Agenda item

TWC/2022/0040 - Land rear of Wrap Film Systems Ltd, Hortonwood 45, Hortonwood, Telford, Shropshire

Minutes:

This application was for the erection of storage and distribution unit (Use Class B8) including ancillary offices, access, servicing yard, car parking, landscaping and drainage infrastructure on land to the rear of Wrap Film Systems Ltd, Hortonwood 45, Hortonwood, Telford, Shropshire.

 

This application was before Committee due to a Section 106 Agreement to secure financial contributions.

 

Hadley & Leegomery Parish Council had requested that the application be heard by Planning Committee.

 

The Planning Officer informed Members that this was a single storey distribution unit including parking, service yard and landscaping.  It was an occupier led scheme for a warehouse ancillary offices and with three pick up and delivery fingers.  Financial obligations would be secured for highways, trees and ecology.  At 1.1 of the report there was an error within the recommendation detailing the planting specification which would need to be amended, this was to be omitted.

 

Councillor J Parkin spoke on behalf of Hadley & Leegomery Parish Council who were fully supportive of economic growth and employment and although this application was on employment land designated for manufacturing it was critical that each application was assessed for the impact on residents and local environment together with the nature of the business and the operating hours applied.  A distribution warehouse would mean unlimited vehicular movements for HGVs and an unfettered level of activity and noise and light pollution.  He raised concerns regarding the hours of operation, increased traffic and the impact on the roundabouts and road junctions.  He asked that this be rejected.

 

Mr D Green, Applicant’s Agent, spoke in favour of the application which he felt was a good news story with the occupier being a parcel delivery company.  This was the only suitable site that could accommodate the operation.  It would bring capital investment of around £17m with the creation of 90 jobs which would increase by a further 50 jobs in time.  It would mean the loss of trees and hedgerows, but this was not uncommon across the area.  A package of biodiversity and planting would take place to mitigate against this.  There were no technical objections and they were committed to delivering a highly suitable development with a sustainable travel plan promoting the use of car sharing, together with cycle parking and e-charging points.  The site was not adjacent to any houses and it was felt a suitable site for a 24/7 operation which was critical to the Company and a noise assessment had been undertaken.  There were overall significant benefits which met local strategies and local planning policy.

 

The Planning Officer informed Members that this was an allocated site for B8 use and was compliant with the local plan.  The traffic impact had been assessed for such sites and the relevant contribution towards the strategic network requested.  There would be an enhanced footway/cycleway and a noise impact assessment undertaken with the nearest residents being some 230m to the east separated by landscaping.  There was an impact on the trees and biodiversity, but it was felt on balance that this would be off-set by the biodiversity net gain contributions being sought.  The design was acceptable and it was recommended that the application be granted subject to conditions.

 

During the debate some Members felt that it was necessary to protect the environment and the trees and they could not support this application due to the loss of trees.  Other Members felt that although they felt sad at the loss of the trees, the site was designated as industrial and would bring local jobs and support the local economy and would therefore be difficult to refuse.  With regards to operation hours the neighbouring units operated around the clock with little impact.  A question arose as to which area the new trees would be planted.

 

The Development Management Service Delivery Manager confirmed to Members that an infrastructure statement was produced relating to S106 Agreement spending on an annual basis.

 

Upon being put to the vote it was, by a majority:

 

RESOLVED - that delegated authority be granted to the Development Management Service Delivery Manager to grant planning permission subject to the following:

 

a) The following Contributions to be agreed through a s.106 Agreement:

 

-               £65,719.16 towards the Strategic Transport Network;

-               £15,665.24 towards enhancement of footway/cycle links along Hortonwood 60;

-               £5,000.00 towards Travel Plan Monitoring;

-               £153,000.00 towards Biodiversity Enhancements;

-               £84,000.00 towards Tree Replacement;

-               £3,233.84 s.106 Monitoring Fee (1% of total s.106 contributions)

 

b)        The condition(s) and informative(s) contained within the report (with authority to finalise Condition(s) to be delegated to the Development Management Service Delivery Manager.

 

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