Agenda and draft 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 November 2023 (previously circulated).

Apologies were received from Cllrs Andy Fry, Bill Hopkins, Scott Richardson Brown and Chris Rogers.

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 November 2023. (previously circulated)

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 November 2023 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Committee considered the proposed new Hampton pedestrian and cycling bridge to span the River Avon with associated Active Travel improvements on land between Pershore Road, Hampton on the west side of the River Avon and Evesham Leisure Centre on the east side of the River Avon, Evesham, 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 Development Management Team Manager’s comments in relation to Residential Amenity, Landscape Character, and Visual Impacts, Historic Environment; Traffic, Highway Safety and Public Rights of Way; Ecology and Biodiversity; Water Environment and Flood Risk; Other matters – Green Space, Minerals, Consultation, Crime and safety, Utilities and Human Rights Act 1998.

The Development Management Team Manager concluded that based on the advice from the County Landscape Officer, Worcestershire Regulatory Services, Wychavon District Council’s Landscape Officer and Wychavon District Council in particular, it was considered that the scale, massing and design of the proposed development would not have an unacceptable adverse impact upon the character and appearance of the local area and would be in accordance with Section 12 of the NPPF and Policies SWDP 21, SWDP 25 and SWDP 31 of the adopted South Worcestershire Development Plan. Furthermore, on balance, it was considered that the development would not cause unacceptable overbearing, overshadowing or overlooking implications that detract from residential amenity due to its design, size and location, subject to the imposition of appropriate conditions, including detailed design, materials (including weathering steel for the bridge structure), Construction Environmental Management Plan and Landscape Ecological Management Plan.

In light of the advice from Wychavon District Council’s Conservation Officer, the Development Management Team Manager considered that the proposals would lead to 'less than substantial' harm to the significance of the designated heritage assets of Grade II* St Andrew's Church, Grade II listed Nos. 3, 5 and 6 Brookside, Hampton House, The Pool, 11-16 Alexandra Road, Cherry Tree Cottage, The Cottage, No. 64 Pershore Road, Friars Mead, Avon House and scheduled Abbot Chyryton Wall. 

Paragraph 209 of the NPPF stated that "the effect of an application on the significance of a non-designated heritage asset should be taken into account in determining the application. In weighing applications that directly or indirectly affect non-designated heritage assets, a balanced judgement will be required having regard to the scale of any harm or loss and the significance of the heritage asset". In view of this and based on the advice of Wychavon District Council’s Conservation Officer and the County and District Archaeologists, the Development Management Team Manager considered that on balance, the impact upon the non-designated heritage assets was not of such significance as to constitute a refusal reason in this instance.

In light of the advice from Wychavon District Council’s Conservation Officer and the County and District Archaeologists, the Development Management Team Manager considered that the proposed development would not have an unacceptable adverse impact upon historic environment, including designated and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1132.

The Committee considered the proposed amendments to the artificial lighting and CCTV Scheme for security and safety purposes of the existing Energy from Waste Plant (part-retrospective) at Waste Incineration Unit, Hangman's Lane, Hanley Castle, 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 Location of the Development; Residential Amenity, Landscape Character and Visual Impact; Ecology and Biodiversity; Historic Environment; Traffic, Highway Safety and Public Rights of Way; Climate Change; and Other Matters - Human Rights Act 1998.

The Head of Planning and Transport Planning concluded that the principal of the existing facility in this location had been established and was in accordance with Policies WCS 4 and WCS 6 of the adopted Worcestershire Waste Core Strategy, Policies SWDP 2 and SWDP 12 of the adopted South Worcestershire Development Plan, and Policy MnGr 8 of the made Hanley Castle Parish Neighbourhood Development Plan, and that determination of the current planning application could only relate to the remit of the current proposal and the provision of an authorised lighting and CCTV scheme at the site.

Based on the advice of Worcestershire Regulatory Services, the Environment Agency, the County Landscape Officer, and the Malvern Hills National Landscape Team, the Head of Planning and Transport Planning considered that the proposed development would not have an unacceptable impact upon residential amenity or that of human health and would not adversely impact upon the character, appearance or setting of the local area, including the Malvern Hills National Landscape, in accordance with Policies WCS 9, WCS 12 and WCS 14 of the adopted Worcestershire Waste Core Strategy, Policies SWDP 21, SWDP 23 and SWDP 25 of the adopted South Worcestershire Development Plan, and Policy Des 1 of the made Hanley Castle Parish Neighbourhood Development Plan.

Based on the advice of the County Ecologist and Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, the Head of Planning and Transport Planning considered that the proposal would not have an unacceptable adverse impact on ecology and biodiversity at the site or on the surrounding area, subject to the imposition of a condition requiring a Statement of Conformity requiring post installation verification of illuminance at the site in accordance with the amended Lighting Impact Assessment, in accordance with Policy WCS 9 of the adopted Worcestershire Waste Core Strategy, and Policy SWDP 22 of the adopted South Worcestershire Development Plan.

Based on the advice of Historic England and the County Archaeologist, the Head of Planning and Transport Planning considered that the proposed development would not have an unacceptable impact upon the historic environment, in accordance with Policy WCS 9 of the adopted Worcestershire Waste Core Strategy and Policies SWDP 6 and SWDP 24 of the adopted South Worcestershire Development Plan.

The Head of Planning and Transport Planning was satisfied that the proposal would not have any adverse impact on traffic, highway safety and / or public  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1133.