Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Head of Planning Services.

(Report circulated)

The Development Control Manager presented the planning application for a Health and Fitness centre with internal and external facilities including tennis, health and fitness, multi-sports, swimming, club room, crèche, car parking and associated works at land adjacent to Sandy Park Farm, Old Rydon Lane, Exeter.

There were two previous approvals for a Sports/Tennis Centre on this land and the site had been levelled and prepared for construction. This application was for a revised scheme comprising a smaller two storey building with a total floor area of 6,643 square metres, with 256 parking spaces which included ten disabled spaces. The hard landscaping would be conditioned to ensure it was the same quality as the Rugby Stadium landscaping.

Members were circulated with an update sheet giving details of the County Director of Environment, Economy and Culture, the Environment Agency and the Head of Environmental Health Services consultation responses. Revised plans had been received to address concerns, and amendments to conditions and additional conditions were proposed.

The revised plans received also showed the height of the proposed building relative to the existing stadium and incorporated the relocation of the plant room previously sited opposite the end of the footbridge over the A379 to a less conspicuous location. This was considered a significant improvement in terms of the visual impact and overcame the concerns in this respect that had been identified in the original circulated report. The applicant had been advised that the air support dome was considered unacceptable and the applicant had subsequently withdrawn this element of the scheme.

The recommendation was for approval subject to amendments to conditions and additional conditions as per the circulated update sheet.

During discussion, Members raised concerns regarding the dangers of the access on to the A379, as cars filter out on to a fast moving dual carriageway and that the car park should not be used by people attending rugby matches.

The Development Control Manager informed Members that when the A379 was linked to Topsham Road that stretch of the A379 was likely to be reduced to a 40 miles per hour speed limit. A planning condition would be applied regarding control of the car park to ensure that it would not be used by visitors to the stadium.

RESOLVED that planning permission for a Health and Fitness centre with internal and external facilities including tennis, health and fitness, multi-sports, swimming, club room and crèche, car parking and associated works be approved, subject to the following conditions:

1)         C05 - Time Limit – Commencement

2)         C15 - Compliance with Drawings

3)         C12 - Drainage Details

4)         C17 - Submission of Materials

5)         C35 - Landscape Scheme

6)         H02 - Highways - Provision parking, etc

7)         The development hereby approved shall not commence until details of the proposed finished floor levels and overall ridge heights of the building, in relation to an agreed fixed point or O.S datum have been submitted to, and been approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: In the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 278