Agenda item

Rochester South and Horsted

Construction of 4-pump, fully automated petrol filling station within the curtilage of the existing ASDA Store, involving reconfiguration of car parking bays, installation of new fuel storage tanks, associated pipework, overhead canopy, forecourt surfacing, air and water facilities, erection of CCTV and lighting columns.

Discussion:

The Planning Manager East outlined the planning application in detail.

She suggested that if the Committee was minded to approve the application, proposed conditions 3 and 5 be amended, details of which were set out on the supplementary agenda advice sheet.

In addition, she asked that the Committee grant delegated authority to the Head of Planning to add an additional condition requiring that the specification be adhered to in respect of the construction of the petrol filling station.

The Committee discussed the planning application and it was suggested that if approved proposed condition 11 be tightened to ensure that any contamination from spills be removed.

Decision:

A)   Approved with conditions 1 – 2, 4 and 6 – 10 as set out in the report for the reasons stated in the report, conditions 3, 5 and 11 amended as set out below:

3.         The use of the petrol filling station shall not commence until a scheme of landscaping (hard and soft) has been submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority.  All hard landscaping shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details prior to the opening of the Petrol Filling Station to the public and retained thereafter.  All planting, seeding and turfing shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details during the first planting season following opening of the Petrol Filling Station to the public. Any trees or plants which, within 5 years of planting are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of a similar size and species, unless the Local Planning Authority gives written consent to any variation.

Reason: To protect and enhance the appearance and character of the site and locality in accordance with Policy BNE1 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

5.         The use of the petrol filling station shall not commence until measures to maintain the flow of traffic onto and off of the site have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The site layout and access shall be completed in accordance with the approved measures prior to first use of the Petrol Filling Station and shall be retained thereafter. The details shall include the provision of "Keep Clear" markings in front of the access to the Petrol Filling Station forecourt on the northbound side of the internal access road (or alternative means, demonstrated as part of the submitted details), to ensure that vehicles queuing at the signalised junction do not block access to and from the Petrol Filling Station.

Reason: To ensure the free flow of traffic and highway safety and in accordance with Policy T1 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

11.       In the event that contamination is found at any time when carrying out the approved development that was not previously identified and/or if contamination is found during/and following any subsequent removal of the fuel storage tanks within the site, it must be reported in writing immediately to the Local Planning Authority.  An investigation and risk assessment must be undertaken in accordance with the requirements of condition 8, and where remediation is necessary a remediation scheme must be prepared in accordance with the requirements of condition 9, which is subject to the approval in writing of the Local Planning Authority.

Following completion of the measures identified in the approved remediation scheme, a verification report providing details of the data that will be collected in order to demonstrate that the works set out in condition 9 are complete and identifying any requirements for longer-term monitoring of pollutant linkages, maintenance and arrangements for contingency action must be prepared, which is subject to the approval in writing of the Local Planning Authority in accordance with condition 10.

Reason: To ensure that the development is undertaken in a manner which acknowledges interests of amenity and safety in accordance with Policy BNE23 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

B)        The Head of Planning be granted delegated authority to add a further condition 12 requiring that the specification be adhered to in respect of the construction of the petrol filling station.