Agenda item

Change of use of an existing office (Class B1A) to a place of worship (Class D1).

Change of use of an existing office (Class B1A) to a place of worship (Class D1).

A site visit had been held on Saturday 16 January 2016 which had been attended by Councillors Brossard, Dudley, Finnie, Mrs Ingham, Mrs Mattick, Mrs McKenzie, Mrs McKenzie-Boyle, Peacey, Phillips and Thompson.

Councillor Thompson declared an interest in this item as a trustee of Age Concern and left the room for this item.

The Committee noted:

·         The supplementary report of the Head of Planning tabled at the meeting.

·         The comments of Winkfield Parish Council

·         28 letters of objection received from 23 different properties, which were summarised as follows:

-              Unsociable hours of worship will create noise and disturbance to nearby residential properties

-               Traffic implications for Savernake Road

-               Proximity to public house

-               Facility should be within the town centre or on the edge of an estate

-               Area already busy enough

-               2 years is not a temporary period

-               If the community of the church grows the area will become even busier

-               Disturbance to residential properties from traffic noise

-               Frequent comings and goings would be disruptive to adjacent businesses

-               Insufficient parking

-               Office premises is unsuitable for proposed facility

-              Developments in Bracknell should benefit everyone, not just a religious minority

-              Not adequate need for a new mosque [officer note: a mosque is not proposed. The application is for the change of use of an existing office unit]

-              Security risks to other business units through people accessing the building out of normal office hours

-              Concerns that other business uses would have to amend their normal practices to avoid disturbing other during prayers or contemplation

-               Community centre would be more appropriate

-               Times of worship could clash with activities at the community centre

-              The proposal could lead to activities such as weddings and fundraisers in the unit [officer note: the proposal is for a place of worship only and weddings etc would not be licensed on the premises]

-               Potential for vandalism if the security gates are opened in the night

-               Potential antisocial behaviour

-               Health and safety concerns

-               Pedestrian safety concerns

The Committee agreed an amendment to the additional condition detailed on the supplementary report as follows:

The use hereby permitted shall not be occupied outside the following times or on Public Holidays:

(a)  07.00 hours to 23.00 hours Monday to Saturday and

(b)  08.00 hours to 23.00 hours Sundays.  

It was RESOLVED that the application be approved subject to the following conditions:

01.  The use hereby permitted shall be discontinued on or before two years from the date of this permission.

REASON: To allow the Local Planning Authority to retain the original use of the building once the place of worship use ceases.

02.  The use hereby permitted shall be carried on only by the Bracknell Islamic Cultural Society and when the premises cease to be occupied by the Bracknell Islamic Cultural Society the use shall cease.

REASON: To allow the Local Planning Authority to retain control over the use of the premises.

03.  The development hereby permitted shall be carried out only in accordance with the following approved plans and documents received by the Local Planning Authority on 3 December 2015:

Block Plan

First Floor Plan

REASON: To ensure that the development is carried out only as approved by the Local Planning Authority.

04.  No external audio equipment shall be installed on the building at any time.

REASON: In the interests of the amenities of the occupiers of nearby residential premises.

[Relevant Policies: BFBLP EN25]

05.  No amplified audio equipment shall be used in the premises outside the hours of 08:00 and 18:00 Monday to Friday; 08:00 and 13:00 Saturday and not at all on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

REASON: In the interests of the amenities of the occupiers of nearby residential premises.

[Relevant Policies: BFBLP EN25]

06.  The use hereby permitted shall not be occupied outside the following times or on Public Holidays:

a) 07.00 hours to 23.00 hours Monday to Saturday and

b) 08.00 hours to 23.00 hours Sundays.  

And shall not be occupied at any time on Public Holidays.

REASON:  In the interests of the amenities of occupiers of nearby residential properties.

[Relevant Policies: BFBLP EN25]