Agenda and minutes

Venue: Rennes Room, Civic Centre, Paris Street, Exeter

Contact: Howard Bassett, Democratic Services Officer (Committees)  01392 265107 or email  howard.bassett@exeter.gov.uk

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Items
No. Item

36.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 575 KB

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 24 April 2023.

 

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 April 2023 were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as correct.

 

37.

Declarations of Interest

Councillors are reminded of the need to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests that relate to business on the agenda and which have not already been included in the register of interests, before any discussion takes place on the item. Unless the interest is sensitive, you must also disclose the nature of the interest. In accordance with the Council's Code of Conduct, you must then leave the room and must not participate in any further discussion of the item. Councillors requiring clarification should seek the advice of the Monitoring Officer prior to the day of the meeting.

 

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were made by Members.

 

38.

Planning Application No. 21/1676/FUL - Land North East of 371 Topsham Road, Exeter pdf icon PDF 2 MB

To consider the report of the Director City Development.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Assistant Service Lead - Development Management (Major Projects) presented the application for the development comprising change of use to golf driving range including construction of an 8 bay and 2 training bay facility incorporating equipment store and car park.

 

The Assistant Service Lead - Development Management (Major Projects) set out a detailed description of the site and the proposed development, including an aerial view, site and planting plans, views towards the site from Ludwell Valley Park photos showing the proposed building in the context of the surroundings and facilities within the existing golf driving range in Topsham Road which would be largely replicated in the proposed development. The report presented also set out the following key issues:-

 

·              the principle of development;

·         design, landscape and heritage;

·         access and impact on local highways and parking;

·         noise;

·         impact on trees and biodiversity;

·         flood risk and surface water management;

·         sustainable construction and energy conservation;

·         development plan, material considerations and presumption in favour of sustainable development

 

The Assistant Service Lead - Development Management (Major Projects) provided the following additional detail:-

 

·         the proposed development was to change the use of the site from an agricultural field to a golf driving range, including the development of a single storey building and car park. Like the existing facility, the new facility will be available to use by members of Exeter Golf and Country Club/Topsham Golf Academy and not be open to the general public. A security fence was proposed along the boundary with Rydon Lane;

·         the site was within the designated Ludwell Valley Park and Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI) on the Local Plan First Review Proposals Map. The site was also located within the Landscape Setting area. The adjoining field to the northeast is part of the Ludwell Valley Park County Wildlife Site (CWS);

·         the car park would be surfaced in grasscrete and the building would be sited adjacent to the car park to the east including eight bays and a specialised training bay. It will be constructed from timber and composite cladding similar to the building at the existing facility;

·         the bays will face towards the northeast corner of the field and A379, away from the housing in Tollards Road and InFocus buildings. The ball striking zone will be 250 metres long compared with 180 metres at the existing facility. Unlike the existing facility there would be no flags or other paraphernalia in the ball striking zone. Instead users will be able to see the distance they strike the ball on a monitor in each bay;

·         there would be no floodlighting; the Club having confirmed the facility will be viable to operate in daylight hours only. Due to the much larger size of the site compared to the existing facility, there would be no need for any safety netting. The applicant had confirmed verbally that no chemicals would be sprayed on the grass and none were being used at the existing facility;

·         the applicant had submitted a Landscape and Ecological Mitigation Plan showing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

39.

Planning Application No. 22/1746/RES - West Park, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter pdf icon PDF 3 MB

To consider the report of the Director City Development.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Principal Project Manager (Development Management) (CMB) presented the application for approval of reserved matters of access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale in relation to outline permission 20/1684/OUT for student accommodation and ancillary amenity facilities, and external alterations and refurbishment of Birks Grange Village Blocks A-E, with associated infrastructure, demolition of existing buildings and landscaping.

 

The Principal Project Manager (Development Management) (CMB) described the layout and location of the site comprising the western portion of the University of Exeter Streatham Campus through the site location plans, aerial views and photos of the site and panoramic views from and to adjoining areas, elevations, design and layout of the buildings, the report presented setting out the following key issues:-

 

·              the principle of development;

·         character and appearance;

·         residential amenity;

·         heritage and highways;

·         biodiversity

·         contamination

·         flood risk and drainage

·         sustainable construction; and

·         economy.

 

The Principal Project Manager (Development Management) (CMB) advised that outline consent had been granted to build student accommodation and ancillary amenity facilities (up to a maximum of 49,821 sq. metres) and external alterations and refurbishment of Birks Grange Village Blocks A-E to the site’s north-west; with associated infrastructure, demolition of existing buildings and landscaping. The reserved matters application related to the proposed refurbished and new build student accommodation comprising eight new student accommodation blocks and ancillary amenity facilities. The current scheme accorded with maximum heights and floor area consented under Outline as well as with the illustrative/indicative site plans and visualisations presented to that Committee.

