Six warehouse units at Maple Lodge Close, Maple Cross, Rickmansworth

The site and surroundings

The site was a former commercial area beside Denham Way, with homes to the south, offices to the north and warehouses to the east.

“The application site is the last of the commercial buildings along this part of Denham Way, with the residential development of Franklins immediately south of the site, and residential buildings fronting Denham Way from this point south through the settlement of Maple Cross. The site most recently operated as two distinct parcels of land. To the front was a relatively modern three storey flat roofed office building.”

“To the east of the application site is the site of two new warehouses constructed following the grant of planning permission 21/0573/FUL at appeal. The approved warehouses are of a larger size compared to those subject of the current application (one being 16.2m tall and approx. 95m by 84m, the other 13.2m tall and 98m by 68m) and those approved at the site referenced above, with the planning permission including 16,115sqm of development.”

Officer report

Who spoke

Councillor Raj Khiroya and County Councillor Paula Hiscocks spoke on the application.

What members debated

Members discussed noise, holiday delivery bans, delivery hours, construction traffic, parking overspill and the proposed noise management controls.

“A Committee Member questioned whether the Construction Management Plan could include a requirement for the construction to have no impact on road congestion. Officers responded that as there was already an access to the site and so construction vehicles would not be blocking the road, and as the vehicle numbers would not be sufficient as to have a severe impact on the highway, the officer view was that such a condition could not be considered reasonable.”

“Whilst noting that the proposal met the parking standard, a Committee Member expressed concern about the parking provision and the risk of overspill parking on either Denham Way or Franklins. Officers responded that parking within the site would be controlled by way of the car parking management plan; however, parking outside the side could not be controlled by planning conditions.”

Minutes

The vote

Councillors voted six in favour, two against and three abstentions on the motion to grant permission with amended conditions.

“On being put to the vote this was carried, the voting being 6 in favour, 2 against, 3 abstentions.”

Minutes

The decision

Permission was granted subject to a legal agreement, conditions and restrictions on delivery and collection hours, including bans on specified public holidays.

“RESOLVED: that following the completion of a S106 agreement to secure financial contributions towards biodiversity monitoring, travel plan monitoring and sustainable transport improvements, planning permission be granted subject to conditions and updated conditions as verbally reported and noted above, and further amendment to Condition 36 to restrict deliveries and collections to not take place:”

“- To/from Units 1 – 4, by HGV, other than between 07:00 and 22:00 on Weekdays, between 08:00 and 22:00 on Saturdays, and between 09:00 and 21:00 on Sundays, Bank and Public Holidays. - To/from Units 5 and 6 other than between 07:00 and 22:00 on Weekdays, between 08:00 and 22:00 on Saturdays, and between 09:00 and 21:00 on Sundays, Bank and Public Holidays. - Whatsoever on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday.”

Minutes