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V25-361 : W822/10 - LOWESTOFT COLD STORE, WHAPLOAD ROAD, LOWESTOFT

In October 1993 planning permission was granted for an extension to the fish processing factory at Lowestoft Cold Store, Whapload Road. The approved plans made provision for seven covered car parking spaces together with cycle parking space.

The owner now wished to convert the covered car parking spaces to a production area to accommodate a filleting machine in another part of the factory, thus enabling production to increase by some 60%. The owner believed that planning permission would not be necessary and intended to start work in May for delivery of the new machine in August. However, planning permission to vary Condition No. 5 was necessary and the owner was advised accordingly. As a result a planning application was submitted on 22 May 1997. Notwithstanding the need for formal consultations to be undertaken, particularly in respect of parking provision, the Sub- Committee's view on the acceptability of the proposal was requested in view of the applicant's tight timescales.

It was clear from the planning history of the site that parking provision was an important issue in this location. Informal advice from the Director of Community Services was that a minimum of four car parking spaces should be maintained. The applicant was able to provide only two spaces within the curtilage of the cold store but had arranged for four further spaces to be made available, two at Carpet Kingdom and two at the Triangle Garage on Whapload Road. Additional spaces could be negotiated if required. The Director of Community Services had advised that the parking arrangement was acceptable in highway terms. However, there could be no guarantee, or control, that this offer of parking would remain in the future.

The applicant had stated that the new machine in the factory was expected to create approximately four or five new jobs and that the future of the business was dependant upon this development. Given that the economy was regarded as the Council's number one priority the provision of additional jobs was to be encouraged. However, there were reservations about the loss of car parking spaces carefully negotiated at the time of the 1993 application.

Members were concerned at the proposed lack of parking provision at the above site and asked whether a condition could be placed on any permission requiring the applicant to provide cycle parking provision and subsidised public transport. The Chief Executive advised that, although cycle parking provision could be insisted upon, it was unlikely that subsidised public transport for staff could be made a condition of approval.

Members felt that they needed more information before making a decision on this item, and the Chief Executive also advised that a formal application should be brought to the Sub-Committee before a decision was made.

RESOLVED

That consideration of application W822/10 be deferred for further information and a formal application to be submitted.

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Volume 25 Minute 361

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