Agenda item

Extension to pack house to provide additional potato washing, grading, packing, storage and staff facilities and covered loading bays and additional vehicular manoeuvring space. Installation of wastewater treatment plant.

[Derwent Ward] [Site Visit]

Consideration was given to a major full application, submitted by R S Cockerill (York) Ltd, for an extension to the pack house to provide additional potato washing, grading, packing storage and staff facilities and covered loading bays and additional vehicular manoeuvring space together with installation of wastewater treatment plant.

Officers updated that an amendment was required to paragraph 4.15, the report stated that the application had been submitted prior to the sustainability guidance being adopted by the Council but it had in fact  been received after the guidance had been adopted. They also confirmed that following the site visit the applicant had agreed to prepare a travel plan and pursue the siting of bus stops on Stamford Bridge Road, adjacent to the site, which would require the imposition of additional conditions if the application was approved.

Representations in support of the application were received from the applicant’s agent, who referred to the comment that the extension would not be seen from the Stamford Bridge Road. She stated that the extension site, between the buildings, was visible and that the land was presently used for the storage of potato boxes which were also visible from the road. She pointed out that, if approved, this application would not act as a precedent for future applications and that the special circumstances were sufficient to outweigh any harm to the Green Belt. She confirmed that health and safety issues had been raised in connection with 11 issues at the premises including safety of employees, lack of storage, staff accommodation, need for a dedicated quarantine area and the need to reduce the amount of water used. She also confirmed they were looking at water harvesting and reuse of the water as part of the scheme.

In answer to Members questions Officers confirmed that the 3 accidents referred to by a neighbour, had occurred adjacent to the site and that these had been due to a drainage problem on the road when ice had been present. Since highway works had been carried out there had been no further reported accidents at this point.

RESOLVED:             That the application be approved subject to referral to the Secretary of State as a departure from the Development Plan and imposition of the conditions listed in the report and the following additional condition:

7. The development hereby permitted shall not come into use until a green travel plan and details of additional bus stops adjacent to the site have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The premise shall operate in accordance with the agreed green travel plan.  The bus stops shall be installed in accordance with the approved plans within 6 months of the development coming into use.

REASON:                  In the opinion of the Local Planning Authority the proposal, subject to the conditions listed above, would not cause undue harm to interests of acknowledged importance, with particular reference to the aims of including land within the Green Belt and the living conditions of neighbours.  As such the proposal complies with Policies GP1, GP4a, GB1, and GB11 of the City of York Draft Local Plan.