Agenda item

DEFERRED

Description of application – Demolition of existing buildings on site.  Redevelopment to provide a food store (Class E) and associated access, car parking, and landscaping works.

The Planning Officer gave a brief presentation, 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 Member questions:-

• Over time the scheme had evolved and care had been taken, especially in relation to the side elevation, to ensure that it was in keeping with the residential area.  A more contemporary approach had been taken to entice people to the area.

• Access onto the A21 Farnborough Way was designed as left in and left out to minimise traffic disruption.  The traffic island in the A21 was intended to prevent drivers turning right onto the A21.

• In designing the proposals, there had been an awareness of concerns around overdevelopment. As such, the proposed store was of average size for an Aldi store.

• There had been extensive engagement in terms of design and the applicants considered that they had developed a sensitive design with the most recent proposals receiving support from local residents.

• Delivery times were set out within the noise statement which had been submitted with the application and there was currently no intention to vary delivery times.

• There had been a request to quantify the number of cars travelling into Farnborough Village and the view had been reached that it would be an insignificant number in terms of a quantifiable impact.

• It was not considered that a new Aldi Store would have a significant impact on the local stores in Farnborough Village.  Aldi offered a limited number of lines and did not have in-house concessions such as a butcher.  Only 20% of sales space was dedicated to non-food products.

Committee Member and Ward Member Councillor Joel reported that while the applicants had made an attempt to address concerns around bulk, size, traffic movement, deliveries and the impact on the A21 and Farnborough Village, concerns had not been entirely addressed.  It was noted that at peak times there was bad traffic congestion on Farnborough Way heading into Bromley.  There were also concerns that staff travelling to the site by car may park in surrounding roads.  Cllr Joel cited problems with car parking at the Lidl store in Locksbottom and suggested that a similar issue may arise with this site if approved.  Consequently, on the basis of design and car parking, Councillor Joel supported the Officer recommendation and moved that the application be refused.

Councillor Terry reported that he generally supported the application but considered that there was some further work needed in terms of design and landscaping.  The proposals offered welcome opportunities for local employment.  Councillor Terry suggested that some of the comments in the report around car parking were confusing and the comments from Transport for London around the lack of a local bus service were unhelpful given that they were the responsible authority for contracting out bus services and could therefore extend a bus route if there was a concern. Councillor Terry moved that the application be deferred to enable the applicants to review and amend the design.

Councillor Bear noted that it was a finely balanced application with no overwhelming support either way.  However, Councillor Bear agreed that more work could be undertaken on the design of the proposal and seconded the motion for deferral on that basis.

Councillor Bennett expressed support for the application noting that the site had been used for retail/industrial purposes for some time.  Whilst the impact on other shops in the area should not be a material planning consideration, there was evidence that shops could compete and survive, with the free market having a part to play.  Councillor Bennett expressed the view that the design was in keeping with the industrial site and therefore moved that approval be granted. He added that TfL could extend the 261 bus route from the Princess Royal University Hospital to Farnborough Way to meet passenger needs. The motion for approval was seconded by Councillor Hitchins.

While supportive of the application which would be of benefit to the residential area, Councillor Samaris Huntington-Thresher reported that she would like to see the design softened slightly.  On that basis Councillor Huntington-Thresher supported deferral.

Councillor Scoates noted that the site was on the edge of a rural village next to a main road. As such, he would not describe the site as ‘industrial’.  Councillor Scoates expressed the view that the proposals amounted to overdevelopment of the site.  His main concern was the bulk of the development which was not in-keeping with the local area.  As such, Councillor Scoates supported refusal.

Councillor Boughey noted that it was a commercial site. However, there was scope for improving the design of the proposal and she therefore supported the motion for deferral.

Having considered the report, objections and representations, Members RESOLVED that the application be DEFERRED without prejudice to any future consideration for the following reasons:-

1  For further work to be carried out on the design, materials, bulk and landscaping of the proposal.