Food store at Winchelsea Road Land To The South West Of Jempsons Yard, Rye

What was proposed

The application proposed demolishing existing buildings and building a single-storey food store with parking, access, landscaping and associated works.

“The proposal is for the provision of a food store with a gross external area (GEA) of 1,951sqm and a net sales area of 1,155sqm, as shown on the Proposed Ground Floor Plan (Revision P4). The Planning Statement submitted with the application sets out the proposed development in greater detail, with selected paragraphs reproduced below: • The proposals comprise the development of a single storey discount food retail store to be occupied by ALDI Stores Limited.”

“The site’s vehicular access point will remain the same from Winchelsea Road but will be re-aligned to provide additional visibility onto Winchelsea Road. The proposed servicing will take place within the site boundaries via the loading bay in the north corner of the site.”

Officer report

The site and wider scheme

The site formed part of a long-standing commercial estate allocated for mixed-use redevelopment, alongside related retirement and housing applications.

“This 0.9ha application site is part of the Jempsons Trading Estate, which is a long-standing commercial estate of industrial and warehousing units (and…”

“The following summary of designations/site constraints relevant to the application site should be noted: DESIGNATIONS / SITE CONSTRAINTS High Weald National Landscape (HWNL) The application site partly extends into the HWNL to the south-west. Development Boundary The majority of the application site is within the Rye Development Boundary. Part of the site extends into the countryside to the south-west.”

Officer report

Planning history

The estate had many industrial-use applications, while related applications proposed 43 retirement units and 16 homes and were delegated for approval.

“Jempsons Trading Estate is a long-standing industrial site and there are a large number of planning applications relating to this industrial use, dating back to the 1950s.”

“In relation to the current proposal, the two separate (but related) applications for 43 retirement living units and 16 dwellings are as follows:”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval, finding that benefits including jobs, food choice, biodiversity and transport measures significantly outweighed identified policy conflicts.

“However, against this the proposal for a new food store would comply with Policy RY1 (iv) of the Core Strategy, which seeks to increase the choice of convenience shopping in Rye by facilitating the increase of some 1,650sqm net additional convenience floorspace within or adjacent to the town centre.”

“On balance it is considered that the benefits of the proposal would, in this case, significantly and demonstrably outweigh the identified conflicts with the Development Plan. The proposal is also acceptable in relation to all other matters including. • Impact on the character and appearance of the area, including the High Weald National Landscape. • Impact on the significance of designated heritage assets in the surrounding area.”

Officer report

Who spoke at committee

The committee visited the site and heard representations from an objector and the applicant, alongside written consultee comments and an update sheet.

Members’ debate

Members supported the proposal, citing accessibility, junction improvements, free parking, cycling, environmental benefits, jobs, landscaping and public transport, while asking about flooding.

“After deliberation, the Planning Committee supported the Planning Officer’s recommendation for a food store in Rye. They agreed that although the site was on the edge of town, it was still accessible to the town centre. Members felt the proposed junction improvements would aid traffic calming and welcomed the inclusion of two hours’ free parking, and provision for cycle parking.”

Minutes

The vote

A motion to grant permission was moved, seconded and carried unanimously with eight votes in favour.

“Councillor Creaser moved the motion to GRANT (Planning Permission) delegated subject to conditions and the prior completion of a Section 106 Legal Agreement, as detailed within the report. This was seconded by Councillor Stanger. The motion was declared CARRIED (8 for / unanimous).”

Minutes

The final decision

Permission was granted subject to conditions and a Section 106 agreement covering employment, biodiversity, parking, transport contributions, highway works and monitoring.

“4 DECISION: GRANT (PLANNING PERMISSION) DELEGATED SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS AND THE PRIOR COMPLETION OF A PLANNING OBLIGATION (SECTION 106 AGREEMENT) TO SECURE THE FOLLOWING: • LOCAL EMPLOYMENT AND SKILLS PLAN AND ASSOCIATED FEE OF £3,726 • DELIVERY OF ON-SITE BIODIVERSITY NET GAIN (BNG), INCLUDING A HABITAT MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING PLAN, AND A BNG MONITORING FEE OF £3,794 • FOOD STORE CAR PARK FREE FOR CUSTOMERS FOR A MINIMUM OF 2 HOURS • A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION OF £15,000 TO…”

“- WISH STREET BUS STOP – SOUTHBOUND (DIRECTION TOWARDS WINCHELSEA) COMPRISING THE PROVISION OF A RAISED KERB, SHELTER, SEATING (SUBJECT TO TOWN COUNCIL AGREEMENT), AND A REAL-TIME BUS INFORMATION SIGN. • A TRAVEL PLAN AND A TRAVEL PLAN AUDIT FEE OF £6,000 • THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAY WORKS SECURED UNDER A SECTION 278 AGREEMENT: - IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SITE ACCESS JUNCTION ON THE A259 WINCHELSEA ROAD • MONITORING FEE FOR THE SECTION 106 AGREEMENT”

Minutes