Agenda item

Proposal Description:(AMENDED PLANS AND INFORMATION) Demolition of existing buildings (including the large feed mill, associated support buildings, and commercial buildings); and the sites redevelopment with new commercial buildings; cafe & social hub; parking, access and circulation; biodiversity net gain area; landscaping; and associated works.

The application was introduced. Members were referred to the update sheet which provided additional information regarding two additional conditions that had been added to the decision notice:

No. 29. A detailed plan showing details of footpaths  and cycleways through the site, connections to the external rights of way and times that it will be accessible shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to the occupation of the final phase of development. Those pathways shall remain open for the general public to use for the lifetime of the permission hereby approved.

Reason: In the interests of the amenity of the area.

No. 30. Prior to the occupation of the first phase of development hereby permitted, details of the design of the proposed bicycle stores shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The bicycle stores shall be installed in accordance with the approved details and thereby retained unless agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: In order to secure a satisfactory standard of development.

A verbal update was also given by the Officer purporting to a further condition and slight amendment to condition 29.

31. The light industrial and office buildings shall be used for class E(g) and for no other purpose (including any other purpose in Class E of the Schedule to the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 as amended by the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) Order 2005 or in any provision equivalent to that Class in any other statutory instrument revoking and re-enacting that Order).

Reason: To ensure the use of the building does not have a harmful environmental effect and in the interests of amenity.

During public participation, Richard Osborn, Andrew Uwins, and David Wiseman spoke in support of the application and Councillor Corcoran spoke on behalf of Twyford Parish Council who proposed that the decision be deferred. Members of the committee asked questions of the speakers.

Councillor Cook spoke as a ward member and expressed several points on behalf of residents which could be summarised as follows.

1.    She noted that the application involved the demolition of existing buildings, including a large feed mill and several commercial units, and the construction of new commercial buildings, a café and social hub, and a biodiversity net gain area.

2.    Concerns had been raised about the proximity of units three and four to residential areas. Despite some adjustments, the buildings had not been moved sufficiently away, and there was a call for these to be office buildings rather than commercial businesses to reduce the impact on the residents.

3.    She questioned the necessity of the proposed operating hours, particularly why the hub needed to stay open until 11:00 PM on Sundays.

4.    It was noted that 83% of Twyford residents supported a local referendum on business policies, indicating strong community interest and involvement in the development.

5.    She highlighted the increased traffic concerns and the insufficiency of the offered £100,000 for a new crossing.

6.    The potential for increased flooding in Twyford due to the development was raised, given the area's history of flooding, issues with tree cutting and the environmental impact were also mentioned.

7.    The lack of contribution to cycling infrastructure by the application was noted, along with the adverse effects on nearby properties in Bournefields and Northfields.

8.    Councillor Cook concluded by requesting a deferral of the application for two months to allow further discussions with the developer, aiming for a resolution that the village of Twyford could support.

The committee proceeded to ask questions and debate the application and received advice from the Senior Planning & Litigation Lawyer regarding the S106 Agreement and Highways matters.

RESOLVED

The committee agreed to grant permission, subject to the completion of S106, for the reasons and subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report and the update sheet.