Agenda item

The Planning Officer delivered his report to the committee.

The Chair thanked the Planning Officer and invited Mrs. Jenny Worrell, local resident, to speak against the application.

Jenny Worrell introduced herself. She stated that she lived next to the proposed site and was raising concerns for the local area, herself and other residents to whom she had spoken.  She stated that there were seven garages currently located on the site, and the redevelopment would mean that vans and trucks would be serviced coming off the M1/M25 three hundred and sixty five days a year, twenty four hours a day, and that rapid charging stations like this were usually on commercial sites or in service stations.  She reiterated that it was  a residential area and therefore not appropriate.  Mrs. Worrell explained that rapid chargers were not designed for small vehicles.  She indicated that all the houses around there had driveways for charging their own vehicles so she disputed the claim that it was for local residents.  In particular, she was concerned about damage to property.  There was a similar development underway slightly further up the road in Sainsbury’s’ car park which had already had complaints from nearby flats in relation to the construction, noise and vibrations.  This development would place Ultra chargers two metres from her house, which also ignored the maintenance strip to allow repairs to her property.  In addition to this, they would suffer a loss of privacy and have increased noise pollution.  She finished by citing the fire risk, and referenced the recent large fire at Luton Airport with explosions and toxic fumes being common with fires relating to electric vehicles. 

The Chair thanked the resident; he asked officers if there would be any option for the hours to be limited.

The Development Management Manager stated that given the nature of use this would be very difficult to enforce.

The Chair thanked the Development Management Manager, and invited Mr. Andrew Ryley to speak in favour of the application and requested he respond to the points raised by the residents.

Mr. Andrew Ryley introduced himself and the development company; Leap 24.  He stated that they had previously constructed 20 rapid charging stations across the Netherlands and Germany and that they were currently developing others in the UK.  He indicated that these were vital to create a greener future, which was essential to the central government’s strategy; Watford was currently in the bottom 20% of authorities to achieve this.  He stated that it would cater for a range of vehicles, including cars, vans and small trucks and that the proposal was aligned with the council’s green and sustainability policies.  Mr. Ryley also discussed a number of the issues raised by the resident, insisting that it was a suitable site and that this had been agreed with the planning officer.  Furthermore, the noise would be low as confirmed by the Environmental Health Officer.  He also stated that in relation to the objection there would be higher fences, and confirmed the opening hours at the Chair’s request. 

Chair thanked Mr. Ryley and invited the committee to comment.

There was discussion around imposing weight restrictions but it was clarified by the Development Management Lead that this would not meet the criteria for being reasonable or enforceable; however, the geography of the site would restrict vehicle size.

There was also discussion around how the site would be located by drivers; it was clarified that this would be done via an App on their phones.

There was a discussion around the aesthetics of the development.  It was suggested that a condition could be added in relation to the front boundary wall.

The Development Management Lead proposed an additional Condition 6 to the conditions. 

The Chair moved for the committee to vote on the officer’s recommendation, with the additional condition, that planning permission be granted.

On being put to the committee, the application was granted.

RESOLVED –

That planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

1. The development to which this permission relates shall be begun within a period of three years commencing on the date of this permission.

2. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the following drawings, unless otherwise approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority:

Drawing nos. 45396-001revA2, 45396-002revA1, 45396-003revA1, 45396-006revA1, 45396-GA-LV01-LVrevA1, 45396-GA-PE02revA2, 45396-GA-SUB01revA2, R01-AEG-883 St Albans Road Watford Transport Note 230829, Noise Impact Assessment

3. No development shall commence until a Construction Management Plan (or Construction Method Statement) has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Thereafter the construction of the development shall only be carried out in accordance with the approved Plan: The Construction Management Plan / Statement shall include details of:

a) Construction vehicle numbers, type, routing;

b) Access arrangements to the site;

c) Traffic management requirements

d) Construction and storage compounds (including areas designated for car parking, loading/unloading and turning areas);

e) Timing of construction activities (including delivery times and removal of waste) and to avoid school pick up/drop off times;

f) Provision of sufficient on-site parking prior to commencement of construction activities;

4. Prior to the first use of the development hereby approved, a 3m high close   boarded wooden fence shall be constructed along the northern and western boundaries of the site as shown and detailed in the approved drawings. The fence shall be retained at all times.

5. Prior to the first occupation of the development hereby approved, the approved substation shall be mounted on anti-vibration mounts which shall be retained at all times.

6. Prior to the first use of the development hereby approved, a detailed scheme for hard and soft landscaping for the site, including full details of a front boundary treatment, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The approved hard landscaping shall be carried out prior to the first use of the development. The approved soft landscaping scheme shall be carried out not later than the first available planting and seeding season after completion of development. Any trees or plants whether new or existing which within a period of five years die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species, or in accordance with details approved by the Local Planning Authority.