Issue - meetings

The Committee received Section 73A planning application to continue the development without compliance with conditions 5 (hours) and 7 (noise limit) of planning permission reference C/05004/12/CW to enable 24 hour operation of the Waste Transfer Station (WTS) including maintenance depot.

David Bridgwood (National Planning Manager, Veolia) addressed the Committee in support of the application.

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

      i.         Sought clarification regarding the maps and visual images provided by the applicant as part of their planning application which appeared to be out of date.

    ii.         Raised concerns regarding noise levels impacting on the new hotel in the area.

   iii.         Requested clarity on the proximity of the nearest domestic dwelling units.

In response to Members’ questions the Joint Interim Assistant Director stated that it was unlikely that there would be any restriction to working hours and noise limits associated with the activities of the nearby bus depot. The depot had been in its current location for some time. The Strategic Sites Manager confirmed that Stagecoach’s current planning permissions were unrestricted.

In response to questions regarding the consultation process, the Assistant Director Delivery, Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Councils confirmed that as the planning service was a shared service, the Planning Policy Team would consider applications such as this as a joint matter. She undertook to develop a consultation protocol for future applications of this nature.

The depot had been in its current location for some time. The Strategic Sites Manager confirmed that Stagecoach’s current planning permissions were unrestricted.

In response to questions regarding the consultation process for the application, the Committee was reminded that Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District’s planning services operate as a shared service thus the Planning Policy Team (as part of the shared service) considers applications such as this one on behalf of both planning authorities. The Assistant Director Delivery however undertook to develop a consultation protocol for future applications of this nature to avoid the possibility of any procedural irregularities in relation to consultation duties/responsibilities for the shared service.

The Joint Interim Assistant Director stated that time limited permissions had been suggested by the Planning Policy Team. An Area Action Plan was under development for the area and a Members’ briefing would be delivered shortly.

The depot had been in its current location for some time. The Strategic Sites Manager confirmed that Stagecoach’s current planning permissions were unrestricted.

In response to questions regarding the consultation process for the application, the Committee was reminded that Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District’s planning services operate as a shared service thus the Planning Policy Team (as part of the shared service) considers applications such as this one on behalf of both planning authorities. The Assistant Director Delivery however undertook to develop a consultation protocol for future applications of this nature to avoid the possibility of any procedural irregularities in relation to consultation duties/responsibilities for the shared service.

The Joint Interim Assistant Director stated that time limited permissions had been suggested by the Planning Policy Team. An Area Action Plan was under development for the area and a Members’ briefing would be delivered shortly.

The Assistant Director Delivery, Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Councils acknowledged that time limited permissions had been suggested by the Planning Policy Team. However, the Area Action Plan was an emerging document, whilst the Minerals and Waste Local Plan was adopted, so the officer report in her opinion provided a very fair and reasonable approach that Cambridgeshire County Council officers had taken legal advice on. A Members briefing from the policy team would be delivered shortly to help provide the Committee future guidance on this.

The Committee:

Unanimously resolved to grant the application for planning permission in accordance with the Officer recommendation, for the reasons set out in the Officer’s report, subject to the planning conditions as set out in the Officer’s report.