 

The Principal Project Manager (Development Management) (CMB) further advised that:-

 

·         the scheme would result in a net increase of 1,474 no. student bed spaces, with 2,656no. new bed spaces being created following the loss of 582no. existing bed spaces, of which 290no. would be refurbished rather than demolished;

·         landscaping and tree retention were not subject to the application as this aspect of the development had been approved at the outline stage and controlled via condition, which was under consideration as part of a separate application;

·         a separate reserved matters application for the proposed replacement Estate Service Centre, which was now called Ground Compound Rennes Drive, was also under consideration;

·         16 letters of objection have been received regarding the application raising issues of: harm to visual amenity; harm to residential amenity/overlooking/loss of privacy; light and noise pollution; antisocial behaviour; lack of democratic process; inadequate community engagement; misinformation; inaccurate plans; harm to ecology and highways safety. Notwithstanding the objections the application comprised the reserved matters pertaining to outline consent ref. 20/1684/OUT, granted in 2021. The outline consent approved the proposed development in principle. Also, it approved the scheme's heights and maximum floor areas based on the indicative layout and verified views. The conditions attached to the outline consent also addressed much of the technical detail;

·         officers had raised concerns with the applicant regarding the impact of proposed Block CB on the residential amenity, namely the loss of privacy to existing student accommodation Block J to the north as well as for future occupiers. Following discussions with the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

40.

Planning Application No 23/0151/VOC - Sandy Park Stadium, Stadium Park Way, Exeter pdf icon PDF 2 MB

To consider the report of the Director City Development.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Principal Project Manager (Development Management) (CMB) presented the application for the re-development to increase capacity from 10,750 to 20,600 by three new grandstands, additional parking, bus/coach drop off and extension to west stand including conference centre to south stand (Variation of condition 7 of 12/1030/FUL to allow up to four music concerts on 17, 18, 24, 25 June 2023 only for an attendance of up to 15,000 people per concert.) (REVISED WORDING FOR CONDITION 7 VARIATION)

 

The Principal Project Manager (Development Management) (CMB) advised that original consent had been granted on 29 October 2012 comprising an increase capacity from 10,750 to 20,600 with three new grandstands, additional parking and bus/coach drop off; extension to west stand and a conference centre to south stand. It was also reported that the original consent had been for a permanent increase in capacity from the previous 10,744 to 20,600 in the form of an extension to the West stand and new permanent stands on the remaining three sides of the ground. These had been partially implemented and was, therefore, extant. Since the original consent had been granted, the Courtyard by Marriott Sandy Park has been completed to the south of the site, which had a footbridge connecting the hotel to the stadium site.

 

The report presented setting out the following key issues:-

 

·              the principle of development;

·         impact on character and appearance including landscaping;

·         impact on residential amenity and heritage;

·         highways, access and parking;

·         ecology and contaminated land;

·         air quality;

·         flood risk;

·         sustainable construction; and

·         economy.

 

The Principal Project Manager (Development Management) (CMB) advised that the application sought to vary Condition seven of the planning permission in order to hold public performances of musical events to be held at the stadium. The originally proposed variation to Condition seven had been to allow up to eight music concerts per calendar year for an attendance of up to 15,000 people. This proposal had been amended so that the site shall not be used for public performance of musical events except to allow up to four music concerts on 17, 18, 24, 25 June 2023 only for an attendance of up to 15,000 people per concert.

 

A total of 41 representations had been received from separate addresses including three neutral and two in support. 36 letters of objection had been received, mostly concerning the impact on the residential amenity of noise, antisocial behaviour, traffic and parking, anti-social behaviour in residential areas and lack of due process regarding marketing and sale of tickets prior to planning consent. The presentation set out in detail the issues raised in the objections and the mitigating measures associated with each.

 

It was also recognised that objections initially raised by the Environmental Health Officer, the County Highways Authority and National Highways had been withdrawn.

 

Notwithstanding the above, it was considered that the proposed music events would give rise to economic benefits for the rugby club and the wider area, including the provision of employment opportunities. This carried substantial positive weight in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

41.

Adjournment of Meeting

Minutes:

The meeting was adjourned for the following items to be considered at a further meeting of this Committee to be held on Monday 12 June 2023 at 5:30pm.

 

Planning Application No. 23/0172/FUL - Station Road, Pinhoe Playing Fields, Station Road, Pinhoe, Exeter

Planning Application No. 22/0756/FUL - Newbery Breakers Yard, Redhills, Exeter

List of decisions made and withdrawn applications

Appeals Report