Four commercial buildings at Land North Of Severn Road, Severn Beach

Planning history and legal position

The 1957 permission remains extant, while later permissions covered the plateau and pond works and screening found that an environmental impact assessment was unnecessary.

“OFFTEM There is no made Neighbourhood Plan for Pilning and Severn Beach 3.RELEVANT PLANNING HISTORY There is a long history to the site and the wider Sevenside area. The most relevant applications are included below. 3.1SG4244: Mixed development, predominately industrial, in excess of 1,000 hectares. Outline planning permission application 27 November 1957. At appeal in 2003 the Secretary of State confirmed that the 1957 outline planning permission remains extant.”

“Approved October 2025 3.3P24/017/SCRScreening opinion for enabling works and built form of plots N and M, and associated highway works. EIA not required December 2024 3.4P94/0400/8Development of 87.9 hectares of land for the layout and construction of a distribution park (Class B8 as Defined in the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987). N.B.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the 1957 consent established the development principle and the proposed layout, design and appearance were acceptable.

“This is particularly pertinent here, as the 1957 consent is a very ‘open’ and ‘far reaching’ permission, and very different to an outline granted in the modern planning regime, making this application unique in respect of the level of control which may be exercised by the local planning authority.”

“In reaching this recommendation, officers are mindful of the locally sensitive warehouse that has recently been erected closer to Pilning (Plot 4 – known locally as the Mega shed). Even the largest building proposed on this site is not comparable to Plot 4; Plot 4 has a height of 24m – the tallest building proposed here is almost half the height at only 12.5m.”

Officer report

Who spoke at the meeting

[name withheld] spoke for the parish council, the agent spoke for the applicant, and the development manager and solicitor addressed members’ questions.

The committee’s vote

Councillor June Bamford moved approval and delegated authority for a sample-materials condition; Councillor Tony Williams seconded, and the motion was unanimous.

“That officers be granted delegated authority to impose an additional condition requiring the submission of sample materials…”

“On being put to a vote, the motion, which was seconded by Councillor Tony Williams, was unanimously CARRIED and…”

Minutes

The decision and reasons

The committee approved the reserved matters subject to the report’s conditions and the additional sample-materials condition, mindful of the 1957 consent and supporting evidence.

“That the details pursuant to Condition 1 of SG4244 be approved subject to the conditions set out within the report.”

“In resolving to approve the application, Members were mindful that the site provided a valuable green buffer between industrial areas and residential areas but also the constraints placed upon the committee by the 1957 consent, the evidence presented by officers and Counsel opinion.”

Minutes