Four-storey headquarters at Fisher Road, Buttington, Welshpool

What was proposed

A four-storey headquarters and research and development centre was proposed, with a substation, new access and associated works.

“Application Number: 25/1169/FUL Grid Ref: E: 325247 N: 308804 Community Council: Trewern Community Valid Date: 17.11.2025 Applicant: Invertek Drives Ltd (c/o [name withheld])”

“Proposal: Erection of a 4-storey building - Headquarters, Research & Development Centre including substation, new access and all associated works…”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The undeveloped site forms part of an allocated employment area, with commercial development to the west and south, farmland to the east and a trunk road to the north.

“The application site lies within the community council area of Trewern and forms part of the allocated employment site at Offa’s Dyke Business Park, Welshpool (allocation P60 EC1). The site comprises of an undeveloped parcel of land situated on the northern boundary of the business park.”

“The site is bound by existing commercial development to the west and south, agricultural land to the east, and the A458 trunk road to the north.”

Officer report

Earlier site permissions

Earlier permissions covered access, landscaping, drainage, carriageways, foul and highway drainage, and services for the business park.

“P/2009/1159 Reserved matters application for access, landscaping and drainage in connection with planning application P2008 0060 relating to business park. Consent 17th Dec 2009”

“P/2009/1175 Formation of carriageways, associated foul and highway drainage and services in connection with Offas Dyke Business Park, combined with an offsite highway drainage connection. Consent 17th Dec 2009”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the employment use, design, highway access, amenity, biodiversity, drainage and minerals matters acceptable subject to conditions.

“Taking the above into account, and subject to the imposition of appropriate planning conditions, officers are satisfied that the development would not result in unacceptable harm to biodiversity interests and would deliver an overall biodiversity enhancement in accordance with local and national policy requirements.”

Officer report

Public comments

No public representations were received, while the community council and local member sought clarification about height, power cables and lighting.

“Trewern Community Council considered the above application. Councillors reviewed the Design and Access Statement and noted that the proposed building presents a positive and distinctive feature at the entrance to the business park, offering a welcome contrast to the existing industrial units. However, members raised the following points requiring clarification: Building Height: The exact height of the proposed structure was unclear from the submitted plans.”

“How does the highest height of the building compare with the other commercial buildings on the business park including Offa's Dyke and Charlies? Will you be able to include a condition regarding the lighting and timings of bright lights being left on at the building? There are concerns regarding the bright flood lights and other outside building lights being left on overnight within the park and this development would add to the light pollution when dark.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A statement from the local member was read to the committee, and the applicant spoke.

Members’ questions

Members asked about effects on neighbouring businesses and the nearest home; the officer said residential amenity would not be unacceptably affected.

“In presenting the report, the Officer explained that easements on the development site restricted the available developable area, resulting in a smaller building footprint and an increase in height. The Officer advised that the proposed development had been designed appropriately in response to these site constraints.”

“Members questioned the impact of the proposal on neighbouring businesses and the proximity of the nearest residential property. The Officer explained that no public representations had been received and advised that the development was not considered likely to result in any unacceptable impact on residential amenity.”

Minutes

The committee vote

The motion to approve the application as recommended by the officer was moved and seconded.

“It was moved and duly seconded the approve the application as recommended by the Officer.”

Minutes

The decision

Consent was granted subject to the conditions set out for lighting, ecology, materials and temporary foul drainage arrangements.

“RESOLVED: Reason for decision: that the application be granted consent, subject to the conditions set out in the report which is filed with the signed minutes.”

“As officer’s recommendation as set out in the report which is filed with the signed minutes.”

Minutes

Main conditions

The development must follow the approved plans, secure lighting and ecological management details, use temporary drainage only until mains connection, and then remove the cesspool.

“No development beyond site clearance shall take place until a suitably detailed Landscape and Ecology Management Plan (LEMP) has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.”

“The temporary foul drainage system hereby approved shall only be used until such time as a connection to the upgraded sewerage system becomes available. Within 2 months of the date of written confirmation from Natural Resources Wales or the relevant sewerage undertaker that the upgraded sewerage system is operational and available to serve the development, the development shall be connected to that system.”

Officer report