Shop, apartments and homes at Former Beeston Cattle Auction Site Whitchurch Road, Chester

What was proposed

The application proposed a community shop, three apartments and nine two-storey homes, with landscaping, parking and a biodiversity area.

“PROPOSAL 2.1 This application is for the erection of a new retail shop (Use Class E) with 3 apartments above and 9 two storey dwellings (comprising of one detached 4 bed dwelling and 8 semi-detached 3 bed dwellings) with associated landscaping, parking and biodiversity area. This is a re-submission of a refused application (ref: 23/03763/FUL). The details of the reasons for refusal are set out later in the ‘Background’ section of this report.”

Officer report

The site

The 0.62-hectare site was a compound beside the A49, within open countryside and next to a development of 84 homes.

“SITE DESCRIPTION 1.1 The application site is an area of land approximately 6250 sqm (0.62 hectares) in size which is currently being used as a site compound area for the dwellings which are being constructed on adjacent land. The site is accessed via the adjacent A49. The site is located in the open countryside.”

“The adjacent land being developed, hereafter referred to as the ‘Cattle Market’ site, comprises a residential development for 84 dwellings on the former Beeston Cattle Auction/Market, sited to the west of the A49 in the parish of Beeston. Permission for the residential development was granted under application refs: 13/04149/OUT and 18/00637/REM and this has been implemented, with many of the dwellings now occupied.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval, finding that the benefits of housing, affordable homes and a safer shop location outweighed the countryside policy conflict.

“However, the amendments in the National Planning Policy Framework and Planning Practice Guidance to the way housing need is assessed mean that the Council can no longer demonstrate a five-year supply of housing. The principal benefit of this scheme is that it would provide residential development which would make a positive contribution toward the Council’s housing land supply.”

“The provision of a new shop in the countryside, outside an existing centre, would normally be subject to a sequential test. However, the requirement for a shop as part of the adjacent Cattle Market site is a significant material consideration.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The agent spoke on the application.

Members’ questions

Members asked about employment created by the proposal and how the legal obligations would be secured.

“If permission was granted, how many jobs would the application create. • Could further clarification be given on the legal obligations listed in the report…”

“Officers advised as follows: • We would be unable to provide an exact figure, however jobs would be created during the construction phase and also operational phase, when the shop opens if planning permission was granted. The creation of employment was not fundamental to the recommendation for approval. • The legal obligation are secured by a section 106 and could be enforcement on that basis.”

Minutes

The vote and decision

The application was approved unanimously, subject to the recommended conditions.

“A proposal to approve the application, subject to conditions in the report was passed unanimously. Decided that The application be approved.”

Minutes