Issue - meetings

APPROVED..

Description of Application: Demolition of the existing buildings on the site and the construction of a food store (Use Class E), alongside the provision of a surface level car park, associated access and landscaping works.

The Planning Officer gave a brief presentation providing an overview of the application and update on the report.

Oral representations in support of the application were received from the applicant who gave the following responses to Members’ questions:

·  It was intended that the store would remain on-site for a minimum of 20-years with regular maintenance and refurbishment.  Aldi had experience of building on sites with a range of challenges, including the removal of underground tanks, and a Construction Management Plan would limit the hours during which any disruptive or noisy construction works could be undertaken.  Existing landscaping would be retained and improved with a mix of semi-mature and mature plants and trees and this amenity would be maintained throughout the life of the store.

·  The most common mode of transport for supermarket users in the UK was private car followed by travel on foot.  The number of customers travelling by bicycle was low and this was the same for public transport.  It was anticipated that the Farnborough store would employ 10 full-time and 30 part-time members of staff from the local area with up to 12 staff on site during the busiest periods.  Aldi offered permanent contracts to all its staff who would be encouraged to walk, cycle or take public transport to work.  Car park usage would be monitored during the lifetime of the store’s operation and a complaints procedure was in place should any issues arise from staff parking in local roads. 

·  The opening hours of the store would be 8.00am-10.00pm on Monday to Saturday and 10.00am-6.00pm on Sunday, although there would be some on-site operations outside of these hours which would primarily take place inside the store.  While an assessment had determined that the light and noise impact of the store was acceptable, additional measures would be taken to mitigate any disruption, including a fence line with acoustic properties.  Restrictions would also be placed on deliveries including controlling the times and number of deliveries to the site and using pedestrian marshals in place of reversing alarms.  Councillor Colin Hitchins queried whether Saturday opening hours could be reduced in line with those of Sunday to reduce background noise, but this would not be feasible. 

·  While the transport assessment had indicated that there could be a waiting time of up to 150 seconds for cars waiting to right turn from the Aldi car park onto the A21, this was for the busiest 15-minute time segment modelled with shorter or no waiting times in other periods.  Transport for London’s preferred junction access option was Option 2, a single access entrance/egress point with a pedestrian/cyclist refuge located in the middle, but the applicant considered that Option 1, an all-movement junction, was sufficient bearing in mind the anticipated level of vehicle movement.  The store would have an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21