Agenda item

Proposal: Outline planning permission for the erection of a Designer Outlet Centre of up to 20,479 sqm (GEA) of floorspace comprising retail units (A1), restaurants and cafes (A3), and storage.  Additional large goods retail (5,574 sqm GEA), garden centre (5,521 sqm GEA) and external display area for garden centre (1,393 sqm), tourist information and visitor centre, training academy, leisure unit and offices including high-tech hub/start-up offices.  Demolition of existing garden centre and sales area and existing warehouse.  Improvements to existing Downtown Grantham store elevations.  Reconfigured car parking and provision of new multi-storey car park.  Increased coach parking.  Access improvements, drainage works, hard and soft landscaping and all ancillary works.  All matters reserved with the exception of access

Location: Downtown Garden Centre, Old Great North Road, Great Gonerby, Lincolnshire, NG32 2AB

Case Officer: Justin Johnson

Recommendation: That the application is approved subject to the completion of a Section 106 planning obligation and providing that the Secretary of State does not call the application in for determination.

Proposal:     Outline planning permission for the erection of a Designer Outlet Centre of up to 20,479 sqm (GEA) of floorspace comprising retail units (A1), restaurants and cafes (A3), and storage.  Additional large goods retail (5,574 sqm GEA), garden centre (5,521 sqm GEA) and external display area for garden centre (1,393 sqm), tourist information and visitor centre, training academy, leisure unit and offices including high-tech hub/start-up offices.  Demolition of existing garden centre and sales area and existing warehouse.  Improvements to existing Downtown Grantham store elevations.  Reconfigured car parking and provision of new multi-storey car park.  Increased coach parking.  Access improvements, drainage works, hard and soft landscaping and all ancillary works.  All matters reserved with the exception of access

Location:      Downtown Garden Centre, Old Great North Road, Great Gonerby, Lincolnshire, NG32 2AB

Decision:      Subject to the application not being called in by the Secretary of State, to grant the application subject to conditions and completion of a Section 106 Agreement

Noting comments made during the public speaking session by:

Together with:

·         No objection from North Kesteven District Council

·         An objection from Newark and Sherwood District Council

·         No objection from Melton Borough Council

·         Comments from Nottinghamshire County Council

·         An objection from Peterborough City Council

·         Comments, recommendations and a requested condition from Anglian Water Services

·         No comments from Historic England

·         Comments from the Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire

·         Concerns and comments raised by the City of Lincoln Council

·         Comments from the Lincolnshire Police Crime Prevention Design Adviser

·         No comments from the South Kesteven District Council Environmental Protection Team

·         No objection from Cadent Gas Limited

·         Comments from Western Power Distribution

·         No objection subject to conditions from Highways England

·         No objection and comments from the Upper Witham Internal Drainage Board

·         No comment from the Welland and Deeping Internal Drainage Board as the site falls outside the Board’s area and extended area

·         Comments from the Historic Buildings Adviser

·         Comments from the Lincolnshire County Council Footpaths Officer

·         Comments from Lincolnshire County Council Minerals and Waste Planning

·         No objection from Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Services

·         No objection and comments from Natural England

·         Comments from Network Rail, Civil Engineering

·         Concerns and comments raised by Allington Parish Council

·         Concerns and comments raised by Belton and Manthorpe Parish Council

·         Support from Foston Parish Council

·         No objections regarding the development but concern over highways issues raised by Great Gonerby Parish Council

·         Concerns, comments and an objection to the proposal raised by Sedgebrook Parish Council

·         No objections subject to the developer entering into a planning obligation by Lincolnshire County Council Highways and SUDS Support

·         No objection from the Environment Agency

·         272 representations received as a result of public consultation (43 raising concerns or seeking further information and 229 in support of the development) including:

o   An objection from Lichfields on behalf of their client into Properties Plc

o   Comments from Centrebus

o   Comments from East Midlands Trains

o   Support from Pyle Own (commercial property advisers to the freeholder of the moto Grantham north service station)

o   Support from Grantham College

o   An objection from Buckminster and Rioja Developments

·         Provisions within the National Planning Policy Framework and the South Kesteven Core Strategy and supplementary planning documents

·         Site visit observations

·         Comments made by members at the meeting

11:50 – Councillor Mrs. Kaberry-Brown left the meeting

11:53-12:04 – the meeting adjourned. Councillor Mrs. Kaberry-Brown returned to the meeting following the adjournment

During his oral presentation, the planning officer referred to a number of further representations received since the “Additional Items” paper had been circulated, both in support of and objecting to the application. He explained that these raised no new material issues that were not covered within the report or the oral update.

In debating the application Members talked about the headlines of those items that would be included in the Section 106 Agreement. Members noted the proposals that were designed to support Grantham town centre. Instead of signage for car parking sites within the town centre, the Committee was interested in whether there would be flexibility to use some of that money to subsidise car parking. The Chairman indicated that car parking charges were not an issue that the Committee could determine. The Committee was advised that the general parameters within the Section 106 Agreement had been settled but it may be possible for the feasibility of concessionary parking to be investigated provided that it met the legal tests for planning obligations and was compliant with any Council policy.

13:16 - As the meeting had been in progress for 3 hours, the Chairman asked for Members’ consent to continue. Members agreed

It was proposed, seconded and agreed that the application be approved for the reasons set out in the case officer’s report and subject to:

i)             The application not being called in by the Secretary of State

ii)            The conditions set out on pages 77 to 92 of the case officer’s report (the final wording being delegated to the Head of Development Management after consultation with the Chairman or the Vice-Chairman of the Development Management Committee)

iii)           Completion of a Section 106 Agreement to secure the requirements set out in paragraph 9 of the case officer’s report (including consideration of the comments noted above) within a period not exceeding six months after the date upon which the Secretary of State has confirmed that the application will not be called in. In the event that the Section 106  Agreement has not been completed within this period and the Head of Development Management, after consultation with the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Development Management Committee, considers that there are no extenuating circumstances which would justify an extension (or further extension) of time, the Head of Development Management be authorised to refuse the application on the basis that the necessary infrastructure or community contributions essential to make the development acceptable have not been forthcoming

The meeting adjourned from 13:27 to 14:01.