Change to garden centre use at Silverwood Garden Centre, Sutton Crosses

The site

The site contains two community buildings, a garden centre, diner, retail building and car park, outside Long Sutton’s settlement boundary and in Flood Zone 3.

“2.0PROPOSAL 2.1The application seeks consent to amend conditions 2 and 3 of permission H11-1210-25. Under permission H11-1210-25, retrospective planning permission was granted for the use of two buildings within the site to be used as community buildings. The buildings are referred to within the location plan as 'Long Sutton Men's Shed' and 'Long Sutton Youth Shed'. The buildings are used by the local community for various activities.”

Officer report

Public concerns

A member of the public objected that broader retail and business uses could undermine Long Sutton town centre and conflict with planning restrictions.

“- The owner and the manager of Silverwood Garden Centre wish to establish an out of town shopping and business centre at this location, in direct contravention of Condition 3 above and in direct contravention of both local and national planning policies. Therefore, the proposal could undermine Long Sutton town centre and other town centres.”

“- The reason given for applying condition 2 of permission H11 0849 -02 is identical to the reason given for condition 3 of permission H11-1210-25. Based on a review of the site planning history, the LPA has always been of the opinion that Silverwood Garden Centre is not a correct location for the sale of the wide range of goods now allowed under Use Class E, and should be restricted to the sale of garden products, domestic horticultural requisites and horticultural produce.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An objector made an oral representation under the committee’s public speaking arrangements.

What members discussed

Members debated town-centre impacts, existing businesses, opening hours, the meaning of “ancillary”, and whether more information about site uses was needed.

“Concern was expressed that the proposal could have a similar impact on Long Sutton town centre to that experienced by Spalding following the development of Springfield, with reference made to previous visits to shopping centres in Bicester and Street where strong physical links existed between the town centres and retail developments.”

“Questions were raised regarding whether other businesses, including concessions operating from the site, were already present and whether a fuller understanding of all uses should be obtained before determining the application.”

Minutes

The vote

Councillor Brewis asked for his vote against the application to be recorded, and the committee then agreed the application with an amended condition.

“Councillor Brewis wished for his vote against the application to be recorded in the minutes.”

“That the application be approved subject to the conditions outlined at section 9.0 of the report, with an amendment to condition three to remove the word ancillary.”

Minutes