Vehicle depot at Former Ariens Factory Site Haseley Trading Estate, Great Haseley

A new vehicle depot

The application sought to redevelop a former factory site as a depot for the councils' waste and street cleaning vehicles, keeping one building as a workshop with offices and welfare facilities.

“Redevelopment of the site as a Vehicle Depot retaining one of the buildings as a workshop to contain offices and welfare. Works to include all associated external works.”

“The application was made by South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils for the change of use and redevelopment of the site in order for it to become the base for the waste and street cleaning fleet of vehicles. The lease on the current site in Culham was due to expire in 2026.”

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A screened site between two villages

The site sat near the M40 between two villages, with most existing buildings removed except one retained building, and woodland and a public right of way kept along its edges.

“The site was located just off the A329, south of the M40 and midway between the villages of Great Haseley and Great Milton. Entrance to the site was from Rectory Road through two existing accesses to the south. To the west of the site, between the boundary and the A329, was a triangle of woodland which would be retained. To the north of the site there was a public right of way.”

“The existing use of the site was B2, light industrial, with the previous occupant manufacturing, storing and distributing ground maintenance machinery. The site is currently dominated by buildings joined to form a single mass, with the proposal being to remove all but one of the buildings. The remainder of the site would be used for parking of vehicles. The single retained building would be used for staff facilities and maintenance tasks on the waste vehicles.”

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Traffic routing and screening

Officers found the use complied with employment policy, the site well screened, and traffic peaks would avoid rush hours, with a condition requiring a vehicle routing plan.

“The proposed use of the site would remain as an employment use, under a different class. The proposal complied with the relevant employment policies and the local plan. The…”

“The proposal, if approved, would have a condition requiring a vehicle routing management plan to be submitted which would set out timings for vehicles leaving and returning to the site each day and the route they would take on the immediate highway network.”

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Officers recommended approval

Officers concluded the proposal complied with policy, satisfied all technical consultees, and recommended approval subject to conditions.

“In conclusion, the officer was satisfied that the proposal complied with relevant policies and the local plan. Technical consultees were all satisfied and have recommended conditions. The proposal was recommended for approval subject to the conditions set out in the report.”

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Parish councils, the MP and a supporter spoke

Representatives of three parish councils, the local MP, a supporter and the ward member all addressed the committee.

Members strengthened conditions on traffic and noise

Members questioned vehicle timings, routing through Little Milton, effluent, lighting, odour and noise, and agreed to strengthen conditions on routing, drainage and lighting to protect residents.

“Members further requested information on how many days traffic from the site would be routed through Little Milton and were informed that currently it was envisaged that two days a week, vehicles would turn left out of the site and head through Little Milton.”

“The committee asked whether condition 23 could be amended to request a route agreement plan that would avoid Little Milton and surrounding areas except on collection days, and would prohibit vehicles returning to the site through Little Milton between 3:00- 4:00pm on weekdays. It was agreed that this would be possible.”

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Delegated approval carried on a vote

A motion to delegate granting of permission, with amended conditions on drainage, lighting and vehicle routing, was carried when put to the vote.

“A motion, moved and seconded to delegate to the Head of Planning and in consultation with the Chair of the Planning Committee the granting of outline planning permission…”

“P25/S1653/FUL, with amendments to conditions 6, 18, and 23 as set out below, was carried on being put to the vote.”

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Approved with strengthened conditions

Permission was delegated for granting subject to a legal agreement on travel plan monitoring and conditions covering drainage, biodiversity, lighting, noise and vehicle routing.

“RESOLVED: to delegate to the Head of Planning and in consultation with the Chair of the Planning Committee the granting of outline planning permission subject to: A) The completion of a legal agreement to secure Travel Plan monitoring, and…”

“B) The following conditions, with delegated authority to make reasonable adjustments, additions or omissions to the conditions as necessary: Commencement 3 years – Full Planning Permission 2. Approved plans * 3. Demolition of buildings 4. Hours of operation – construction/demolition sites 5. Surface Water Drainage 6. Foul Water Drainage (amended) 7. CEMP 8. Biodiversity offsetting 9. Cycle Parking Facilities 10. Public right of way crossing point RSA 11.”

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