Agenda item

To determine the application.

David Grant presented the report to members.

Members received a presentation, in accordance with the public participation procedure, from Matthew Hall, the agent. Mr Hall stated that the site was used by Fenn’s Buses for just over 40 years, there are permanent structures on site which the photos show, some of which are being utilised as part of this proposal. He continued that the applicant purchased the site approximately a year ago and at present the units on site are rented out to existing businesses.

Mr Hall made the point, as the officer has stated, this is a brownfield site and under 10.3 it states this is a material consideration that weighs positively on the proposal. He continued that directly opposite this site, to the north in 2024 planning permission was obtained under delegated powers for industrial units, with that site progressing, and this is all in Flood Zone 3 just as this site is.

Mr Hall expressed the view that there are no technical objections to this application from Lead Local Flood Authority, Highways and March Town Council and he is pleased to note that Fenland’s own Business and Economy Team support the application and state there is a significant demand for these units. He reiterated that this site is directly opposite a site under delegated powers received approval in 2024 for industrial units and within the officer report it stated on that application that the proposal was on an established site with some replacement buildings, the scope of the sequential test is agreed to be confined to this site as all of the site is in Flood Zone 3 there are no preferred areas within the site where the buildings would be set and, in his view, this site is directly opposite to the south, is also in Flood Zone 3, confirmed as brownfield, has been used by Fenn’s buses for over 40 years and is already partly developed.

Mr Hall referred to Policy LP6 and, in his opinion, the proposal would allow for employment opportunities and one key point in the officer’s report under 10.7 is that between 2012-2025 the town of March should achieve 105,000 metre squared employment area but at present it has only achieved about 51,500 metre squared of employment area, which is not even half the requirement so there is still a significant need and this application will go towards that. He referred to the site layout plan on the presentation screen, making the point that over half of the site is parking to help with the drainage and to comply with the Local Plan in terms of parking and they have used existing buildings on site that are already rented out.

Mr Hall stated that the proposal does not affect the Board’s drain, that is all to the north on the opposite side of the road and Middle Level have not objected. He showed a plan of the site highlighting that directly to the west is the Force One site where works have commenced, which was approved by members in 2021 in Flood Zone 3, beyond that is the Middle Level offices to the west which is also in Flood Zone 3, directly to the north is the site he has already referred to in Flood Zone 3 and to the east there are industrial units with businesses, Fox’s boatyard and to the north there is also further industrial businesses.

Mr Hall stated the report states it is a brownfield site, it has been used by Fenn’s Buses for over 40 years who retired and then the applicant, Mr Rutterford, brought it, it is set between industrial sites, over half the site is for parking, there are no objections to the application, there is a need for these units, which members have previously said and Fenland’s own Business Team state there is a need and on the previous application it was stated that Fenland is Open for Business.

Members asked questions of Mr Hall as follows:

·       Councillor Benney acknowledged that the site is in Flood Risk 3 but asked if there is a technical solution to stop flooding? Mr Hall responded that they submitted a Flood Risk Assessment as well as a drainage strategy and the ditch to the south is in the applicant’s ownership, he has cleaned it out and maintained it and from that ditch there is a pipe under the site within his ownership which then discharges into the Board’s drain to the north and underground attenuation tanks will be installed also so it should go in at greenfield run off rate.

·       Councillor Marks referred to the mention of footpaths and asked if there is not a walkway that comes across the A141 down Marina Drive, which is about 50 yards? Mr Hall responded that was correct, with Marina Drive being approximately 20 metres from the site.

·       Councillor Marks made the point that the site is currently in use and asked is everything being used that is able to be used? The Chairman allowed Mr Rutterford to respond. Mr Rutterford responded that they are and there is a waiting list for units.

Members made comments, asked questions and received responses as follows:

·       Councillor Benney expressed the opinion that the map tells a story as the site is surrounded by industrial units, a carpentry shop, motor mechanics, Fox’s Marina, the approved Force One site and the Middle Level Commissioner’s offices, with the industrial units approved opposite in Flood Zone 3 under officer delegation. He feels to say it is unsustainable as there is not a footpath is being out of touch with local reality as you cannot work in a rural area without a car and having a footpath is not an issue, with there being plenty of parking on site for people. Councillor Benney questioned where else industrial units can be placed, however, the application is for this site, with when he was Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth a policy being brought in to help build these type of units and the Council should be supporting businesses, with this being what is needed in Fenland, it wants to retain business as it is not just about bringing new business into the area but the fact that if there is a business that relocates outside the area people lose their jobs. He expressed the opinion that this is the right place for this proposal, it is crying out to be approved and he will be supporting the proposal.

·       Councillor Marks agreed with Councillor Benney, he deals with a number of businesses in Fenland and a lot of them want to expand into bigger units and they cannot find them, with this area becoming more and more industrial, with only a minority wanting to walk to the site. He made the point that someone is prepared to build something in Fenland and it will bring revenue in. Councillor Marks stated that he is surprised to see the application in front of committee, the Force One application took a long to time to resolve, which is next door but this is a brownfield site and has all the issues that Force One had so questioned why it is at committee. He stated that he will be supporting the application.

·       Councillor Connor expressed the view that this application should not have come before committee, it is clear the site is crying out for industrial units, the Council’s Business Team support it and Fenland is Open for Business.

Proposed by Councillor Benney, seconded by Councillor Imafidon and agreed that the application be GRANTED against officer’s recommendation, with authority delegated to officers to apply conditions.

Members do not support officer’s recommendation of refusal of planning permission as they feel that it is not a rural area but industrialised, the fact that it brings employment and prosperity outweigh any perceived detrimental harm to the character of the area, it is not an unsustainable location, there is a technical solution to overcome the fact that the site lies in Flood Zone 3 and there is a need for this type of development in Fenland.

(Councillor Benney declared that the agent has undertaken work for Chatteris Town Council and himself personally, but he is not pre-determined and will consider the application with an open mind)

(Councillor Mrs French declared that the applicant supports March Events which she is involved with and took no part in the discussion and voting thereon. She further declared, in accordance with Paragraph 14 of the Code of Conduct on Planning Matters, that she is a member of March Town Council but takes no part in planning)

(Councillor Imafidon declared that the agent is undertaking work for him, but he is not pre-determined and will consider the application with an open mind)

(Councillor Marks declared that he supplies forklifts to and obtains parts from one of the tenants on the site, but he is not pre-determined and will consider the application with an open mind)

(Councillor Gerstner left the meeting following this item and was absent for the remaining agenda items)