Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Debbie Morris, Krutika Patel (who had been expected as a substitute) and Raj Khiroya.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 20 August 2027.

The minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 20 August 2026 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Items of other business notified under Council Procedure Rule 30 to be announced, together with the special circumstances that justify their consideration as a matter of urgency. The Chair to rule on the admission of such items.

There were no items of urgent business.

To receive any declarations of interest.

The Liberal Democrat Group declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 6 (26/0885/FUL – Allotment Land, Newport Mead, South Oxhey) as the agent is a member of the authority and a member of the Liberal Democrat Group.

26/0520/FUL – Erection of three buildings comprising six new industrial units (Use Classes B2/B8 E (g) (iii) at Woodcock Hill Industrial Estate, Harefield Road, Rickmansworth

Recommendation: that planning permission is granted.

The application was for erection of three buildings comprising six new industrial units (Use Classes B2/B8 E (g) (iii) at Woodcock Hill Industrial Estate, Harefield Road, Rickmansworth.

The Planning Officer reported that a correction was required to paragraph 7.6.8 of the report, which should refer to a Section 278 agreement (not a Section 28 agreement).  Additionally, Condition 16 should be amended to update the reference number of the Arboricultural Impact Assessment and Condition 17 should be amended to require the soft landscaping scheme to be submitted prior to the first occupation of the buildings rather than prior to development taking place.

Councillor Lisa Hudson spoke on the application.

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

Points raised by speakers against the application included the constrained nature of Harefield Road and access issues; impact on the character of the industrial estate which currently operates quietly and is located in a highly sensitive natural setting; concerns about delivery vehicle size, frequency of deliveries and intensification of use; concerns about hazardous material disturbance during development; lack of information regarding foul water or surface water drainage; lack of clarity about the proposed use of the buildings and their potential height; and parking issues.

In responding to points raised by the speakers, the Planning Officer confirmed that Hertfordshire County Council had been consulted on a number of occasions during the application process and had not objected to the proposal on highways safety grounds.  Whilst Harefield Road was a narrow road, policy TR6.4 of the NPPF emphasised that applications could only be refused on highways safety grounds where there would be a severe adverse impact on the transport network.  Officers did not therefore consider that there were grounds to substantiate refusal on the basis of highways safety.  A pre-commencement Construction Management Plan would be conditioned, which Hertfordshire Highways would also be consulted on. 

In relation to the concerns raised about contamination, the Planning Officer reported that the Environment Agency, Affinity Water, Environmental Health and Thames Water had all been consulted and had not objected to the application, subject to a significant number of conditions which were set out in the officer report and which would be discharged in consultation with those consultees in their capacity as the professional bodies responsible for managing contamination risk.  Contamination risks were therefore considered to be satisfactorily managed.

In relation to the location of the site in the Green Belt, the Planning Officer clarified the site location was an established industrial site and was also enclosed.  The buildings proposed within the application were not significantly high and were not considered to be out of character with the surrounding buildings which were generally of two storeys.  There would therefore not be a substantial harm taking into account the wider site surroundings.  The application was therefore considered to meet the test for falling within the exception for inappropriate development in the Green Belt.

With regard to the off-site highways works, the applicant would be required to enter into  ...  view the full minutes text for item PC177/26

Demolition of existing structures and erection of 1no. detached store/community building and 2no. polytunnel structures for use in connection with existing community allotment at Allotment Land, Newport Mead, South Oxhey

Recommendation: that planning permission be granted, subject to conditions.

Demolition of existing structures and erection of 1no. detached store/community building and 2no. polytunnel structures for use in connection with existing community allotment at Allotment Land, Newport Mead, South Oxhey.

It was noted that the application was before the Committee as the agent acting on behalf of the applicant is a Member of the Council, and the application site is owned by the Council.

The Planning Officer reported that there were no updates.

There were no speakers.

A Committee Member commented that the proposal would result in improvement to a currently unsightly area of community land.

Councillor Cooper moved, and Councillor Smith seconded, that planning permission be granted subject to conditions.

On being put to the vote this was carried, the voting being unanimous.

RESOLVED:

That planning permission be granted subject to conditions.

26/1064/FUL - Installation of one self-service laundry kiosk to Tesco Superstore curtilage at Tesco Superstore, Frogmoor Wharf, Harefield Road, Rickmansworth

26/1065/ADV - Advertisement Consent: Installation of internally illuminated fascia sign at Tesco Superstore, Frogmoor Wharf, Harefield Road, Rickmansworth

Recommendation: that planning permission be granted subject to conditions and that advertisement consent be granted subject to conditions.

The applications were for installation of one self-service laundry kiosk to Tesco Superstore curtilage and advertisement consent for installation of internally illuminated fascia sign at Tesco Superstore, Frogmoor Wharf, Harefield Road, Rickmansworth.

The Planning Officer reported that an amendment was required to Condition 3 of the planning application to remove the last line which referred to ‘Any associated signage shall only be illuminated during these hours and shall be switched off at all other times’.  This was because control over signage illumination belonged within the advertisement consent.  A separate condition was proposed to be added to the advertisement consent to control the timings of the illuminated signage to align with store hours.  An additional condition was also suggested for the planning application to require the two benches which were currently situated where the kiosk was to be placed to be relocated prior to the first use of the kiosk.

Parish Councillor Diana Barber of Batchworth Community Council spoke on the applications.

Councillor Lisa Hudson spoke on the applications.

Concerns raised by speakers against the application included: visual impact and detriment to the street scene; noise nuisance for nearby residents; the setting of precedence by adding a further freestanding unit accommodating commercial activity on an already busy site; inappropriateness of the location of the kiosk, both in terms of the geographical location in Rickmansworth and also the location of the kiosk within the site itself; lack of supporting documentation regarding regular maintenance or cleaning of the equipment; lack of benefit to residents; and light pollution arising from un-necessary illuminated signage.

In responding to the points raised, the Planning Officer clarified that Condition 3 permitted the operation of the machines at the kiosk between the hours of 06:00 and 23:00 Mondays to Saturdays, and 11:00 and 17:00 on Sundays and Bank Holidays.  A programmable timer would prevent anyone from initiating a washing/drying cycle within 45 minutes of the store closure time, so that it would be completed in accordance with the permitted operating hours.

With regard to the illumined signage, it was clarified that the level of luminescence would be relatively low and that the signage would only be illuminated during store opening hours.  Given that it would be located against the backdrop of a commercial setting with existing illumination and ancillary infrastructure, would be located underneath a canopy at a c55m distance from the properties opposite, and illumination would be limited to the store opening hours, it was not considered that it would be harmful to neighbouring amenity. 

The agent spoke in favour of the application.  Points raised included that it would provide a practical and accessible service for local residents, particularly those living in flats, rented accommodation, smaller homes or households without suitable washing and drying facilities; the machines could be used for larger loads such as duvets, blankets and other bulky items which may not fit in household machines; the proposed location was convenient, allowing customers to combine their laundry with an existing shopping trip; the kiosk  ...  view the full minutes text for item PC179/26