Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors S. M. Evans and J. Robinson, with Councillor R. J. Hunter in attendance as the substitute Member for Councillor J. Robinson.

To invite Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in items on the agenda, and to confirm the nature of those interests.

Councillor H.J. Jones declared an Other Disclosable Interest, in relation to Agenda Item Number 4 (Minute No 66/23) – 23/00896/FUL – Foxwalks Farm, Grafton Lane, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B61 7HB.  Stating that she was well acquainted with some of the members in the pubic gallery who were in attendance (for this item). Councillor H. J. Jones also mentioned that a family member was employed at a venue.

Councillor H. J. Jones left the meeting room for the duration of the item and took no part in the Committee’s consideration nor voting on this matter.

The Chairman announced that there was a Committee Update which had been circulated to Members prior to the meeting commencing, with a paper copy also made available to Members at the meeting.

Members indicated that they had had sufficient time to read the contents of the Committee Update and were happy to proceed.

Officers drew Members’ attention to page 8 of the Committee Update, which detailed the finalised puffin crossing maintenance contribution of £20,900.00. This figure was based on a 20-year maintenance period. The Committee Update was published on the Council’s website and distributed to all Planning Committee Members prior to the meeting commencing.

Officers presented the report and in doing so highlighted that the application was for the demolition of the existing building and the erection of a new teaching facility for Bromsgrove School together with associated car parking, landscaping, drainage, and access, at the former Altered Images site on the Worcester Road.

Officers drew Members’ attention to the presentation slides, as detailed on pages 86 to 97 of the main agenda pack.

The applicant was proposing to demolish the existing building and construct a 2.5 storey building to provide sixteen classrooms with associated ancillary rooms intended predominantly for sixth form students. The wing at the rear would serve functions such as career/university advice, and student break out space for group work.

The proposed teaching facility for Bromsgrove School would support the main senior school campus at Worcester Road. The school was planning to increase boarding accommodation on the main school campus by altering some existing teaching accommodation. Therefore, replacement teaching facilities were required.

The building had been designed to be in keeping with the Bromsgrove School campus and would be finished in red brick, with stone detailing beneath a pitched slate roof together with landscaped grounds including tree planting on the frontage to further enhance Worcester Road.

In terms of access, it was proposed to relocate the existing vehicular access and construct a new puffin crossing to safely link the existing school campus on the south-east side of Worcester Road to the site.

BDP17.1 of the District Plan referred to the Town Centre Zone as an area where significant change and conservation was needed to promote future development. All new development was required to be appropriate, in terms of scale, quantity and use, to the character and function of the Town Centre.

The former gym facilities had been closed for some time following on from a decline in gym membership and other gym facilities operating within the Town. The demolition of the building would enable the opportunity to provide a building that would add a visual enhancement to the Town including the provision of additional landscaping to soften the appearance of this part of Worcester Road.

Paragraph 131 of the NPPF (2023) stated that the creation of high quality, beautiful and sustainable buildings and places was fundamental to what the planning and development process should achieve. Good design was a key aspect of sustainable development, creating better places in which to live and work and helped make development acceptable to communities.

Officers further stated that it was considered that the scheme would not conflict with the existing retail core of the Town Centre and would support the wider enhancement of the Town Centre. The proposal would complement the linear nature  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65/23

At this stage in the meeting the Chairman left the meeting room, with the Vice-Chairman taking the Chair.

Officers drew Members’ attention to pages 3 to 8 of the Committee Update, which detailed two additional representations received from Foxwalks Solar Farm Bromsgrove Opposition Group and the officers’ responses.

The Committee Update also included an additional condition from Worcestershire County Council (WCC) Highways and National Highways, as detailed on page 7.

The Committee Update was published on the Council’s website and sent to Planning Committee Members prior to meeting commencing.

Officers introduced the report and in doing so informed the Committee that the application was for the proposed solar farm development, comprising solar arrays, equipment housing, sub-station, fencing, CCTV, ancillary equipment, landscape, and biodiversity enhancements.

Officers drew Members’ attention to the presentation slides, as detailed on pages 54 to 65 of the main agenda pack.

Officers further drew Members’ attention to the Public Rights of Way (PROW) Mitigation Plan slide, as detailed on page 58 of the main agenda pack. Further comments from Worcestershire County Council PROW were detailed on pages 16 and 17 of the main agenda pack.

The following formed part of the comments received from Worcestershire Archive and Archaeological Service, as detailed on pages 12 and 13 of the main agenda pack:-

“The proposed area of the solar farm (excluding the proposed construction compound area) is likely to have been farmland throughout the historic periods. The Heritage Desk Based Assessment submitted with application contends that the potential for below ground archaeology of prehistoric and/or Roman date is limited/low, which is considered a fair assessment given the known archaeological resource within the search area. The Geophysical Survey submitted with application detected a number of magnetic anomalies interpreted as evidence of medieval or later ridge and furrow, ponds, field boundaries, farm tracks and a 19th century outfarm. A pair of square shaped anomalies in the southern portion of Area 5 had uncertain interpretation, as did a fragmented linear anomaly within the east of Area 6. I agree that the known and potential buried archaeological resource of this part of the site (excluding the proposed construction compound area) is not anticipated to preclude development of the nature and scale proposed, but would advise that, given, the largely unknown potential for prehistoric/Roman archaeology, that a condition for further archaeological investigation be added to any grant of consent”.    

Officers referred to ‘Principle – Green Belt,’ and when considering any planning application, substantial weight was given to any harm to the Green Belt. Very special circumstances would not exist unless the potential harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness or any other harm resulting from the proposal, was clearly outweighed by other considerations as detailed on pages 32 and 33 of the main agenda pack.  Officers also referred to ‘Green Belt – Planning Balance’ as detailed on pages 35 and 36 of the main agenda pack, in that:

“It is accepted that the proposal would result in harm to the Green Belt  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66/23