home - committee - volume - faq's - help -search - meeting - previous - next

V27-679 : W17309 - LAND AT FLIXTON ROAD, BUNGAY

The report of the Director of Planning and Building Control outlined a major proposal by one of the largest employers in the District to construct a huge new printing works on land at the former Flixton Airfield accessed via a new road leading from the B1062.

The Director's report was thorough, guiding members through the status of the application, the site and its surroundings. The proposal was outlined in full, and responses from consultation set out. There was no doubt that the company needed to expand, and the method of selection of the new site was explained, including how the choice was affected by policy. Many detailed points were covered, including lighting, noise, visual impact, drainage, traffic and wildlife amongst others.

In addition to the written report, members received a presentation which began with an aerial photograph showing the site. The Waveney Valley was a special landscape area in the Mid Suffolk, South Norfolk and Waveney Local Plans, but only the access to the site fell into one of these special landscapes.

The new building would be set at the west end of the site, leaving room to expand eastwards should the need arise. North of the building would be parking for 300 cars. Photo montages showed what the visual impact of the new building was likely to be from different locations. However, this was an idealised view and members should recall from the site visit the appearance of the current building. Photographs from inside the existing building showed the overcrowding with paper and work in progress which had been witnessed by members on the site visit.

The Director believed there was no better site for this large scale development, the only real contender being at Ellough, but there would be no real benefits in choosing that site instead, as visual and traffic problems would be equal. The St John's Hill site was sloping and the proposed building would fill the land which had permission for industrial development, thus leaving no room for expansion.

The Director was satisfied that there were no sufficiently serious environmental impacts to warrant refusal of the application, although many concerns had been raised. Almost all of these could be mitigated, for example visual impact could be lessened with landscaping, design and re-siting, and wildlife could be relocated in new habitats. The impact of the building when seen from the south across the open plateau would be considerable due to the lack of natural features, and screening would be needed.

The only serious concern remaining, in the view of the Director, was that of traffic. The new site could potentially generate 1,000 car movements per day, but this could be reduced with a green transport plan. However, there was likely to be an increase in HGV traffic. The Highway Authority advised that any increase over and above that proposed from this development would be unacceptable, and so the determining factor of the application was the value of the company to the local economy.

Finally, the Director advised that he had just been handed a letter of objection from Friends of the Earth stating there was not enough information to determine the application, and the Suffolk Preservation Society and Upper Waveney Valley Project were concerned at the effect on the Angles Way footpath.

In conclusion the Director felt the application would benefit both the town of Bungay and the District as a whole, and recommended referral to the Secretary of State with a recommendation of approval subject to conditions and a Section 106 Agreement covering matters referred to in his report.

Before consideration of the application, all members advised that they had received numerous pieces of lobbying material through the post. In addition Councillor Aldous had been to look at the site, at the same time visiting a lobbyist's home to ask for directions, and Councillor Rose had received telephone calls in addition to the correspondence.

The Director answered several questions from members regarding the application before the debate commenced. Some members felt the application could not be supported due to the site being against policy and wanting more assurances that matters of concern would be dealt with. Others felt that there was not enough information before members to make a decision. It was moved and seconded that the application be deferred for more information, but the motion was lost. The majority view was that, given the stringent conditions that could be attached to any permission, and the enormous benefit to the economy of Waveney in being the location of such a large company and major employer, the Director's recommendation should be supported.

RESOLVED

That application W17309 stand referred to the Planning and Transportation Committee with a recommendation that the application be referred to the Secretary of State as a departure from the Development Plan, with a recommendation that, subject to the prior conclusion of a Section 106 Agreement covering the matters referred to in the report of the Director of Planning and Building Control and appropriate conditions, outline planning permission be granted.

(Councillor Skipper declared an interest in the above item and left the room during the debate).

The meeting was concluded at 8.40pm.

Chairman

DEVELOPMENT CONTROL COMMITTEE - 11/10/99

DEVELOPMENT CONTROL COMMITTEE - 11/10/99

224

225

Volume 27 Minute 678

powered by Oultwood Web Technology

© Waveney District Council