Issue - meetings

Change of use from builder’s merchant (Sui Generis) to Class B8 (Storage and Distribution) use with ancillary trade counter at Units A & B, Valley Park, Olds Approach, Rickmansworth.

Recommendation: that planning permission be granted.

The application was for change of use from builder’s merchant (Sui Generis) to Class B8 (Storage and Distribution) use with ancillary trade counter at Units A & B, Valley Park, Olds Approach, Rickmansworth.

The Planning Officer reported that since publication of the agenda, the Environmental Health Officer had provided their comments and it was proposed to update Condition 5 as follows:

“The level of noise emitted from the site as a result of the development hereby permitted, including all noise associated with deliveries and vehicle movements including parking within the car parking areas and service yards, shall not exceed 30 LAeq between the hours of 18:00 to 07:30 Monday to Friday inclusive and 13:00 on Saturdays to 07:30 the following working day as measured by the relevant person instructed by the Local Planning Authority using a suitably calibrated and certified device 1m from the façade of any residential property in Moor Lane Crossing.”

Councillor Diana Barber of Batchworth Community Council spoke on the application.

Committee Members asked questions about the details of the application which were responded to by officers.  The Committee’s discussions included the following:

·        The proposal included 24/7 operations for a limited number of deliveries.  Officers were of the view that, given the location of the site, the proposed use on that basis was acceptable, and that on the basis of the submitted and revised noise impact assessment the impact both in terms of the transport and noise was acceptable.

·        The site was located in Moor Park and Eastbury (not Rickmansworth Town).

·        Committee Members expressed the view that a small part of the site which was located closest to housing should not be subject to 24/7 use, in order to avoid disturbance to residents.  Officers responded that a Car Parking Management Plan could be conditioned, requiring that part of the site to be closed off during night-time hours.   Committee Members agreed that this condition should be added.

Councillor Whately-Smith moved, and Councillor Cooper seconded, that the application be approved subject to conditions, amendment to Condition 5 as outlined above, and addition of a further condition requiring a Car Parking Management Plan to be submitted.  On being put to the vote this was agreed, the voting being 9 for, 0 against, 2 abstentions.

RESOLVED: that the application be approved subject to conditions, amendment to Condition 5 as outlined above, and addition of a further condition requiring a Car Parking Management Plan to be submitted.