Research and production facilities at Land Near Renishaws Roundabout, Charfield Road, Kingswood

What was proposed

The application sought purpose-built research, development and production facilities intended to keep the company in the district and county.

“The Planning Agent, Daniel Jones, spoke in support of the application. He emphasised that the application was not speculative and was intended to keep McMurtry Automotive in the Stroud District and in Gloucestershire with purpose-built research, development, and production facilities. He encouraged Members to approve the application and explained the following points: • The application had been in determination for three years which was holding back the growth of the company.”

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The site and surroundings

The site was outside Kingswood’s settlement limit and within the settings of several Grade II listed buildings.

“The Development Team Manager presented the Officer’s report. She explained that the site was outside the defined settlement limit of Kingswood and therefore conflicted with policies CP1 and CP2 of the adopted 2015 Local Plan, seeking to direct development in sustainable locations and restrict development in the open countryside unless there are specific circumstances set out in policy CP15.”

“Of material consideration was the allocation PS47 in the 2021 Draft Local Plan which included the site and sought to deliver a high-quality campus style development, retaining key open spaces, reuse of farm buildings with heritage value, and new buildings to minimise the impact on heritage assets and key views.”

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Planning context

The proposal covered only part of the employment allocation and did not include a masterplan for the wider site.

“Councillor Marilyn Basketter spoke on behalf of Kingswood Parish Council and, whilst recognising that the application supported jobs, a local business, and had economic benefits, outlined the following reasons for the Committee to refuse the application: • Approving the application in isolation could jeopardise the long-term employment potential of the wider site, as there was no accompanying masterplan.”

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Support and objections

The agent highlighted jobs, economic growth, biodiversity and the Greenway, while the parish council opposed isolated development without a masterplan.

“The proposal would deliver high-skilled advanced technology and engineering jobs. • The development offered support for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and secured part of the Charfield Greenway. • The site adjoined Renishaw, an already established centre of technology and world- class engineering research.”

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Who spoke

The planning agent spoke in support, and a councillor spoke for the parish council against the application.

Members’ debate

Members discussed the lack of location justification, landscape visibility, biodiversity information, heritage impact, the masterplan and the limited Greenway benefit.

“Councillor Mathews sympathised with the applicant for their desire to build at the site, however agreed with the reasons for refusal as set out in the report. He gave particular weight to: • The lack of justification for building at that location. • That the building would be particularly visible in the open countryside changing the view of that location. • The questions that had arisen on the impact on local fauna and biodiversity with the surveys out of date.”

“Councillor Pearcy queried why the application had not been submitted as part of a wider masterplan for the site. The Majors and Environment Team Manager explained that the option had been presented to the applicant, however they had instead opted to focus on their present need. The Chief Planning Officer reminded Members they could only consider what was in front of them.”

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The vote

Members approved a motion to refuse the application, with eight votes in favour and one against.

“Councillor Mathews proposed Officer advice to refuse the application.”

“On being put to a vote, the motion was passed with 8 votes in favour and 1 against.”

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The decision

Planning permission was refused in accordance with the officer recommendation.

“RESOLVED That planning permission be refused as per the Officer recommendation.”

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