Five industrial units at Land South Of March Trading Estate, Westry Avenue, March

What was proposed

The application proposed five B2/B8 industrial units, parking, cycle parking, landscaping and off-site highway works, with 12,707.5 square metres of floorspace.

“The seeks the erection of 5no.industrial units of differing sizes to comprise flexible use classes of B2 and B8 with a total floor space proposed of 12,707.5sqm. The proposal also includes the provision of off-site highway works in the form of either a new signalised junction at the Hotsmoor Avenue/A141 junction, or a financial contribution towards the CCC MATS Signal Scheme. 1.2.”

“Insufficient information is provided at this time to demonstrate that the aforementioned off-site highway works will provide sufficient mitigation to ensure the continued capacity and safety of the highway network due to inaccurate/insufficient dataset used for modelling the scheme.”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The 7.25-hectare vacant greenfield site lies beside March Trading Estate, Tesco, Wisbech Road and the railway, within Flood Zone 3.

“The application site comprises approximately 7.25ha of vacant greenfield land to the south of Hotsmoor Avenue and March Trading Estate, and to the north-western…”

Officer report

Earlier application

The proposal revised an earlier application for nine industrial units, which was withdrawn after objections about drainage and highways.

“The planning application constitutes a revision to the 2022 application (F/YR22/1386/F) which sought full planning permission for the erection of 9 x industrial units (B2 / B8 Use) and was withdrawn in June 2023 following consultee objections received from the LLFA and CCC Highways 3.2. The application proposes a reduction in the number of units to 5no.industrial units of differing sizes to comprise flexible use classes of B2 and B8.”

“Unit 3 is to be sited to the northern edge of the site, backing onto existing commercial units. The unit will have an overall floor area of 2500 sq m and will be constructed of similar materials to the other units. With an overall ridge height of 10m, 12 car parking spaces; 5 lorry spaces and 24 cycle spaces are proposed. Units 4 & 5 are identical in terms of overall floor area, circa 675 sq m and of similar materials to all other units.”

Officer report

Residents’ views

No letters of representation were received from local residents or other interested parties.

“Local Residents/Interested Parties No letters of representation were received on the application.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The officer presented the report, and members questioned a representative of the County transport team before debating the application.

The committee’s vote

The committee agreed a proposal to grant permission against the officer recommendation, with conditions and a legal agreement for highway works.

“Proposed by Councillor Mrs French, seconded by Councillor Imafidon and agreed that the application be GRANTED against officer’s recommendation, with conditions delegated to the Head of Planning to apply in consultation with the Chairman, including entering into a legal agreement for highway works.”

Minutes

The final decision

The application was granted because members considered the site industrial land in an industrial area and believed the Council should support local business.

“Members do not support officer’s recommendation of refusal of planning permission as they feel that the location is industrial land in an industrial area and the Council should be supporting local business.”

Minutes