Agenda item

Demolition of the existing Woodhouse Close Leisure Complex and Library and erection of a replacement Leisure and Community Centre and associated car parking and landscaping (amended description).

The committee considered a report of the Senior Planning Officer for the demolition of the existing Woodhouse Close Leisure Complex and Library and erection of a replacement Leisure and Community Centre and associated car parking and landscaping (amended description) (for copy see file of Minutes).

J Burnett, Senior Planning Officer gave a detailed presentation that included aerial photographs that showed the library and car parking area and where it lay on the land, existing Leisure Centre site photographs, the proposed layout, elevation photographs and visualisation photographs.  A site visit had taken place prior to the committee meeting.  The Senior Planning Officer highlighted that the car parking at the west of the site would be expanded to accommodate parking for both bicycles and cars.  He referred that the demolition would be in a phased approach to allow business continuity of the facilities.  There were no objections through the consultee process and the application had received support from Bishop Auckland Town Council.

Councillor C Hunt addressed the Committee on behalf of both herself and Councillor J Howey as local councillors in support of the application.  They believed that Woodhouse Close Leisure Centre was the hub of the community and was vital to the health and wellbeing of residents in Woodhouse Close and Bishop Auckland many of whom did not have their own transport.  It was well established and provided for everyone from children to the elderly.  It was also used by schools outside Bishop Auckland such as Crook who no longer had their own swimming facilities, giving children vital swimming lessons not only for their pleasure but also for their safety.  The new leisure centre would provide a space for people to meet and tackle issues such as loneliness and isolation along with great facilities for disabilities and rehabilitation not to mention the jobs it would save and the new jobs it would create.  For these reasons they wholeheartedly supported the proposal and urged members to agree with the officer’s recommendations to approve the application.

C Scott, Agent addressed the committee on behalf of the applicant in support of the application.  She thanked the Senior Planning Officer for providing a detailed committee report and presentation.  She expressed there was a need for a new facility as the existing building was over 50 years old and was out of date.  There would be a significant amount of work and expense to bring the existing building up to standard.  Staff would be retained and further jobs would be created.  She stressed that the development would take a phased approached to ensure the continuity of service for the community. 

There were no objectors registered to speak against the application and as there were no questions for the registered speakers the Chair opened up the Committee to debate on the application.

Councillor J Atkinson knew the building as it had been there for a long time and was not surprised that the building had come to the end of its life.  He noted that everyone enjoyed using the facility even though it was outdated.  The community supported the application and as such he moved that the application be approved. 

Councillor E Adam agreed with Councillor J Atkinson and seconded the application to be approved but was concerned with the phased approach and asked if the library would still function in a different location for residents to access whilst the works were undertaken.  After attending the site visit he was worried about the telephone wires on the site that were connected to residents properties.  He had not seen any recommendations for these in the development plan. 

The Senior Planning Officer replied that the library would be relocated to the leisure centre until the new library opened.  The storage of books that could not be accommodated would be taken to other libraries and brought back again once the new library was up and running in the new build.  He stated that the overhead wires would not be affected at all by the construction.

Councillor E Adam was happy with the library response but asked for further clarity on the overhead wires and wanted reassurances that they would not be affected as he had noticed a telegraph pole directly outside the library.  He wanted to know if there were any alternative plans to deal with these.

The Senior Planning Officer could not offer any further explanation.  C Scott reiterated that she had been advised that the overhead wires would be unaffected by the development.

Councillor G Richardson informed the committee that he also knew the building well and had often taken his daughters there for swimming.  He noted that at events the venue was extremely hot and expressed his delight at the proposal going forward.  Councillor Richardson considered that the development had missed a trick to supply a 50 metre Olympic sized swimming pool within the design which potentially could have fit nicely in the centre of the building.  However, he was fully supportive of the application.

Councillor A Savory had not been on the site visit and relied on the recommendations of those who had taken part and therefore was fully supportive of the application.

Councillor N Jones informed the committee that he had learned to swim at the complex.  He thought the application was a marvellous proposal and was fully supportive of the application.

Upon a vote being take it was unanimously:

Resolved

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