Decision details

Councillor Price rejoined the Committee.

The Committee received an application for full planning permission for the demolition of two existing dwellings, seed handling building,

glass houses and associated structures, refurbishment of existing office building (DEFRA 1,080 m2) and laboratory building (Bingham & Old Granary 2,186 m2) and erection of new 3 storey laboratory building and energy centre (2,554 m2), reception building (539 m2) new orbital cycleway link, access road, car parking and associated landscaping.

The Committee noted the amendment presented in the amendment sheet.

David Neil and Adam Davies (Applicant’s Agent) addressed the Committee in support of the application.

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report.

     i.        Sought clarification where the orbital cycle route would go.

    ii.        Referred to the comments made by the Disability Consultative Panel contained in paragraph 6.17 of the Officers report and asked for clarification where the disabled parking would be and if it would have hatched lines around the space.

   iii.        Asked whether confirmation could be given that the existing NIAB site would be developed for residential development.

  iv.        Queried what would happen beyond the White House Lane road boundary and the safety of vehicles exiting onto Huntingdon Lane.

   v.        Questioned if cyclists would have priority on Lawrence Weaver Road.

  vi.        Questioned what the surface of the orbital route would be.

 vii.        Questioned the wording of condition 22.

In response to Members’ questions the Development Control Engineer and the Senior Planner said the following:

     i.        The orbital cycle route connected Huntingdon Road to Histon Road.

    ii.        The disabled parking was 14m from the front entrance of the building. There was a drop off point at the secondary entrance which was close to the accessible lift.  There were also disabled parking spaces in the basement and there was another drop off point which would provide close access to the accessible lift. Condition 25 also required a disability access statement which would be agreed by the Council’s Access Officer.

   iii.        The existing NIAB site was covered by the major development scheme allocation and the owner had indicated that the site would come forward for residential development but the Officer could give no further assurances.

  iv.        The number of vehicles using White House Lane should not be increasing, therefore there should be no significant increase in the traffic to the development.

   v.        Confirmed cyclists would be given priority. Lawrence Weaver Road was not currently adopted highway but once adopted waiting restrictions would be installed.

  vi.        The surface of the orbital cycle route would be tarmac.

 vii.        Confirmed that condition 22 related to the orbital route and not White House Lane.

The Committee:

Resolved (unanimously) to grant the application for planning permission in accordance with the officer recommendation, for the reasons set out in the officer report, and subject to the amendments detailed in the amendment sheet and conditions recommended by the officers.