Agenda item

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 was modest in scale, located within the established commercial car park and its design was appropriate for the setting; hours of operation and signage illumination would be aligned with the established activity and opening hours of the existing supermarket; use of the kiosk was not expected to generate significant additional traffic or attract groups of people congregating on the site; and recent noise tests had shown that the noise impact on nearby residents would be negligible given the distance of 50m to the closest residential properties.

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

·       A Committee Member expressed concern about the relocation of the benches which would need to be moved in order to accommodate the kiosk.  It was considered that were the benches to be sited adjacent to the kiosk, this may increase the likelihood that users may congregate, or sit and chat, thereby increasing noise levels.

·       A Committee Member questioned whether there may be scope to locate the kiosk further to the west, so that it would not be visible either from the street or the houses on Harefield Road.  However, it was noted that there were constraints arising from the site, including the narrowing of the pavement beyond the zebra crossing, and the crossing itself, which prevented this.  Officers commented that from the applicant’s perspective it was more beneficial from a commercial viewpoint for the kiosk to be visible, and that it was not considered to be unacceptable in the proposed location.

Councillor Whately-Smith moved, and Councillor Gazzard seconded, that planning application 26/1064/FUL be approved subject to conditions and with amendment to Condition 3 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’.

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

Councillor Whately-Smith moved, and Councillor Mitchell seconded, that advertisement consent 26/1065/ADV be approved subject to conditions and with the addition of a condition to control the timings of the illuminated signage to align with store hours.

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

RESOLVED:

(i)         That planning application 26/1064/FUL be approved subject to conditions and with amendment to Condition 3 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’; and

(ii)        That advertisement consent 26/1065/ADV be approved subject to conditions and with the addition of a condition to control the timings of the illuminated signage to align with store hours.