Agenda item

To consider the report of the Service Lead City Development.

The Principal Project Manager (Development) (MH) presented the application for the formation of a temporary car park comprising a total of 287 spaces on 1.35 hectares in the middle of the site for a period of three years, the land comprising a stoned finish.

The Principal Project Manager (Development) advised that the County Council, as Lead Local Flood Authority, sought the submission of details in respect of a surface water drainage management plan.

Mr Matt Helm spoke in support of the application. He raised the following points:-

·         Middlemoor is the Devon and Cornwall Police command and control centre with around 2,000 officers. Increased parking is required during specialist operations, especially for strategic co-ordination with partner agencies during a crisis. Staff are drawn from four Counties;

·         the new Police Station will see an increase of around 250 officers working at Middlemoor and the remodelling of the campus will impact on parking spaces;

·         the application is to cope with existing demand and not additional officers from the Heavitree Road site;

·         to mitigate flooding concerns, the type of stone to be used has been changed and a survey carried out to ensure the soil has a good contaminant attenuation potential;

·         the ground has very low permeability which will prevent contaminants entering the watercourse and spill kits will be inserted in case of a fuel spillage. Consideration will be given to providing a textile membrane to soak up any contaminants;

·         this is a temporary application as reliance on vehicles will be reduced. By 2021, officers will be issued with better mobile devices and staff may work remotely. The timeframe for the car park has been reduced from five to three years; and

·         the Force is committed to a green agenda and promoting sustainability.

During discussion the following points were raised:-

·         urge early consultation on Green Travel Plan to secure support of officers and unions, accepting that a nine month period is necessary to consult;

·         seek to encourage sustainable transport choices amongst staff/officers and to reduce overall parking demand through Green Travel Plan initiatives; and

·         other Green Travel Plans in the city should be studied to embrace best practice with consideration to be given to introducing car parking charges.

The recommendation was for approval once satisfactory clarification of drainage matters had been received, subject to the conditions as set out in the report.

The recommendation was moved and seconded.

RESOLVED that, subject to the receipt of a surface water drainage management plan to the satisfaction of Devon County Council as Lead Local Flood Authority, planning permission for the formation of a temporary car park comprising a total of 287 spaces on 1.53 hectares in the middle of the site, for a period of three years, be APPROVED, subject also to the following conditions:-

1)         The development to which this permission relates must be begun not later than the expiration of one year beginning with the date on which this permission is granted and the applicant shall notify the Local Planning Authority of the intended date of the commencement of works to implement the permission prior to work commencing.

Reason:  To ensure compliance with sections 91 and 92 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and to enable the Local Planning Authority to monitor the period of the temporary consent hereby approved;

2)         The use hereby approved shall cease on or before the date three years post the date of the commencement of works to implement this temporary consent as referred to in condition 1.

Reason: The use is considered unsuitable on a permanent basis in this locality in the context of its potential impacts on the local highway network and the desirability of promoting less reliance on the motor vehicle in favour of more sustainable modes of transport which have less adverse environmental impacts; and

3)         Within nine months of the date of commencement of works to implement this temporary consent, a bespoke Green Travel Plan relating to the Middlemoor complex and all activities carried out therein shall be submitted to, and be approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority. The Green Travel Plan shall specifically address the measures to be implemented to ensure that the temporary car park is no longer required beyond the temporary three year period hereby approved.

Reason – To encourage and promote the use of sustainable modes of transport in preference to the use of the private motor vehicles, and working practices that minimise the demand for parking at the site in the interests of sustainable development.