Agenda item

To consider the report of the Team Manager Development Management.

Consideration was given to the report of the Team Manager Development Management.

The Service Manager – Development & Estates/Team Manager - Development Management explained the following planning applications to Members with the aid of slides:-

Application No. C/2019/0269 – 10 Castle Street, Tredegar, NP22 3DE – Change of Use from Former Butchers to Bar and Restaurant with Internal Adaptions and 3 No. External Lights

Councillors T. Smith and B. Willis declared an interest in the application on the grounds of pre-determination.

RESOLVED that the application be DEFERRED.

Application No. C/2019/0296 – 38 Commercial Street, Tredegar – Change of Use from Shop (Ground Floor) to Café, Replacement Shopfront and Roller Shutter and Windows to Upper Floors

The Service Manager Development & Estates presented the application which sought planning permission for the change of use of the ground floor of 38 Commercial Street, Tredegar, from a shop (A1 use) to a café (A3 use), replacement shop front and roller shutter and windows to the upper floors.  The property was located within the Primary Retail area of the Tredegar District Centre, and was currently vacant, but formerly occupied by a butchers. 

The Officer went through the application and highlighted points contained therein.

RESOLVED that planning permission be GRANTED, subject to the conditions outlined in the report of the Team Manager Development Management.

Application No. C/2019/0054 – Land Off Southern End of Lime Avenue (Opposite Aneurin Bevan Hospital) Ebbw Vale, NP23 6GL – Construction of 6 Buildings to Provide 25 Employment Units for B1 and B2 Uses, New Access Road and Junctions Off Lime Avenue and Associated Parking and Other Infrastructure

The Team Leader Development Management presented the application which sought approval for the construction of 6 employment buildings, a new access road and junction off Lime Avenue and associated car parking areas and ancillary infrastructure.  The buildings would provide 35 individual employment units with a combined floor area of 4,260 metres, and would be used for B1 (research and development or light industrial) or B2 (general industrial) employment uses. 

The Officer went through the application and highlighted points contained therein.

A Member referred to the area of reclaimed land adjoining the northern boundary of the site, which was allocated for mixed use development, including housing, and asked whether the proposed employment units would have a detrimental impact on any future housing developments.

In response the Officer confirmed that B1 use buildings were acceptable within a residential area, and why the decision was taken for those units to be located on the northern plateaux, at the same level as Lime Avenue.

He confirmed that Environmental Health were aware of land use, and had statutory powers to deal with any noise nuisance should they arise. If an application was received for a specific use, we could analyse details of the impact, but it was difficult to do this at this stage.  However, the Officer assured that B1 use was generally acceptable in residential areas.

The Service Manager Development & Estates pointed out that if any substantial noise was identified from a B1 use premises, they would clearly be operating outside their conditions.

The Chair questioned the need for two entrances at the site and the Team Leader Development Management said from a planning perspective, the access arrangements at the site was acceptable.  He said Highways also considered the proposed development to be acceptable in terms of the safe and efficient use of the highway network.

The Principal Projects Officer confirmed that the access arrangements had been considered, and explained that one access junction would require a turning circle, and due to the restricted size of the site, would result in the loss of 5 units, and would also create significant traffic flow.

A brief discussion ensued regarding the external appearance of the proposed units.  The Team Leader Development Management confirmed that the proposed materials were in-keeping with other buildings on The Works site, and samples of external finishes have been requested as part of the planning conditions.  However, any changes to the external materials would have to be approved, and resubmitted as part of the discharge of conditions.

RESOLVED that planning permission be GRANTED, subject to the conditions outlined in the report of the Team Manager Development Management.