Agenda item

Erection and use of a temporary warehouse building (70m x 30m) until December 2024 and three permanent welfare units.

The Committee considered a report of the Senior Planning Officer regarding the erection and use of a temporary warehouse building (70m x 30m) until December 2024 and three permanent welfare units (for copy see file of Minutes).

S Henderson, Senior Planning Officer provided a detailed presentation of the application which included a site location, aerial photographs, photographs of the site, proposed elevations and proposed welfare canteens.

Councillor Sterling thanked the Chair and members for allowing the item to be brought back to the Committee. She expressed her disappointment when the applicant did not attend the previous meeting of the Committee and hoped that the applicant would listen to the concerns raised. As Local Member for the Delves Lane division, Councillor Sterling valued Erwin Hymer as a major employer and understood their business need given the challenges over previous years but emphasised the need to be a good neighbour. Councillor Sterling explained that residents were not unreasonable. Their main issue was that the structure had been built without permission and had created significant problems, particularly relating to noise and light. Councillor Sterling believed that if the application had gone through the correct planning process from the outset, then officers would have considered the impact on residents in detail.

Councillor Sterling noted that mitigations had recently been proposed, however residents had continued to hear noise after 10.00pm and their concerns regarding lighting remained. Councillor Sterling questioned why mitigations had not been introduced earlier and queried whether the mitigation for lighting was sufficient given that residents properties were bungalows. Residents felt that their trust had been broken and were concerned that these issues would continue should the Committee approve the application. Councillor Sterling felt it was important for residents to have a named contact and telephone number at both Erwin Hymer and the Local Authority so that any future issues could be reported immediately. Whilst Councillor Sterling welcomed the mitigations that had been proposed, she emphasised how distressed residents had been and the need for them to be given re-assurance going forward.

Councillor Sterling left the Chamber.

Ms Jackson Brown, local resident, addressed the Committee in objection to the application. She stated that requesting an extension on a building where planning permission was not applied for in the first place was not right. The temporary warehouse was originally planned to be dismantled the previous year but had remained standing. Constant noise from delivery trucks was causing anxiety and had affected the wellbeing of residents. Ms Jackson Brown confirmed that she had moved into her bungalow in 2019 and work by the company at that time was between the hours of 8.00am and 5.00pm and did not occur right on her doorstep. However, over time excess traffic noise and light had become an issue, particularly noise which had been heard between the hours of 6.00am and 11.00pm. Ms Jackson Brown explained that she could withstand the temporary warehouse until 2024 but needed assurance that it would come to an end at this time, and should a new structure be required, it be situated elsewhere. She advised that young family members had been unable to sleep because of the noise and although Erwin Hymer had been behaving well recently, she expressed concern that their behaviour would revert should the application be approved. Ms Jackson Brown appreciated the needs of the business but stressed that she wanted a quiet life in peace, something that she had worked hard for. 

Mr C Short, Erwin Hymer Group addressed the Committee. He stressed his passion for residents and the North East and explained that a previous leadership team had closed down facilities in Sweden to continue business in the North East to help the local economy. He apologised on behalf of the previous leadership team and agreed that planning permission should have been sought prior to the erection of the temporary warehouse. Mr Short advised that he sought advice as soon as he was aware of this and gave his apologies on behalf of the previous leadership team for the issues that had arisen since 2019.

Mr Short advised that he had worked for the business for one year and wanted it to be an employer of choice and therefore Erwin Hymer had put in significant investment of over £15m to address the concerns that had been raised. He advised that as the Managing Director he was happy to be the named contact for residents and suggested that the Senior Planning Officer be the named contact at the Local Authority. Mr Short stressed the importance of bringing the business back to where it used to be and for this to happen there needed to be volume and that this involved materials and storage. He explained that the warehouse was needed until December 2024 at the latest and without the warehouse, the volume could not be met. Mr Short advised that Erwin Hymer Group had started production in Poland and it was important for the business to work as a team to keep the volume going and protect 600 jobs. 

The Senior Planning Officer asked Mr Short if the lighting cowls had been installed. Mr Short confirmed that small cowls around the floodlights had been erected. The Senior Planning Officer suggested it would be helpful to have a discussion to see if anything further could be done to help mitigate light spill.

The Senior Planning Officer went on to advise that the application for a temporary warehouse was until December 2024 and the Planning Team had the power to act if the warehouse was not removed by this time. The Senior Planning Officer confirmed that he would be the named contact at the Local Authority should residents have any further concerns.

Councillor Jopling appreciated the difficulties faced by business over the last few years and the need to help a large manufacturer but advised that Members must also care for the needs of residents. She urged residents to contact their local councillor should they have any future concerns and noted that Erwin Hymer Group needed to plan for the temporary warehouse coming down. Councillor Jopling moved the application to be approved in line with the officer’s recommendation. 

Councillor Earley believed there was an expectation for large businesses to be good neighbours. He felt Mr Short from Erwin Hymer Group had a good hand on the job and hoped the next application for a permanent structure would be a better solution. Councillor Earley seconded that the application be approved.

Councillor Blakey was concerned regarding the level of noise residents had experienced and asked if it was possible for this to be monitored so that it was clear where the bulk of the noise was happening. The Senior Planning Officer advised that noise levels had significantly reduced recently and was due to the new method of moving materials, which was a condition in the report. He advised that noise monitors were unnecessary and future concerns of noise could be reported to Environmental Health.

Councillor Stead stated that although the planning application was in retrospect, he felt the business was there for the community and had addressed the concerns of residents. 

Councillor Wilson felt that Erwin Hymer Group had worked well to mitigate the concerns that had been raised and noted some of these concerns related to Environmental Heath. Councillor Wilson was satisfied with the application providing that the conditions in the report mitigated the issues in relation to operation times, light and noise.

The Senior Planning Officer clarified that conditions 1 and 5 within the report referred to the temporary warehouse only.

Upon a vote being taken it was:

Resolved

That the application be APPROVED subject to the conditions listed in the report.