Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Golby, Lynch and Palethorpe.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2013 were agreed and signed by the Chair.

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The Head of Planning submitted a List of Current Appeals and Inquiries and elaborated thereon.

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Report of Head of Planning

(copy herewith)

Ward: Sunnyside

This application was withdrawn from the agenda.

Report of Head of Planning

(copy herewith)

Ward: Nene Valley

The Head of Planning submitted a report in respect of application nos. N/2012/1225 and N/2012/1226, elaborated thereon and referred to the Addendum that set out comments from Wootton and East Hunsbury Parish Council and the response thereto.

Mr Harrison, the applicant’s project surveyor, stated that the difference between the two applications was that one included a change to opening hours whilst the other did not. Two applications had been submitted so that if there were issues concerning the opening hours it would not delay the other matters that were comparatively modest. The principle elements of the applications were to change the opening hours, alterations to where the service road accessed the Newport Pagnell Road and a change to the materials of the front elevation of the supermarket. Mr Harrison explained that whilst Waitrose generally operated core opening hours nationally they did, depending on local demand, vary from these and also varied hours at peak trading times, such as the run up to Christmas. By altering where the service road came out onto the Newport Pagnell Road it would not be necessary to alter the positioning of the existing pedestrian crossing which itself could be a lengthy process requiring a Traffic Regulation Order and possibly delay the project. It also had the advantage of increasing the car parking provision by over 30 spaces. The change to use brickwork on the front elevation of the supermarket was to enhance the effect of the signage on the building. In answer to questions Mr Harrison commented that the nearby girls school and Wootton and East Hunsbury Parish Council had not been directly consulted on these applications by Waitrose but that they had not raised anything during the course of the consultation on the original planning application; confirmed that the principle difference between the two applications was the change in opening hours and that it was hoped that if there were issues about this then the other matters would not be held up; that in respect of the use of the word “between” in terms of the opening hours allowed the supermarket to open within a defined start and finish time according to local demand; and that the change to the service road was to use the existing entrance to the garden centre.

The Head of Planning noted that the girls school and the parish council had been consulted upon both applications and had not raised any further comments than those already reported and in respect of the opening hours confirmed that the supermarket would be open for a range of hours within the times stated.  

The Committee discussed the applications which were the subject of individual votes.

RESOLVED:    1. That the applications be approved subject to the conditions set out in the report and the prior resolution of the following matters:

i)To resolve the queries from the Environment Agency

ii)A legal agreement to ensure that the obligations contained within the Section 106 Agreement entered into in respect of Planning Permission N/2011/1160  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10b

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The Head of Planning submitted a report in respect of application nos. N/2012/1250 and N/2012/1261 elaborated thereon, and referred to the Addendum that set out an amendment to paragraph 7.11 of the report.

In answer to questions the Head of Planning commented these applications differed from the Rushden Lakes application in that they met a long term identified need local to Daventry which had been taken into account in the preparation of the Joint Core Strategy, whereas Rushden Lakes was not part of any development plan; the Daventry sites were town centre and edge of town centre as opposed to out of town; and the make-up of the developments was different. The Daventry sites were both previously developed land. 

The Committee discussed the applications which were the subject of individual votes.

RESOLVED:      That Daventry District Council be informed that the Council raise no objection to the applications for the following reason:

The proposed developments by reason of their scale and location would not adversely impact upon the viability and viability of Northampton and therefore accord with the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework and Policies D1, D2, S2 and S8 of the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy.

In terms of the application at the land to west of Eastern Way, Daventry, it is requested that DDC secure controls to ensure that the proposed convenience store is predominantly used for the sale of such goods (with ancillary comparison goods). This is to ensure certainty with regards to the potential impacts of the development and to accord with the details contained within the planning application.