Agenda and minutes

The Chair announced, following approval at Full Council, that Councillor G Offland had been appointed as Vice-Chair of Planning Committee.

Cllr G Cook declared an interest in planning application TWC/2021/0930 as he had sat on the Plans Board at Wellington Town Council when this item had been discussed and indicated that he would withdraw from the meeting during determination thereof.

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Please note that the order in which applications are heard may be changed at the meeting.  If Members have queries about any of the applications, they are requested to raise them with the relevant Planning Officer prior to the Committee meeting.

Members had received a schedule of planning applications to be determined by the Committee and fully considered each report and the supplementary information tabled at the meeting regarding planning application TWC/2021/0930.

This application was for the creation of a manege, parking, associated boundary treatments and the erection of stables/equestrian buildings on land opposite Woodside Farm, Kynnersley Drive, Lilleshall, Newport, Shropshire

The Application was before Committee at the request of Councillor A Eade.

Members had attended a site visit on the afternoon prior to the meeting.

The Area Team Planning Manager presented applications TWC/2020/0356 and TWC/2020/0358 which both related to land opposite Woodside Farm, Kynnersley Drive, Lilleshall, Newport, Shropshire.

Lilleshall Parish Council had submitted a statement.  This had been received after the deadline for additional information, but the statement broadly outlined, highways, policy TA1 of the Lilleshall Neighbourhood Plan, a conflict with Design Policy B1, Policy LE2 in relation to ecology and landscape and the Wealdmoors was a strategic area.  Kynnersley Drive was in the Parish of Lilleshall and the development was on the boundary, concerns regarding the public right of way through the site, the gate and hedgerow fronting the land and the impact of nearby residential properties.

Councillor A Eade, Ward Councillor, spoke against the application and raised concerns regarding Policy C3 of the Local Plan, access and egress and the impact on the narrow lane, highway safety, the local authority assessment of the visits to the livery yard were underestimated, delivery traffic, intensification of use and lack of passing places, new Highway Code rules regarding the passing of horses at a safe distance and the impact with the narrow land and drainage ditches, limiting horses to within the yard itself, the lack of conditions in relation to the manege being limited to “not for public hire” and it was urged that this condition be added if Members were minded to approve the application.

Ms K Lutner, a member of the public, spoke again the application and raised concerns regarding the detrimental impact on the Wealdmoors which was a strategic area within the Local Plan, landscape the lack of a character assessment, the isolated site that would detract from the land, negative impact on wildlife, in particular badgers and a licence would be required, the impact on Kynnersley Woods and the flat topography of the area, increased traffic on narrow lanes, impact on the special qualities of the area and interruption to the peace and tranquillity.

Mr A Lane, Applicant’s Agent spoke in favour of the application which was a small scale livery for a maximum of 10 horses which was an acceptable use of the land within the rural area.  The existing field gate and access would be utilised but improvements made to its appearance, visibility splays will be provided, there were no objections from the highways authority, vehicle movements would be minimal with an estimation of 8 movements per day and he considered this would be far less than agricultural vehicles using this field.  Ecology and drainage assessments had been undertaken and there were no objections from officers.  This was a small scale, sensitive livery set in the rural area which officers had recommended for approval.

The Area  ...  view the full minutes text for item PC249

This application was for a three year siting of mobile home with modifications to existing access to support the Livery on land opposite Woodside Farm, Kynnersley Drive, Lilleshall, Newport, Shropshire

The Application was before Committee at the request of Councillor A Eade.

Members had attended a site visit on the afternoon prior to the meeting.

The Area Team Planning Manager presented applications TWC/2020/0356 and TWC/2020/0358 which both related to land opposite Woodside Farm, Kynnersley Drive, Lilleshall, Newport, Shropshire.

