Agenda and minutes

The chair welcomed the two new members to the committee, Councillor Cheryl Briggs and Councillor Ben Mabbett.

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

There were no apologies for absence.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

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. 

There was no urgent business.

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. 

A list showing members of the public who had registered to speak had been sent to the committee prior to the meeting. Statements received from the public were circulated to the committee prior to the meeting.

Variation of conditions 1 (approved plans), 5 (car parking) and 6 (boundary details in accordance with specific plan) on application P18/V0744/RM.

Reserved Matters application following Outline Approval P16/V0652/O (as varied by application no. P17/V2884/FUL) for the appearance, landscaping, layout and scale. Development of up to 88 dwellings including 40% affordable housing, landscaping and other associated works with all matters reserved with the exception of access.

The committee considered application P21/V0293/FUL for a variation of conditions 1 (approved plans), 5 (car parking) & 6 (boundary details in accordance with specific plan) on application P18/V0744/RM. Reserved Matters application following Outline Approval P16/V0652/O (as varied by application no. P17/V2884/FUL) for the appearance, landscaping, layout and scale. Development of up to 88 dwellings including 40% affordable housing, landscaping and other associated works with all matters reserved with the exception of access) on land at Park Farm, East Challow.

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 application site formed part of a wider area on which the council had permitted 88 dwellings and that development had commenced, with some dwellings completed and others under construction. This application would not increase the number of dwellings on the site and, if approved, would result in a cumulative decrease in floor space by some 109.4 sqm. The applicant had proposed changes in relation to eight approved house types within the scheme; there were no changes in the overall number of dwellings and all proposed house types were compliant with the ‘nationally described space standards’. The change in housing mix, if approved, would result in the loss of one 2-bedroom unit and a gain of one 5-bedroom unit.  There were also proposed adjustments to the boundaries of certain plots, resulting in one garage and parking space being re-located and a double garage being replaced with a single garage (its associated plot being reduced from 4-beds to 3). Also, some hardstanding between two plots would be replaced by green space. There were some minor adjustments to garden sizes, but it was emphasised that these revised areas continued to comply with policy guidance. The proposed changes were considered necessary to align more closely with present housing market demand. The planning officer advised the committee that these proposed changes would require alterations to the relevant proposed planning conditions (conditions 1, 5 and 6) and that the recommended revised wording was set out in appendix 1.

Mr. Nicholas Daruwalla, the applicant, spoke in support of the application.  He stated that the developer was most supportive of proposed condition 7, for ‘electric charging point for each dwelling with on plot parking’, which was beyond the council’s climate change requirements and would result in an improved application. In response to a question relating to reasons for the changes in housing mix, the applicant responded that at the present time the market required mid-sized housing, compared with executive style properties, as the latter category were taking longer to sell. Therefore, the changes should help to increase occupancy rates.

The democratic services officer had sent to the committee prior to the meeting a statement by Mr. Steve Gillott.

In response to a question regarding the relationship of this planning application and a possible future application, the planning officer displayed a plan depicting the extent of an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

Hybrid planning application consisting of a) Full Planning Application for the erection of a single storey 8,692 m2 Data Centre building (containing data halls, associated electrical and AHU Plant Rooms, loading bay, maintenance and storage space, office administration areas and screened plant at roof level), emergency generators and emission stacks, diesel tanks and filling area, electrical switch room, a water sprinkler pump room and storage tanks, a gate house / security building, MV substation, site access, internal access roads, drainage infrastructure, hard and soft landscaping and

b) Outline Planning Application for the erection of a two storey 20,800 m2 Data Centre building (containing data halls, associated electrical and AHU Plant Rooms, loading bay, maintenance and storage space, office administration areas and screened plant at roof level), emergency generators and emission stacks, diesel tanks and filling area, electrical switch room, a water sprinkler pump room and storage tanks; details of appearance will be reserved, along with hard landscaping immediately around the building (as amended by plans and documents received 5th May 2021).

The committee considered applications P21/V0167/FUL and P21/S0274/FUL for a hybrid planning application consisting of the following, on land at the former Didcot ‘A’ Power Station, Milton Road, Didcot;

a) Full Planning Application for the erection of a single storey 8,692 m² Data Centre building (containing data halls, associated electrical and AHU Plant Rooms, loading bay, maintenance and storage space, office administration areas and screened plant at roof level), emergency generators and emission stacks, diesel tanks and filling area, electrical switch room, a water sprinkler pump room and storage tanks, a gate house / security building, MV substation, site access, internal access roads, drainage infrastructure, hard and soft landscaping and

b) Outline Planning Application for the erection of a two storey 20,800 m² Data Centre building (containing data halls, associated electrical and AHU Plant Rooms, loading bay, maintenance and storage space, office administration areas and screened plant at roof level), emergency generators and emission stacks, diesel tanks and filling area, electrical switch room, a water sprinkler pump room and storage tanks; details of appearance will be reserved, along with hard landscaping immediately around the building (as amended by plans and documents received 5th May 2021).

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 as hybrid applications, permission was being sought for a single - storey data centre building and related buildings and works, and an outline application for a larger, two – storey building, with landscaping and related buildings. Landscaping and appearance were reserved matters.  With reference to paragraph 1.4 of the report, the planning officer confirmed that the land lay within the Didcot Garden Town zone, and not within the zone of influence, as had been stated. Also, as this was a cross-boundary application, the South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) Planning Committee would be considering the application on 30 June 2021.

The planning officer reported that the development plan for this proposal comprised the adopted Vale Local Plan 2031, Part 1 (LPP1), the adopted Vale Local Plan 2031, Part 2 (LPP2) and the adopted SODC Local Plan 2035 (SOLP).  There was currently no made or draft neighbourhood plan for Sutton Courtenay or Didcot. The site was allocated for redevelopment in LPP1 and through the grant of outline planning permissions, which remained extant, the principle of commercial development at this location had been established.  Development of the site for the data centre use (Use Class B8) complied with policies CP6 and CP16 of LPP1 and policies STRAT1 and STRAT3 of the SOLP, and was therefore acceptable in principle, unless material considerations indicated otherwise. 

The planning officer reported that height of the development was acceptable to officers, and the proposed design would represent a positive contribution to the surrounding area.  The proposed landscaping was also acceptable, and it was considered that the development would have no detrimental impact upon the amenity of existing or future residents in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.