Eight industrial units at Unit 4 Atlas Way, Pershore

What was proposed

Two industrial buildings would provide eight smaller units for general industrial, storage or distribution uses.

“The application proposes the erection of two buildings to be used for General Industrial Use (Class B2) and or storage and distribution (Class B8). These two buildings would be divided into eight smaller units.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The 0.78-hectare site lies beside Keytec East Business Park, with industrial units to the north and west and farmland to the east and south.

“The application site comprises an approximate 0.78 hectares rectangular parcel of land off the Wyre Road, adjacent to the Keytec East Business Park within north Pershore. To the north and west are other industrial/employment units while agricultural land lies to the east and south. Wyre Road runs parallel to the southern…”

“In terms of constraints, the site lies predominantly outside Pershore’s reviewed development boundary although the majority of the site is an employment allocation (reference: CFS0102). As set out in the planning history, consent was granted in 2019 for the development of an industrial unit on the site. The site is also within a mineral safeguarding area while being susceptible to surface water flooding.”

Officer report

Earlier permissions

Earlier permissions covered landscaping bunds and two industrial units on the site, while nearby land had permissions for employment development.

“19/00382/FUL. Erection of 2 new industrial units complete with associated service yards, car parking and improved landscaping. Approved Jun 13 2019”

“W/14/00151/OU - Outline application for 5 hectares of employment land with some matters reserved for B1, B2 & B8 use. New access for pedestrians & cycles; car & cycle parking; sustainable drainage measures including storage pond for surface water attenuation; provision of utilities infrastructure & all ancillary enabling works - as approved under planning permission reference number W/11/00988/OU but without compliance of condition number 22 (form of development).”

Officer report

Consultation responses

The town council supported the proposal, highways and drainage consultees raised no objection subject to conditions, and economic development supported the employment opportunity.

“WCC Local Lead Flood Authority: The attenuation storage and discharge rates for the wider site are already in effect and cater for the development proposal of this application. The drainage proposals for the industrial nature of this development are acceptable and the raingarden proposal appreciated by the LLFA. The LLFA is supportive of the drainage plans and recommends future construction of the development is compliant with the submitted plans.”

“WDC Economic Development: Support - The area in question is within the land allocated for employment use within the SWDPR and is located within an area which has existing industrial buildings to the north and west, all accessing from an existing access road to the site. These two buildings, which would house eight small units, are suitable for the SME market, and would fulfil some of the District’s needs.”

Officer report

Objections raised

Four objections cited effects on the strategic gap, village character, residents, wildlife, traffic, lighting and noise.

“Four communications of objection have been received…”

“Detrimental character upon Wyre Piddle and encroachment upon the village. • Loss of strategic gap which separates Pershore and Wyre Piddle. • Visual, light and noise impact upon residents of Wyre Piddle. • Loss of land for wildlife including affected on foxes, badgers, birds and deer. • Additional traffic down Wyre Road. • There should be a weight limit to Wyre Road.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A local member did not take part in the debate or vote, while a speaker representing the parish council spoke against approval.

What members discussed

Members questioned screening, landscaping, operating hours and lighting, while discussing residents’ concerns and the proposed controls.

“The Planning Committee members asked questions of the speaker, Councillor Mrs P Carr, representing Wyre Piddle Parish Council, and the Planning Officer, to clarify matters in relation to the screening of the site, landscaping, the operating hours and lighting.”

“The Local Member, Councillor C G J Tucker, stated that it was clear that this proposal did represent a substantial change to what was originally proposed at the earlier stage of the development of the industrial estate and the assurances that were given to Wyre Piddle villagers and Wyre Piddle Parish Council to control the impact of the development and that this had not been properly honoured.”

Minutes

The vote

The committee voted for approval in line with the officer recommendation, including the verbal updates and additional floor-level condition.

“A vote for approval of the application was taken in line with the Officer’s recommendation including the verbal updates, amendment to condition 21 and an additional condition regarding floor levels.”

Minutes

The decision

Permission was delegated for approval subject to a legal agreement and planning conditions, including controls on hours, lighting, landscaping and site levels.

“To delegate authority to the Director of Planning and Infrastructure to grant planning permission subject to the completion of a S106 legal agreement to secure the obligations and the planning conditions listed and including those referred to in the verbal updates to committee and an additional condition in respect of floor levels allowing for any subsequent amendments to the obligations and planning conditions as required by the Director of Planning and Infrastructure.”

Minutes

Key added conditions

The final conditions controlled activities between stated hours and required approval of finished floor levels and existing and proposed site levels.

“The development hereby permitted shall not be operated and no activities associated with the B2 and or B8 use of the units including deliveries, collections, loading, unloading or external activity shall take place outside of the following hours.”

“No building operations above ground/slab level shall take place until details of the proposed finished floor levels of each building, together with existing and proposed site levels, have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The details shall show the relationship of the proposed development to the existing ground levels, surrounding land levels and adjoining development.”

Minutes