Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Head of Planning and Building Control.

(Report circulated)

The Head of Planning and Building Control presented the application for a development to provide mixed employment uses at land south of Yeoford Way, Marsh Barton Trading Estate, Exeter. This was an outline application with all matters reserved for future consideration.

The application proposed to develop the area for a mixed employment use for Use Classes B1, B2 and B8. An application for improved flood drainage of the site had been approved in October 2009.

The Head of Planning and Building Control stated that although the site was not in the Exeter Local Plan as being identified for employment use it had been identified in the emerging Exeter LDF Core Strategy as suitable to meet future employment needs.  He updated Members on the ecological, energy, transport and flooding issues with regards to the proposal. Members were advised that the wording of conditions 14 and 17 would be amended to reflect the wording received by the Highways Agency.

Members were circulated with an update sheet giving details of Natural England comments.

The recommendation was for approval subject to the completion of a Section 106 Agreement which required a financial contribution towards public transport improvements and public art, landscape and cycleway phasing, implementation of Wildlife Area, installation of new culvert under Bad Homburg Way and compliance with the Energy Strategy and the conditions as per the report with amendments to the wording of conditions 14 and 17. The application would be referred to the Government Office for the South West as a departure from the Local Plan.

During discussion Members raised concerns regarding comments received from Devon Wildlife Trust and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, in particular the on- going management of the wild life area to the east of the development.

The Head of Planning and Building Control confirmed that a 45 metre wild life corridor to the south of the site was proposed. In answer to Members’ questions, he confirmed that the management of construction traffic was covered by condition 14 and lighting on the site covered by condition 13.

The Planning Solicitor stated that the Section 106 Agreement could include the implementation of a wild life plan and that highway improvements should also be part of the Section 106 Agreement as well as public transport.

RESOLVED that, subject to referral to the Government Office for the South West as a departure from the Local Plan, planning permission for a development to provide mixed employment uses be approved, subject to the completion of a Section 106 Agreement which requires a financial contribution towards highway and public transport improvements and public art, landscape and cycleway phasing, implementation of a Wildlife Area and an agreed Management Plan, installation of new culvert under Bad Homburg Way and compliance with the Energy Strategy, and the following conditions:

1)         Application for the approval of the reserved matters shall be made to the Local Planning Authority before the expiration of five years from the date of the permission and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44