Agenda item

Demolition of former Co-Op building & erection of 9 no. residential units.

The Committee considered a report of the Planning Officer regarding the demolition of the former Co-Op buildings and erection of 9 no. residential units at the Ex Co-Op Building, Station Lane, Wingate, TS28 5DG (for copy see file of Minutes).

The Principal Planning Officer gave a detailed presentation on the application which included photographs of the site.  Members of the Committee had visited the site earlier in the day and were familiar with the location and setting. Members were advised that a late representation had been received from local member, Councillor A Cox. Councillor Cox had no objection to the application and reported that he had discussed the matter with Hutton Henry Parish Council and local Members, who all shared his views.

Councillor Cox stated that the main concerns were that the bollards which were currently in place preventing access to Church Street from the ex Co-Op should remain in situ. He also hoped that the demolition and erections were completed with the minimum of disruption to residents and that all work was undertaken during reasonable hours.

The Principal Planning Officer advised the Committee that there was no intention to remove the bollards referred to in the statement by Councillor Cox, and the application made no reference at all to those bollards.

He went on to advise that the report had not fully addressed the potential for protected species to be affected by the demolition of the building.  He clarified that officers had correctly applied the necessary derogation tests identified in legislation, considering whether there was any satisfactory alternative, whether the level of affected species would be maintained and whether there were other reasons of over-riding public interest.  He indicated that a condition requiring compliance with the submitted mitigation strategy, rather than an informative as had been suggested in the report, would be appropriate, and requested the committee’s agreement to this amendment to the recommendation.

It was further reported that during the site visit earlier that day, a Member of the Committee had suggested that Beamish Museum be approached to see whether they would be interested in taking any part of the building prior to demolition. The Principal Planning Officer had advised that he would be prepared to instigate discussions in that regard.

Seconded by Councillor Charlton, Councillor Blakey moved that the application be approved with the additional condition requested by the Principal Planning Officer, and requested that talks be instigated with Beamish Museum.

Resolved:

That the application be approved subject to the conditions detailed within the report as well as an additional condition requiring compliance with the submitted mitigation strategy relating to protected species.