Lilleshall Parish Council had submitted a statement.  This had been received after the deadline for additional information, but the statement broadly outlined, highways, policy TA1 of the Lilleshall Neighbourhood Plan, a conflict with Design Policy B1, Policy LE2 in relation to ecology and landscape and the Wealdmoors was a strategic area.  Kynnersley Drive was in the Parish of Lilleshall and the development was on the boundary, concerns regarding the public right of way through the site, the gate and hedgerow fronting the land and the impact of nearby residential properties.

Councillor A Eade spoke against the application which was within the strategic landscape area, it went against the Lilleshall Neighbourhood Plan which controlled appropriate development.  A mobile home was not acceptable and did not pay due regard to the area and what it stood for.  He felt that running this type of business on 8½ acres was not viable and raised concerns regarding the drainage to the field which was wet and boggy.  The horses would cause damage and uproot grass and it was felt it was not needed and not necessary and the development was situated in the wrong place.

Ms K Lutner spoke against the application and raised concerns regarding the siting of the mobile home that was a distance from the livery.  The livery could be monitored via a security camera and it was not felt accommodation was required on site.   The proposed site was not within the curtilage of the development some 10 acres away.  It was only necessary for a person to be 30 minutes away and lots of businesses had a reliance on cameral.  Affordable rented accommodation was available nearby.  She raised concerns regarding the effect on the Wealdmoors and asked that the damage be contained to one area rather than the whole field, the access, the road and parking for the mobile home, impact of wildlife the nitrates, the sites may be sold later for development, it was against the NPPF and she supported the views of the local community who wished for the application to be refused.

Mr A Lane, Applicant’s Agent, spoke in favour of the application that this was for accommodation for the owners of the site to care for the horses within the livery on the previous application that Members had approved.  A cattery and kennels had recently been approved and a rural workers dorma bungalow completed.  The proposed accommodation was a small scale mobile home for a period of three years to help establish the viability of the business  ...  view the full minutes text for item PC250

This application was for the erection of a 56no. unit Dementia Care Centre (consisting of 1 bed apartments) with associated parking, communal gardens and SUDs, following demolition of the existing buildings on the site of Former The Wrekin Endeavour Centre, North Road, Wellington, Telford, Shropshire.

Councillor G Cook left the meeting for this item of business.

This application was before the Committee as it required a S106 Agreement and involved land owned by the Council.

An update report was tabled prior to the meeting which addressed concerns raised by Ward Member Cllr Thompson and gave details of financial contributions sought towards local improvements in the form of a replacement off-grid bus shelter.

The Area Team Planning Manager addressed Members that this was a full application for a 56 bedroom two and three storey dementia care unit for affordable rent.  Nomination rights would be secured for the Council by S106 agreement.  A written update had been circulated in relation to the bus shelter and the application was recommended for approval.

Councillor J Thompson spoke in favour of the application which was currently an empty property and supported people with dementia and brought employment opportunities forward.  He did, however, raise concerns regarding the safety of children from the local schools during construction, help required towards the school signage and fencing.  He was pleased that the bus stop would be retained but raised concerns as to where it would be located and asked that the local bus service remain in place during construction.

The Area Team Planning Manager confirmed that the safety of the school children would be secured by an environmental management plan which conditions areas such as parking on site, controlling the hours of deliveries.  He confirmed that no money had been secured towards the railings but that the bus shelter had been brought forward as a different piece of infrastructure but at this point it was not sure where it would be positioned.  This was likely to be slightly south of its current position but highway would take the access into account.  There would be a temporary bus stop for the continuation of the bus service during construction.

During the debate, some Members asked that Councillor Thompson’s concerns were taken on board and that he and residents were consulted on the siting of the bus stop.  Other Members requested that school drop/pick up times were avoided during construction so that traffic was not in the area at busy times and that the walkways were important for residents so railing need to be in place for safety reasons.  Further comments were that these units were desperately needed and it was a good site to develop, but parking issues were of concern, together with the apartments being below the national space standard.  Other Members felt it was good to see that Town and Ward Member supporting the much needed application.

The Area Team Planning Manager confirmed that the safety of school children had been considered and that a traffic management plan would  ...  view the full minutes text for item PC251