Micro-business units at 1st Self Storage Ltd, King's Lynn

“26/00850/F King’s Lynn: 1 st Self Storage Ltd, Edward Benefer Way: Siting of micro business units for Class E (excluding (a)) and B8 plus sui generis and retention of toilet block and parking area (retrospective): 1 st Self Storage Limited…”

“This application sought retrospective permission for the siting of micro business units for Class E (excluding (a)) and B8 plus Sui Generis uses and retention of toilet block and parking area.”

“The case officer introduced the report and explained that the application site lies on the eastern side of Edward Benefer Way opposite the docks; comprised the road frontage strip of a previously approved self-storage facility plus a further strip of land to the north – part of an area associated with the former fuel storage and distribution depot.”

“The remainder of the applicant’s owned land to the north was not part of the proposal and there was housing beyond on St Edmundsbury Road. St Nicholas Retail Park lies to the south, and to the east there was an embankment and Bawsey Drain (IDB maintained) with residential development beyond (Turbus Road).”

“King’s Lynn Civic Society: “King’s Lynn Civic Society write to express our great concern about this scheme – which relates to a site where regard to the planning system seems to have long been overlooked.”

“The applicant has repeatedly ignored planning protocol – submitting a series of retrospective applications – this scheme simply being the most recent. It is impossible to see how it can be argued that a row of hot boxes requiring almost exclusive access by car and offering minimal townscape or environmental benefits can be regarded as ‘sustainable development’ for King’s Lynn.”

“The case officer explained the exemption from biodiversity net gain due to retrospective status but noted the duty to provide measurable net gain under the NPPF; suggestions for habitat enhancement were made (which could be conditioned), and flood risk was addressed with conditions for unit anchoring and alert systems.”

“The Committee highlighted the importance of micro units for local entrepreneurs, and the role of the site as a stepping stone for small businesses.”

“Councillor Long proposed that the application be approved, on the grounds that it complied with policy LP07 of the Local Plan and weight be given to the previous site approvals and existing access and the need for business incubation units. This was seconded by Councillor Bone.”

“The Democratic Services Officer then carried out a roll call on the recommendation to approve the application, subject to conditions to be imposed following consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair including biodiversity enhancement, time-limited implementation, and accessibility improvements and, after having been put to the vote, was carried (11 votes for, 2 votes against).”

“RESOLVED: That the application be approved, contrary to recommendation for the following reason:”

“The development complied with Policy LP07 of the Local Plan and weight was given to the previous site approvals, existing access and the need for business incubation units which outweighed the highways concerns.”