Three industrial buildings at Former Kodak Site, Stevenage

What was proposed

The application proposed three industrial buildings with flexible employment uses, ancillary offices, parking, landscaping and service yards.

“Erection of 1no. detached industrial building with flexible use classes Eg(iii) and B8 uses, and 2no. semi-detached industrial buildings with flexible use classes Eg(iii), B2 and B8 uses with ancillary offices (for a total area of 11,093m2 GIA), and supporting car/cycle parking, landscaping and service yards.”

Officer report

The site and its surroundings

The site is part of the former factory and is currently used for HGV training, storage and temporary parking within an employment area.

“The proposal site makes up part of the former Kodak production factory in the Gunnels Wood Employment Area of Stevenage. The south-eastern part of the former factory has been redeveloped to provide a Mercedes-Benz dealership but the proposal site, which makes up the north-western part, remains devoid of any structures, having been used informally for overflow car parking and open storage, and more recently as temporary bus parking.”

“The site is subject to the following Stevenage Local Plan (2019) designations: • Allocated sites for employment development (South of Bessemer Drive, Gunnels Wood) • Gunnels Wood Employment Area • Gunnels Wood Edge-of-Centre Zone • Green Corridor (Structurally Important Routes, Gunnels Wood Road) • Non-Residential Parking Accessibility Zone (Zone 2) • Groundwater Source Protection Zone (Zones 1 and 2) • Flood Zone (Zone 1) • There are no trees subject to Tree…”

Officer report

Earlier planning permissions

Earlier permissions covered industrial units, office and storage buildings, and a motor dealership on or near the site.

“Planning permission reference 02/00335/FP for the variation of Condition 1 of planning permission reference 2/0279/97/FP for the erection of two 3 storey office buildings and storage building with associated car parking was approved on 23.05.2003.”

“Planning permission reference 04/00539/FP for a motor dealership for the purpose of car sales, service, parts storage, associated offices, parking and landscaping was approved on 09.02.2005.”

Officer report

Consultation and public comments

Highways supported the access and parking arrangements, while flood officers requested further drainage information and other consultees sought conditions or raised no objections.

“The proposed access to Aspect One facilitates almost direct access for the proposed unit one of the development. The proposals put forward by SLR in the drawing 418- 063138-00001-PD02 Rev A will improve the safety of the access onto Gunnels Wood Road. The Bessemer Drive access (and Units 2 and 3) will ultimately be connected by the proposals to unlock the Land West of Stevenage residential site (20/00356/FPM).”

“This is a re-consultation of a full planning application for erection of industrial buildings and associated structures. Currently the site is brownfield using mainly as parking site. We maintain the objection to this planning application in the absence of an acceptable Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) and Drainage Strategy or and supporting information relating to: • The development is at risk of surface water flooding.”

Officer report

Comments from local people

Comments sought swift boxes, clarification about the neighbouring dealership’s access, and priority for cyclists crossing site entrances.

“PUBLIC REPRESENTATIONS 4.1 Following notification of the application via letter and the erection of a three site notices and notification of the application in the local press, the following comments have been received.”

“Provision of swift boxes should be secured by condition; • Clarification over how the access points might impact on the access and logistics associated with the neighbouring Mercedes dealership; • At all site entrances, priority crossing of the cycle tracks should be updated in accordance with LTN1/20 10.5 giving cyclists proceeding along the cycle track priority over vehicles entering and exiting the site.”

Officer report

Who spoke at the meeting

The Team Leader presented the application, including the site plans, access, landscaping, biodiversity, design and policy considerations.

The committee vote

Eleven councillors voted for the application, with no votes against or abstentions; three councillors were absent.

“For – Councillors Julie Ashley-Wren, Stephen Booth, Robert Boyle, Kamal Choudhury, Forhad Chowdhury, Peter Clark, Coleen De Freitas, Akin Elekolusi, Lynda Guy, Claire Parris, Carolina Veres. Against – 0 Abstentions – 0 Absent –Ellie Plater, Anne Wells and Nigel Williams…”

Minutes

The decision

Permission was granted subject to a legal agreement, flood authority recommendations, safeguarding conditions and delegated finalisation of the details.

“A recorded vote* was taken on the application and it was RESOLVED that planning permission be GRANTED subject to the applicant having first entered into a S106 Agreement to secure/provide contributions towards:”

“The detail of which would be delegated to the Assistant Director of Planning and Regulation in liaison with the Council’s appointed solicitor, along with the recommendations of the Lead Local Flood Authority, as well as the imposition of suitable safeguarding conditions.”

Minutes