HGV training facility at Otley College Of Agriculture And Horticulture Charity Lane, Otley

What was proposed

The application sought a new HGV training and manoeuvring facility, with expanded hardstanding for vehicles up to 18.75 metres.

“DC/24/4253/FULLocation Otley College of Agriculture and Horticulture Charity Lane Otley Suffolk Statutory determination date Agreed extension date 21 January 2025 26 September 2025 Application typeFull Application ApplicantMr Jason Goodhall ParishOtley ProposalHGV training facility for Otley College for HGVs up to 18.75m Case OfficerHannah Lence hannah.lence@eastsuffolk.gov.uk Determination routeThis application triggered the 'Member Call-in' Process due to the nature of the…”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site is an unused, partly hard-surfaced parcel at the south-western edge of the college, accessed separately from Charity Lane and near homes.

“Specifically, the application site lies to the southwest edge of the college and has a separate vehicular access onto Charity Lane. The site measures approximately 0.7 acres and includes an area of hard-surfaced car parking and access onto Charity Lane, along with a grassed area and hedging along the western boundary of the site with the highway. The site is adjoined by residential dwellings to the north and is attached to the college along the eastern boundary.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An objector, an Otley Parish Council representative, the applicant and a county highways officer addressed the committee.

The committee’s decision

The committee approved the application subject to conditions controlling construction, access, visibility, ecology, biodiversity and HGV traffic movements.

“Councillor Plummer pointed out that students were not coming to do a course that was simply learning to drive an HGV and wider learning would go on. The confidence of being in that college environment would be a benefit and gives opportunity. Having 6 journeys a day seems a good balance. Councillor Reeves would have liked to see the details of the mitigations being put in place as they might answer some of their queries but was likely to support it.”

“That the application is approved, subject to conditions, including: Standard 3-year time limit for implementation 2. Approved drawings and documents 3. Lighting design strategy for biodiversity 4. Development must be undertaken in accordance with the Preliminary Ecological Appraisal and Newt Survey 5. BNG Plan to accord with the BNG Statement 6. Construction Management Strategy 7. Visibility splays 8. Completion of accesses prior to first use 9.”

Minutes