Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notices of appointment of substitute

Apologies were received from Cllrs Mrs F J Colthorpe and S J Clist who was substituted by Cllr J Downes

To receive any questions relating to items on the agenda from members of the public and replies thereto.

Note:   A maximum of 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

There were no questions from Members of the public present

To record any interests on agenda matters

Cllrs P J Heal, Mrs C P Daw, Mrs C Collis, L J Cruwys, J M Downes, B Holdman, F W Letch and B G J Warren all made declarations in accordance with the Protocol of Good Practice for Councillors dealing with planning matters for application 21/0222/MFUL as they had received correspondence from the applicant.

Cllrs P J Heal, Mrs C P Daw, J M Downes, B Holdman, F W Letch and B G J Warren all made declarations in accordance with the Protocol of Good Practice for Councillors dealing with planning matters for application 22/00687/HOUSE as they had received correspondence from objectors.

Cllrs L J Cruwys, Mrs C P Daw, B Holdman all made declarations in accordance with the Protocol of Good Practice for Councillors dealing with planning matters for application 22/00672/FULL as they had received correspondence from objectors.

Cllr J M Downes declared a personal interest for application 21/0222/MFUL as he lived near the application site.

To consider whether to approve the minutes as a correct record of the meeting held on 13^th July 2022.

The minutes of the meeting held on 13^th July 2022 were agreed as a true record and duly SIGNED by the Chairman.

         To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make. 

The Chairman reminded the Committee of a site visit arranged for 3^rd August

To report any items withdrawn from the agenda

There were no withdrawals of items from the agenda

To consider the planning applications contained in the list.

The Committee considered the applications in the *Plans List

Note: *List previously circulated and attached to the minutes

a)    Application 21/00222/MFUL - Erection of a retail food store with associated parking, access, servicing and landscaping at Playing Field at NGR 284091 100385, Commercial Road, Lords Meadow Industrial Estate

The Area Team Leader outlined the application by way of a presentation highlighting the site location plan, site plan, floor plans, elevations, landscape plan and photographs of the site.

The officer explained that Sport England had objected to the application and had referred it to the Secretary of State via the Planning Casework Unit,  in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Consultation)(England) Direction 2009. The Secretary of State had decided not to call in the application and was content that it should be determined by the local planning authority.

As policy CRE6 did not include provision for a food store it was advertised as a departure to the local plan, even though it was located within the settlement limits of the Town. There would be a financial contribution to result in an improvement to the playing pitch lost through the development. This would enable Crediton Rugby Club to purchase an alternative site and one had been identified at the Creedy Bridge development.

Consideration was given to:

·         Crediton Rugby Club were content that the remaining pitches would be adequate until the new site was developed at Creedy Bridge

·         Members concerns about the removal of the hedgerow

·         Lidl’s would maintain the site including the soft landscaping whilst they were in occupation

·         Parking and electric vehicle charging points standards had been met with the development

·         The applicant confirmed that the public toilet would have disabled access, that 40 new permanent jobs would be created, 25% of the stores power would be generated by solar panels and that the Rugby Club supported the application

·         The views of the Town Council who stated that high quality planting was required and that it was a lost opportunity to plant additional trees. That they objected strongly against the hedgerow being removed and that the £87k provided in the S106 agreement towards improving air quality would not mitigate the extra traffic that the development would bring into the town

·         The views of the Ward Member who stated that there was a view that the hedge was being removed so that the store could be seen and that more could be done to improve the area with green infrastructure. That the building design was not complementary to the street scene in Crediton. That the hedgerow should be retained, more trees planted and the colour of the building be amended to fit in with the local vernacular.

It was therefore RESOLVED that planning permission be granted subject to conditions and signing of an S106 Agreement as recommended by the Development Management Manager subject to amendments to the following conditions;

Condition 14. All planting, seeding, turfing or earth reprofiling comprised in the approved details of landscaping shall be carried out within 9  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.