Issue - meetings

The Committee received an application for full planning permission.

The application sought approval for extension of the Whittle Laboratory, including new National Centre for Propulsion and Power(4,251 sq metres of Academic (D1) Floorspace), demolition of 1,149 sq metres of D1floorspace, and all associated infrastructure including landscaping, drainage, substation and car and cycle parking.

Rob Miller, Director of the Whittle Laboratory addressed the Committee in support of the application on behalf of Cambridge University.

The Committee noted the amendment sheet. The Committee Chair briefly lost internet connection to the meeting and the Officer repeated the relevant section of the presentation.

Members questioned some of the conditions including, green roofing, public art, long term maintenance of trees, completion date of cycle lane and the BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) sustainability assessment. These matters were addressed as follows:

      i.          Condition 16D to be amended in read ‘in perpetuity’ in line with other application in the area.

     ii.          Public Art would be addressed as part of a wider strategy for the wider campus.

   iii.          Conditions regarding maintenance of trees to be amended to include maintenance of any trees lost from the intial planting for a further five year to ensure their long-term maintenance.

   iv.          Adding a specific date for the completion of the cycle path was agreed to be problematic as it would require the cooperation of the Highways Department and road closures. It was agreed that an informative requiring the cycle lane to be completed as expediently and timely a fashion as possible.

    v.          The BREEAM standards were agreed to be satisfactory.

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:

      i.          the planning conditions set out in the Officer’s report; and

     ii.          the following amended conditions where the final wording of the conditions would be delegated to Officers in consultation with the Chair and Spokes:

a)   The addition of standard condition one, requiring commencement on site within three years.

b)   Amendment of condition regarding green roof to add the word ‘in perpetuity’.

c)    Additional condition regarding maintenance of any replacement trees for a further five year period.

and

   iii.          An additional informative included on the planning permission in respect of:

a.    the cycle lane to be completed as expediently and timely a fashion as possible.