Agenda item

PS 17/01123/OUT Beaufort Park, South Road, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 3GD

Outline application (including details of access) for demolition of existing office building ('Beaufort Park') and redevelopment of site for up to 68 dwellings, with associated parking, landscaping, highway improvements and ancillary works, accessed from South Road.

Minutes:

Outline application (including details of access) for demolition of existing office building ('Beaufort Park') and redevelopment of site for up to 68 dwellings, with associated parking, landscaping, highway improvements and ancillary works, accessed from South Road.

 

The Committee noted:

 

  • The supplementary report of the Head of Planning tabled at the meeting.
  • The comments of Bracknell Town Council, raising no objection to the initial outline application. 
  • Fifty representations received from local residents, as summarised in the Agenda papers.
  • One comment in support of the application.

 

The criteria for public speaking had been met in respect of this application and the

Committee was addressed by the registered speaker Julia Evans, BSRIA objecting to

the application and Karen Charles for the applicant.

 

A motion to approve the recommendation in the officer report was put to the vote and

was LOST.

 

Members raised concerns that development on this site would diminish the gap between Crowthorne and Bracknell. There were also concerns that the site was not included in plans for developer housing. Members also made reference to paragraph 10.3 of the officer report, which stated that the site was directly contrary to Policy CS9 of the CSDPD, Police EN8 and Policy H5 of the BFBLP as it was located outside the defined settlement boundary.

 

An alternative motion to refuse the application was proposed and seconded and on

being put to the vote was CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED that application 17/01123/OUT be REFUSED for the following reason:

 

1. The site is located outside the defined settlement boundary and as such is directly contrary to Policy CS9 of the CSDPD, Policy EN8 and Policy H5 of the BFBLP. All of these policies restrict the development of residential dwellings in the countryside, seeking to protect the countryside for its own sake, unless specific criteria are met. The proposal does not comply with the stated criteria.

 

2. The occupants of the development would put extra pressure on the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area and the proposal would not satisfactorily mitigate its impacts in this respect.  In the absence of a planning obligation to secure suitable avoidance and mitigation measures and access management monitoring arrangements, in terms that are satisfactory to the Local Planning Authority, the proposal would be contrary to Policy NRM6 of the South East Plan, Policy EN3 of the Bracknell Forest Borough Local Plan, Policy CS14 of the Core Strategy Development Plan Document and the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area Supplementary Planning Document (2018).

 

3.  In the absence of a planning obligation to secure affordable housing, Travel Packs, highways scheme to show what roads would be adopted and to secure adoption for those roads, provisions for Management Company to maintain and manage private road and financial contributions towards Education in terms that are satisfactory to the Local Planning Authority, the proposal is contrary to Policy H8 of the Bracknell Forest Borough Local Plan, Policies CS16 and CS17 of the Core Strategy Development Plan Document, the Planning Obligations SPD and the resolution on affordable housing made by BFC Executive on 29 March 2011.

Supporting documents:

 

Contact Information

Democratic services

Email: committee@bracknell-forest.gov.uk