Agenda item

Construction of water treatment works enclosed within a new building, new sub-station and new motor control centre kiosk. [Holgate Ward] [Site Visit]

Members considered a major full application (13 weeks) from Mr Mark Hewison, for the construction of a water treatment works enclosed within a new building, new substation and new motor control central kiosk.

Officers updated Members on the application. They advised that a response had now been received from British Waterways who confirmed they had no objection to the application. They recommended an alteration to condition 10 to reflect the fact that a site survey had been carried out and AOD data was now available. They circulated a smaller scale (1:1250) plan to Members which showed the nearby residential areas more clearly than the plan which had been included with the agenda papers. 

Representations were received from a local resident of Priors Walk, 200m from the site, in objection to the application. He circulated a photograph to Members which showed the view of the site currently and how it would appear if the proposals were approved. He stated that the proposals would create an imposing structure which would be highly visible to those living nearby including residents of Lavender Grove, Prior’s Walk and neighbouring streets and would also be seen from the proposed development on the former British Sugar site. He raised concerns that the high buildings may require high level lighting which could cause an increase in light pollution in the area. He also questioned whether the tanks could be placed underground in order to reduce the height of the building by 5m.

Representations were received from the agent in support of the application. He advised Members that the current water treatment works had been in operation for over a 100 years and were out of date and needed to be replaced in order to meet current standards. He stressed that options for the location of the plant were extremely limited. In response to the previous speaker’s suggestion to locate the tanks underground in order to reduce the overall height of the building, he explained that this was not possible for operational reasons and explained these reasons to Members. He confirmed that there would be no external lighting except for when maintenance is required.

Members agreed that this was a necessary development noting that the applicant had done as much as possible to reduce the height of the structure and accepted the reasons why the tanks could not be placed underground. They acknowledged that the views would be affected for some residents living nearby but accepted that this was the only place where it could be located.

RESOLVED:             That the application be approved subject to the conditions listed in the report and the amended condition below.

Amended Condition 10

The height of the treatment building shall not exceed 22.250m AOD. The height of the silos shall not exceed 24.4m AOD.

Reason: In the interests of the visual amenity of the area in accordance with policy GP1 (Design) of the Local Plan.

REASON:                  The proposal, subject to the conditions listed in the report and the amended condition above, would not cause undue harm to interests of acknowledged importance, with particular reference to visual amenity, highway considerations, environmental protection, residential amenity, protection against flood risk, nature conservation and drainage. As such the proposal complies with Policies SP3, GP1, GP15, NE2, NE6, NE7 and NE5a of the City of York Development Control Local Plan.