Agenda item

Proposal: Installation of 16(no) bay vehicle charging station with ancillary seating area and toilet facilities, and associated soft landscaping and infrastructure works (Revised submission of S23/0469)

Location: Land south of Tinwell Road, Stamford

Recommendation: To authorise the Assistant Director – Planning to GRANT planning permission, subject to conditions.

Proposal: Installation of 16(no) bay vehicle charging station with ancillary seating area and toilet facilities, and associated soft landscaping and infrastructure works (Revised submission of S23/0469)

Location: Land south of Tinwell Road, Stamford

Recommendation: To authorise the Assistant Director – Planning to GRANT planning permission, subject to conditions.

 

Noting comments in the public speaking session by:

 

District Ward Councillors:               Harrish Bisnauthsing

                                                        Richard Cleaver

Against:                                           Simon Machen

                                                        Steve Brown/Stuart Bremner (timeshare)

For:                                                  Adam Brookes

Applicant/Agent                               Sav Patel/Jake Goldby (timeshare)

 

Together with:

 

·       Provisions with SKDC Local Plan 2011-2036, Stamford Neighbourhood Plan 2016-2036, Lincolnshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan: Core Strategy and Management policies, Design Guidelines for Rutland and South Kesteven Supplement Document and National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

·       Comments received from Heritage Lincolnshire.

·       Comments received from Lincolnshire County Council (Highways & SuDS).

·       No comments received from Lincolnshire County Council (Minerals Planning Authority).

·       No comments received from Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.

·       No comments received from Ministry of Defence.

·       Comments received from Stamford Town Council.

·       Comments received from Stamford Civic Society.

·       Comments received from SKDC Environmental Protection Team.

 

During questions to Public Speakers, Members commented on:

 

·       Whether Empingham Road, Stamford employment allocation had been identified as a possible site for this application.

 

One Member informed the Committee that the Empingham Road, Stamford site was allocated as employment land and was within close proximity to this proposed location.

 

The Assistant Director of Planning highlighted that the Empingham Road, Stamford site was not in front of the Committee for consideration as to whether it would be a suitable site for an EV charging station. The Committee were reminded that they were required to consider whether the proposed site (Land south of Tinwell Road, Stamford) was suitable for the proposed development.

 

·       Whether traffic could rejoin the A1 to travel North and South from Tinwell Road. It was confirmed that you could access the A1 to travel both North and South from Tinwell Road.

·       One Member sought clarification on possible crime that could occur which had been raised as a concern by residents.

 

It was noted that the nature of the site, being hidden and having good vehicular access may encourage anti-social behaviour with drivers coming on and off the A1. These were the basis of the main objections, alongside the proposal being in open countryside.

 

The Assistant Director of Planning clarified that weight of public objection was not a material consideration in terms of the number of objectors. The Council had received 28 objections, with a further 2 included within the agenda supplement.

 

·       Whether any weight could be given to alternative site locations.

 

The Committee were reminded to consider the application as submitted and whether it was acceptable or not. One of the main factors of the chosen location by the applicant was related to the grid connection.

 

·       One Member queried whether the applicant had consulted with the local residents on the proposal and what their general opinion was.

·       Clarification was requested around a petrol station development on open countryside in Market Deeping and that it was adjacent to the road.

·       It was clarified that there was a 1.25 megawatts grid connection offer for the proposed site.

 

The applicant highlighted that as part of the first application, a consultation event was circulated to Local Councillors and residents. For this application, a letter drop was completed for residents to inform them of the development and seek their views on the proposal. A mixture of representations were received, with both concerns and support for the proposal.

 

The applicant confirmed the site would have monitored CCTV security cameras, however, the site would not be staffed which posed a risk to people’s safety and may increase the opportunity for increased crime due to lack of supervision on site.

 

Further concern was raised for the vulnerability and safety of people being in their cars whilst they charged.

 

·       Whether the site proposed was the most suitable in terms of connection to the grid, or whether other locations would have the same amount of electricity.

 

As per the National Grid, there were a number of places across the UK that had the same amount of electricity. It was down to the surplus supply of power to deliver infrastructure and also a willing landlord partner which to work with.

 

It was clarified that the site would be open 24/7.

 

·       Whether there would be any site management or any staff on site.

 

The applicant confirmed there would not be staff on site, however, routine security checks would take place at various times of the day.

 

It was further confirmed that a vehicle would take between 20-30 minutes to charge, however, this depended on battery size, temperature and delivery capacity.

 

During questions to Officers and debate, Members commented on:

 

·       Whether the Police and Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue had been consulted on this application.

 

The Planning Officer noted that no comments had been received from Police or Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue. However, there had not been direct consultation.

 

Crime implications and the fear of crime were relevant material planning considerations.

 

·       Clarification was sought on whether the application was a major or minor conflict of Policy SP5.

 

·       Clarification was sought around the grade of land specified within the report. It was suggested that the land could be 3-5 grade of land according to Natural England mapping.

 

·       One Member noted that the majority of EV charging points along the A1 were on existing petrol stations.

 

During debate, Members discussed:

 

·       Concerns around the commercial operation of the proposed site. 

·       The direct conflict of Policy SP5 within the Council’s Local Plan, as well as Stamford’s Neighborhood Plan.

·       Lack of comments received from the Police and Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue.

·       The safety of the public, the profitability of staffing and the maintaining of the facility was discussed.

·       Members discussed the essential need for the charging points for vehicles coming off of the A1 road.

·       Concerns were raised on the negative impact for nearby residents of the site.

 

It was proposed, seconded and AGREED to authorise the Assistant Director – Planning to REFUSE planning permission, for the following reason:

 

1.    An essential need for the proposal in this open countryside location has not been sufficiently demonstrated. The urbanising effect of the proposal would result in a loss of agricultural land as well as harm to the visual amenity of the area, including protected view 1 in the Stamford Neighbourhood Plan. Further, the isolated nature of the site has potential to result in crime and a fear of crime from neighbouring residential occupiers. The benefits of the proposal are acknowledged, but do not outweigh this harm. As such, the proposal is contrary to Local Plan Policies SP5, EN1 and DE1, Stamford Neighbourhood Plan Policy 9 and the NPPF (para 174).