Agenda and draft minutes

To elect a Chair of the Planning Committee.

It was noted that the Chair would be elected at the June meeting and that Cllr Ian Halsall, Vice-Chair would chair the meeting.

To elect a Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee.

It was noted that the Vice-Chair for the municipal year 2024-25 would be elected at the June meeting.

The Democratic Services Officer will draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

The Democratic Services Officer read out the emergency evacuation procedure.

There were no apologies for absence or substitutions.

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number and site in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an other interest, (as defined in Part 4.4 Appendix B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officer before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

1.  Cllr Duncan Hounsell

On behalf of the Committee, Cllr Ian Halsall asked that thanks be recorded to Cllr Duncan Hounsell for chairing the Planning Committee for the 2023-24 municipal year.  He paid tribute to his fairness and discipline in chairing meetings. 

To note that, regarding planning applications to be considered, members of the public who have given the requisite notice to Democratic Services will be able to make a statement to the Committee immediately before their respective applications are considered. There will be a time limit of 3 minutes for each proposal, i.e., 3 minutes for the Parish and Town Councils, 3 minutes for the objectors to the proposal and 3 minutes for the applicant, agent and supporters. This allows a maximum of 9 minutes per proposal.

The Democratic Services Officer informed the meeting that there were a number of people wishing to make statements on planning applications and that they would be able to do so when these items were discussed.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 10 April 2024 as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

It was moved by Cllr Eleanor Jackson seconded by Cllr Tim Warren and:

RESOLVED  that the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 10 April 2024 be confirmed as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

There were no site visit applications for determination.

There were no site visit applications for consideration.

The following items will be considered in the morning session starting at 11am:

1.  20/04965/ERES Bath Quays North Development Site, Avon Street, Bath

2.  23/04747/FUL Lower Shockerwick Farm, Shockerwick Farm Lane, Bathford

3.  23/04747/FUL & 23/04748/LBA Lower Shockerwick Farm, Shockerwick Farm Lane, Bathford

The following items will be considered in the afternoon session starting at 2pm:

4.  23/04190/REG03 Land To Rear Of Danes Court, Dane's Lane, Keynsham

5.  23/04380/FUL1 Bath Road, Peasedown St John, Bath

6.  24/00163/FUL19 Alexandra Road, Lyncombe, Bath

The Committee considered:

A report and update report by the Head of Planning on the applications under the main applications list.

RESOLVED that in accordance with the delegated powers, the applications be determined as set out in the main applications decisions list attached as Appendix 2 to these minutes.

(1)  20/04965/ERES - Bath Quays North Development Site, Avon Street, Bath

The Planning Case Officer introduced the report which considered the approval of reserved matters (details of access, layout, scale, appearance and landscaping) for Phase 1 of the Bath Quays North site.

He gave an update on the report as follows:

1.  Additional conditions were recommended:

a.  In relation to cycle parking and request for details of the CCTV strategy for the site and car parkin response to the recommendation from Avon & Somerset Police.

b.  In accordance with LPPU Policy NE3a biodiversity net gain implementation, management and monitoring plan to be submitted for approval pre-commencement.

2.  There would be an appropriate assessment and consultation with Natural England on the Habitat Regulations Assessment.

He confirmed the officers’ recommendation that the reserved matters be permitted subject to the carrying out of an appropriate assessment and consultation with Natural England on the Habitat Regulations Assessment and the conditions set out in the report and update report.

In response to Members’ questions, it was confirmed:

1.  Historic England had reservations about the application in relation to the design of the flat roof but had not submitted an objection.  The flat roof design was considered appropriate by officers as it would achieve biodiversity net gain across the site and reduce CO2. 

2.  The roof would include soft landscaping and there would be access for office workers and residents.  There was the potential for wider public access via the hotel, but this was not a specification of the application. 

3.  There were 13 projections above the height of the roof, including lift shafts which were more than 2m higher than the overall height parameters.  Some of the other projections were lateral rather than vertical.

4.  A condition could be included to prevent further development of roofscape if this was a requirement of the Committee.

5.  There were constraints to floor plates which dictated the design approach. 

6.  In terms of ground level landscaping there were detailed plans including the type of planting.  There would be a Section 278 Agreement to secure tree planting and the overall landscaping would be above the required level of biodiversity net gain. 

7.  UNESCO had not commented on the application.

8.  The application did not need to be referred to the Secretary of State as it was a reserved matters application. 

Cllr Shaun Hughes opened the debate and stated that while he considered the design of the roof to be appropriate, he felt the overall design was blocky and did not reference the city of Bath.  Cllrs Fiona Gourley and Eleanor Jackson also expressed reservations about the quality of the design.

Cllr Tim Warren spoke in support of the application and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 121.

The Committee is asked to note the report.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The Committee is asked to note the report.

In response to a question about feedback on enforcement cases, the Deputy Head of Planning undertook to ask the Enforcement Manager to contact Cllr Eleanor Jackson with an update. 

RESOLVED that the report be noted.