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V26-498 : PLANNING APPLICATION REFERRED FOR DECISION

ERECTION OF A DOCTORS SURGERY, THE OLD GRAMMAR SCHOOL
PLAYING FIELD, ST JOHNS ROAD, BUNGAY

The report of the Director of Planning and Building Control considered the planning merits of application W796/25, which had been referred by the Development Control Committee for determination with a recommendation for approval.

The recommendation of the Director of Planning and Building Control was for, on balance, for refusal. Objections were reported from the English Sports Council, National Playing Fields Association, County Community Education Officer, Bungay Grammar School Foundation Trust, Bungay Rangers Youth Football Club, and 12 neighbours. Letters of support from Suffolk Health Authority and 59 neighbours were also reported, along with the County Highways comments on standard access conditions.

The Director informed members that the objections of the English Sports Council and consequently that of the National Playing Fields Association were invalid, as the playing field had been disused longer than the Sports Council's adopted remit of seven years. Also, their figures used in stating there was a deficiency of land for sports use in Bungay had not taken into account related land in Norfolk at Maltings Meadow and Bungay Common.

The Director asked that were members minded to approve the application, negotiation of a Section 106 Agreement be included along the lines of paragraph (b) of a letter received from the applicants on 3 July 1998, which stated: "We would welcome community use of the site, particularly if events are occurring on the other half of the field. Certainly out of surgery hours we would be happy for the car park to be used for community parking, particularly if there is an event taking place such as the marathon. We are also designing the building such that the treatment rooms can be opened as a separate unit, hence this could be used as a medical centre for the marathon or similar events. We will also be providing children's play facilities both inside and outside the surgery building". The Director advised that the application would have to be referred to the Secretary of State as a departure from the adopted Local Plan.

Ward members were aware of the need to determine the application on planning grounds and not the moral issue that a surgery was needed. Several other developments had taken place on what was the original footprint of the playing field, which had ceased use in the 1960's. This being the case, should the surgery be approved, the section of field still remaining would be large enough for any current usage. The application site had originally been earmarked for a new primary school and therefore was not shown as green for sports use in the adopted Local Plan.

RESOLVED

1. That application W796/25 be referred to the Secretary of State for determination with this Authority's recommendation for approval.

2. That if the Secretary of State is minded to return the application without determination, the Director of Planning and Building Control be given delegated authority to issue the certificate of approval,

3. That prior to the issue of the certificate of approval, negotiations with the applicant and the County Land Agent be held, to attempt to secure by a Section 106 Agreement or other means, objectives similar to those set out in the applicants letter dated 3 July 1998.

(The Chairman declared an interest in the above item and left the room during the debate, and the Vice-Chairman, Councillor Hunter, took the Chair.


Volume 26 Minute 498

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