Agenda item

The Committee received a reserved matters application pursuant to 16/0176/OUT for (i) all matters (access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale) relating to the development of 2no. mixed-use laboratory and office buildings (2000 Discovery Drive and 3000 Discovery Drive) including associated plant, internal access roads, car parking, cycle parking, landscaping, public open space, and other works and (ii) the discharge of conditions 8 (transport spurs), 10 (energy demand), 14 (EV Charging), 31 (on plot cycle and pedestrian facilities), 33 (car parking spaces), 36 (disabled car parking spaces), 37 (cycle parking spaces), 39 (ecological conservation management plan), 41 (drainage), 43 (sustainability), 48 (waste), 49 (landscape) of planning permission 16/0176/OUT.

 

The Committee Manager read out a statement in objection on behalf of Trumpington Residents’ Association.

i.               The report stated that the failure of the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system was "not a planning matter", and therefore cannot be considered. They understood the efficient operation of an ANPR system was required by the outline planning permission. It was a scandal that seven years on from the re-launch of the ANPR system its continued failure allowed rat running by unauthorized users of the Campus's private roads at an estimated level of 2,000 per day.

ii.             This increased traffic on neighbouring roads and placed ambulances at risk when the roads were congested at peak times.

iii.            It was imperative that the Prohibition of Driving Order banning all but authorised users from using the Campus's private roads - for implementation for which the applicant was partly responsible - was fully implemented well before further phases of the Campus's development took place.

iv.           Noted the Government's statement on water supply in Cambridge. The Residents’ Association were not persuaded of the basis in fact for the assurance it sought to give.

v.             The prime concern in their objection last May was that "neither the outline planning permission... nor this reserved matters application addressed the important issue of our endangered water supply." In light of this they asked that "the application should not be approved  until the applicant has carried out the necessary assessment and the planning authority is satisfied that the guidance issued by the Environment Agency has been met." Having now read the report we see that subsequent to our objection, the applicant produced in July a Water Usage Note which satisfies the requirement we specified.

 

David Blevins (Applicant’s Representative) addressed the Committee in support of the application.

 

The Senior Planner and Strategic Sites Manager said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.         There were several ways cyclists could access the site, including from the national cycleway from the south to the north where cyclists could travel along Dame Mary Archer Way.

    ii.         The roundabout had been upgraded for cycle access and crossing points had been installed.

   iii.         The outline planning permission required two access points to the site; one next to the multistorey car park which had already been delivered on site the other required an eastern link. The trigger for delivery of the eastern link was the development of the clinical land; it had not been delivered yet, but the Applicant had indicated this could come forward.

  iv.         Crossing points had been installed as part of the outline planning permission although they may not meet current standards such as LTN-120.

    v.         The nearest bus stop was 300m from the site. Babraham bus connections were to be brought forward as part of Phase 3 of the development.

  vi.         Noted Members’ concerns around the cycle parking provision; it had been designed to be accessible. The proposed condition required details to be agreed with the Local Planning Authority; this could be amended to include ramps to access the cycle parking.

 vii.         The reserved matters application complied with a visualisation assessment which was required under the outline consent. 

viii.         The cycle parking provision was below ground level so that the roof could be used to provide a usable open space itself a requirement of the outline planning permission.

  ix.         The Applicant had considered embodied carbon impacts if a basement was installed to provide underground parking provision. They wanted to make the cycle parking provision a more attractive part of the landscape.   

    x.         The statutory consultees were satisfied that any risk of flooding could be managed by condition.

  xi.         The Applicant had considered installing PV panels on the side of the building but thought this could have a jarring visual impact therefore the PV panels were proposed to be installed on the roof.

 xii.         The Sustainability Officer welcomed the efforts by the Applicant to reduce the impact of solar gain. Different glazing levels were proposed on elevations based on the particular solar impact.

xiii.         A mixture of small, medium and large trees had been proposed across the site; the landscaping condition would ensure there was enough water across the site to maintain trees during their growth.

xiv.         There was an existing Masterplan for the site although it was not an adopted document which had been reviewed as part of the Campus development. Work on a new Masterplan and Supplementary Planning Document was underway.   

xv.         Paragraphs 9.96-9.103 of the Officer’s report provided information on the biodiversity net gain; there would be an uplift in the habitat and hedgerow units.

xvi.         The cycle parking design had been through considerable pre-application discussions. Planning Officers, Urban Design Officers and Landscape Officers were content with the design.

xvii.         In response to concerns raised by Members advised that condition 6 could be amended to include means of access, enclosure, materials, security, details of layout of cycle parking (including mix) and drainage and shall demonstrate how the scheme has regard for cyclists with disabilities.

xviii.         Advised an informative could be added regarding the provision of power supply to the public square.

 

The Strategic Sites Manager offered the following summary of amendments to the Officer’s recommendation for the planning application reflecting Members’ debate during the meeting:

        i.       Approve reserved matters application 24/01529/REM subject to the conditions and informatives as detailed in the Officer’s report, with delegated authority to Officers to carry through minor amendments to those conditions and informatives (and to include others considered appropriate and necessary) prior to the issuing of the planning permission, subject to:

a.  an amendment to condition 6 that the details shall include the means of access, enclosure, materials, security, details of layout of cycle parking (including mix) and drainage, and shall demonstrate how the scheme has regard for cyclists with disabilities with the detailed wording of the condition delegated to Officers in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair; and

b.  an additional informative regarding the provision of power supply to the public square.

      ii.        Part discharge of the planning conditions on the outline planning permission reference 16/0176/OUT in relation to reserved matters application 24/01529/REM:

a.  8 (transport spurs)

b.  31 (on plot cycle and pedestrian facilities)

c.  33 (car parking spaces)

d.  37 (cycle parking spaces)

e.  39 (ecological conservation management plan)

f.   41 (surface water drainage)

g.  48 (waste)

h.  49 (landscape), parts (b), (c), (f), (h)

 

The Committee:

 

Unanimously resolved to:

 

i.    Approve reserved matters application 24/01529/REM subject to the conditions and informatives as detailed in the Officer’s report, with delegated authority to Officers to carry through minor amendments to those conditions and informatives (and include others considered appropriate and necessary) prior to the issuing of the planning permission; subject to

a.    an amendment to condition 6 that the details shall include the means of access, enclosure, materials, security, details of layout of cycle parking (including mix) and drainage, and shall demonstrate how the scheme has regard for cyclists with disabilities with the detailed wording of the condition delegated to Officers in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair; and

b.    an additional informative regarding the provision of power supply to the public square.

 

ii.             Part discharge of the planning conditions on the outline planning permission reference 16/0176/OUT in relation to reserved matters application 24/01529/REM:

a.    8 (transport spurs)

b.    31 (on plot cycle and pedestrian facilities)

c.    33 (car parking spaces)

d.    37 (cycle parking spaces)

e.    39 (ecological conservation management plan)

f.     41 (surface water drainage)

g.    48 (waste)

h.    49 (landscape), parts (b), (c), (f), (h)