Agenda item

To consider the report of the Head of Planning Services.

(Report circulated)

The Development Control Manager presented the application for two detached buildings to provide a three storey fire station with ancillary offices, training building with tower, parking, cycle, bin and fuel store, access to highway and associated works for siting, design, landscaping and external appearance at Devon and Cornwall Constabulary Police Headquarters, Middlemoor.

He confirmed the site had outline approval for the siting of a Fire Station and access and that this application was for reserved matters for the siting, design, external appearance and landscaping. This was a flat site which was bound by trees.

The design was contemporary the materials to be used were mainly render with some brick and a glazed entrance. It was proposed to incorporate some public art in the entrance area.

The Development Control Manager reported that the Environment Agency had confirmed that, having received a copy of the revised Flood Risk Assessment, they had no objection to the proposal provided it proceeds in accordance with its content. This could be covered by an additional condition.

The County Director of Environment, Economy and Culture had confirmed no objection to the proposal subject to conditions regarding provision of the access, cycle and car parking facilities prior to occupation and appropriate visibility splays. The outline approval contained a condition requiring details of the junction and access onto Sidmouth Road to be submitted for approval prior to commencement. This would still apply and was reflected in Condition 9. The condition regarding provision of the parking facilities was considered valid and an additional condition was proposed to ensure that the site was not brought into use until the car parking, cycle parking/storage facilities were provided.

The recommendation was for approval, subject to additional conditions regarding compliance with the flood risk assessment and the provision of the car parking, cycle parking/storage facilities.

RESOLVED that planning permission for two detached buildings (1,137sq.m.) to provide three storey fire station with ancillary offices, training building with tower, parking, cycle, bin and fuel store, access to highway and associated works (approval sought of reserved matters on Ref. No. 04/1467/01 granted 16 March 2007) for siting, design, landscaping and external appearance be approved, subject to the following conditions:

1)         C15  -  Compliance with Drawings

2)         The development hereby approved shall not commence until details of the proposed finished floor levels and overall ridge heights of the dwelling/building(s), 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 interests of the visual amenities of the area and the residential amenities of the occupants of surrounding properties.

3)         C12  -  Drainage Details

4)         C17  -  Submission of Materials

5)         C38  -  Trees - Temporary Fencing

6)         C35  -  Landscape Scheme

7)         Prior to the commencement of the development hereby approved a detailed Wildlife Plan identifying specific measures to protect existing wildlife on the site, and to enhance  the wildlife opportunities within the site, shall be submitted to, and be approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority. Thereafter the measures identified in the Wildlife Plan shall be fully implemented prior to occupation of the building and be maintained in perpetuity unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

Reason:  To ensure that the wildlife opportunities associated with the site are maximised in the interests of biodiversity.

8)         Prior to the commencement of the development hereby approved a Green Travel Plan identifying specific measures to encourage a modal shift away from the use of the private motor car associated with the use of the building shall be submitted to and be approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority. The Travel Plan shall specify the arrangements for reviewing and monitoring the effectiveness of Travel Plan.

Reason:  To ensure that appropriate measures are implemented to encourage the use of sustainable modes of transport in connection with the use of the building.

9)         All conditions imposed on notice of outline approval (ref no. 04/1467/01) are hereby reiterated in as much as they relate to the development and have yet to be discharged in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

Reason:  To safeguard the rights of control by the Local Planning Authority in respect of the reserved matters.

10)       Prior to the commencement of the development hereby approved full details of the new drainage outlet from the site to Sidmouth Road shall be submitted to, and be approved on writing by, the Local Planning Authority. Thereafter the development shall be completed strictly in accordance with the approved details.

Reason:  To ensure that the proposed drainage outlet is acceptable in terms of its potential impact on the existing trees/vegetation along the frontage to Sidmouth Road.

11)       Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority the drainage arrangements to serve the development shall accord with the strategy set out in the submitted Flood Risk Assessment dated August 2007 Rev D. Full details of the drainage to serve the development shall be submitted to and be approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to the commencement of the development.

Reason: To ensure the satisfactory drainage of the development.

12)       The development shall not be brought into its intended use until the car parking, cycle parking/storage facilities and any other vehicular access facility required for the development by this permission have been completed and are available for use. Thereafter the said facilities shall be permanently retained for their intended use unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: To ensure that adequate access and parking facilities are available for the traffic attracted to the site.

 (Report circulated)