Agenda item

Full planning application for the creation of a depot comprising of offices, workshop, storage buildings together with associated works

 

LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Dewi Jones

 

Link to relevant background documents

 

 

DECISION: To approve subject to the following conditions:

1. Five years.

2. In accordance with plans and documents.

3. Agree on sound prevention plan and measures for the workshop in the western end of the site. This could include measures such as insulation, agreeing on the location of any extraction systems, hours of use and acoustic fence.

4. Ensure use of bilingual signs that give priority to the Welsh language.

5. Landscaping.

6. Landscape maintenance.

7. Need to agree on any extraction systems on the workshop prior to their installation on the building.

 

Full application for the creation of a depot comprising of offices, workshop, storage buildings together with associated works.

 

Attention was drawn to the late observations form.

 

a)         The Development Control Team Leader highlighted that the site was located within the Caernarfon development boundary and all was within an area protected as the principal employment site for employment use. It was supported that the site was served by an unclassified county road leading through the estate and it was intended to include provision for 44 car parking spaces (including 3 for the disabled), 10 for lorries and 8 for other machinery as well as cycle storage space.

 

With the site located within the Caernarfon development boundary and a protected area for employment and in particular industrial uses B1, B2 and B8, the principle of intent was acceptable in terms of policies PCYFF 1 and CYF 1. The land was described as fairly flat and backed onto the rest of the estate which is at a significantly higher level to the north. It was recognised that the single and double-storey units would be visible from the Caernarfon bypass and would add to the structures and equipment storage areas in the landscape. However, the existing estate would form a backdrop to the site and, therefore, reduce the impact of the proposal on the landscape. Reference was made to a site plan and a cross-section plan which highlighted the intention to implement a landscaping scheme for the southern, western and northern boundary of the site which would include tree retention along the southern boundary. As a result, it was not considered that the proposal would have an unacceptable visual impact.

 

In the context of general and residential matters it was noted that the largest proposed building would be located at the western end of the site, approximately 17 metres from the boundary and approximately 28 metres from the rear view of nearest neighbours' houses. It was highlighted that it was intended to install additional insulation material on the rear wall of the building to reduce any noise that would result from it. It was reported that the planning statement stated that this was intended as a maintenance shed and that noise was not expected to derive from it. There were no windows or doors on the rear view and the building would also alleviate noise emanating from elsewhere on the site.  It was therefore considered that there was potential to add to the noise mitigation measures by imposing appropriate conditions to minimise adverse impact on neighbouring residents.

 

Highways, biodiversity, and linguistic issues were referred to and had received appropriate attention.

 

The officers recommended approving the application

 

b)     Taking advantage of the right to speak, the applicant noted the following observations;

·        The site was located on a plot of land designated for development

·        That the company needs to increase their existing workshop in the area

·        Proposed use and economic benefits. Following an increase in business, responding by attempting to combine five regional depots to centralise resources that would create employment opportunities for local people in the area

·        That this site was ideal in terms of strategic and logistical advantages

·        It was close to the road network for Mid Wales that would reduce travel times

·        The forecast was that there would be an increase in the number of full-time staff to 36%

·        That the annual net salary was equivalent to £1.4 million which was mainly spent in Gwynedd

·        The proposal would offer a dedicated office for staff along with a commercial workshop for vehicle maintenance, a traffic control signal unit and storage facility for lifting and hydraulic systems

·        The project will be a source of local, sustainable economic development that would create new job opportunities and provide trade with other local business suppliers in the area

·        Access roads had already been formed with the intention of using existing infrastructure

·        That letters of support have been received

·        No objections had been received

 

c)     It was proposed and seconded to approve the application

 

ch)  During the ensuing discussion, the following comments were noted by  Members:

·        That the company was very successful with a good reputation

·        That the Town Council supported the application

·        That the company needed extra space

·        That they need to consider a bilingual website

 

RESOLVED: To APPROVE subject to the following conditions:

 

1.         Five years.

2.         In accordance with plans and documents.

3.         Agree on sound prevention plan and measures for the workshop in the western end of the site. This could include measures such as insulation, agreeing on the location of any extraction systems, hours of use and acoustic fence.

4.         Ensure use of bilingual signs that give priority to the Welsh language.

5.         Landscaping.

6.         Landscape maintenance.

7.         Need to agree on any extraction systems on the workshop prior to their installation on the building. Full application for the creation of a depot comprising of offices, workshop, storage buildings together with associated works.