Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: First Floor Meeting Space, 135 Eastern Avenue, Milton Park, OX14 4SB

Contact: Paul Bateman 

Note: THIS MEETING WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE. To watch the broadcast; https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTj2pCic8vzucpzlaSWE3UQ 

Items
No. Item

9.

Chair's announcements

To receive any announcements from the chair, and general housekeeping matters.

Minutes:

The chair ran through housekeeping arrangements appropriate to an in-person meeting which was being simultaneously broadcast.

10.

Apologies for absence

To record apologies for absence and the attendance of substitute members. 

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Cheryl Briggs and Diana Lugova.

11.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 288 KB

To adopt and sign as a correct record the Planning Committee minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 7 July 2021. 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 7 July 2021 were agreed to be a correct record of the meeting. It was agreed that the chair sign them as such.

12.

Declarations of interest

To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests in respect of items on the agenda for this meeting.  

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

13.

Urgent business

To receive notification of any matters which the chairman determines should be considered as urgent business and the special circumstances which have made the matters urgent. 

Minutes:

There was no urgent business.

14.

Public participation

To receive any statements from members of the public that have registered to speak on planning applications which are being presented to this committee meeting. 

Minutes:

The committee had received statements which had been made by the public in respect of the application. These had been circulated to the committee some days prior to the meeting.

15.

P21/V0024/FUL - Land to the West of Wootton Road, Abingdon-on-Thames pdf icon PDF 567 KB

The erection of a Class E discount foodstore with associated access, parking and servicing areas, landscaping, and associated works. Amended plans including revised landscaping, parking and retail information received 9 June 2021 and amended highways details received 5 August 2021 and 10 September 2021 and 29 September 2021. Additional retail information received 15 October 2021.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Ben Mabbett arrived at the meeting partway through the discussion on this application and therefore did not participate in the vote upon it.

 

The committee considered application P21/V0024/FUL for the erection of a Class E discount food store with associated access, parking and servicing areas, landscaping, and associated works. Amended plans including revised landscaping, parking and retail information received 9 June 2021 and amended highways details received 5 August 2021 and 10 September 2021 and 29 September 2021. Additional retail information received 15 October 2021 on Land to the West of Wootton Road, Abingdon-on-Thames.

 

Consultations, representations, policy and guidance, and the site’s planning history were detailed in the officer’s report, which formed part of the agenda pack for the meeting.

 

The planning officer reported that the proposal has been amended following technical officer comments relating to highways, landscaping, trees, and design.

 

Mr. Ian Marshall, Principal Transport Engineer, Oxfordshire County Council (OCC), was present at the meeting virtually, who would answer any questions from the committee regarding highways issues.

 

The planning officer clarified that the council could not control the end user of the proposed development through the planning system, and therefore the application had to be considered on the basis on the use class applied for, with no weight to be attached to any intended end users. The proposal had received 13 letters of objection, 7 concerns, 290 letters of support, and 35 individuals had registered support on the Aldi Ltd. website. The planning officer also reported that since the publication of the agenda, two objections had been received. A further objection had been made on behalf of Tesco Stores Ltd., alleging that the retail sequential test had not been made correctly. Officers had been supported by an independent retail consultant and council officers were satisfied that there were not any available sites within a reasonable timeframe, or suitable, in and around Abingdon.  Planning officers advised that Fairacres Retail Park was not considered to be a sequentially superior site, as it would not offer linked trips to the application site over the application site. The Planning officer provided clarity regarding the wording of NPPF paragraph 87 and guidance from the Planning Practice Guidance. Officers advised the committee that the proposal would not adversely affect the viability or vitality of Abingdon town centre.

 

The planning officer reported that an objection from the Oxfordshire Cycle Network, had been received, which considered that the proposed development did not encourage sustainable living and was not in line with LTN1/20 and OCC cycle standards. The Network was also concerned that an existing BT kiosk obstructed the cycle route. The officer gave details of the priority arrangement for cyclists and advised that officers considered it to be appropriately located. The planning officer reported that there were plans for the kiosk to be set flush to the ground and which, therefore, would not impede cyclists.

 

With reference to paragraph 5.5 of the report, the planning officer reported that in accordance with CP4 of Local Plan Part  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

 

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