NPPF, Policies WCS 11 and WCS 12 of the Waste Core Strategy and Policies SWDP 21, SWDP 23 and SWDP 25 of the South Worcestershire Development Plan.

Both the County and Wychavon District Council Archaeologists had identified heritage assets of significance in the vicinity of the application site.  However, both advisers were content  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1091.