Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to planning application 24/0847/FUL Land North of Lidl, Yarm Road, Stockton-on-Tees.

Planning permission was sought for the erection of a drive-thru restaurant (Class E/ Sui Generis) with associated access, servicing, car parking, hard and soft landscaping at Yarm Road in Stockton.

The application was a main town centre use and accordingly a sequential assessment had been undertaken which demonstrated that there were no suitable or available sites in the town centre or on the edge of centre, which would suit the needs of the applicant and therefore the principle of development in this location was considered acceptable.

The application had been considered in full and it was not considered that the development would result in any significant conflict with the policies of the Local Plan and there were no technical reasons why the proposed scheme was unacceptable in planning terms and would justify a refusal of the application.

The consultees that had been notified and the comments that had been received were detailed within the main report.

Neighbours were notified and the comments received were detailed within the main report.

The planning policies and material planning considerations that were relevant to the consideration of the application were contained within the main report.

The Planning Officers report concluded that it was considered that given the nature of the proposal and the business model, the proposed development satisfied the requirements of planning policy in that there were currently no sequential preferable site available and that there was no demonstrable evidence that the associated impacts would have any significant detrimental impacts on the vitality and viability of the Borough’s retail centres, in particular Stockton Town Centre. In addition, the proposal was also considered to have some social and economic benefits which weighed in its favour

In planning terms, the proposed development was considered to be acceptable in all other regards. The proposed development was therefore recommended for approval subject to those planning conditions set out within the main report.

The Principal Planning Officer informed the Committee that condition 2 and 16 had been amended since the original report.

The Applicants Agent attended the meeting and was given the opportunity to make representation. Their comments could be summarised as follows:

- The Applicant had worked closely with Council Staff to achieve a suitable proposal.

- McDonalds had carried out a consultation with residents and had agreed to reduce the proposed operating hours from 24-hours to 06:00 until 24:00 hours Monday to Sunday.

- There had been no objections from the Councils Highways, Transport and Environment Service nor from National Highways.

- The noise assessment showed negligible impact.

- There would be significant benefits in terms of job creation during construction and in the restaurant once the build was complete.

- The development was proposed on a vacant brown field site.

An Objector attended the meeting and was given the opportunity to make representation. Their comments could be summarised as follows:

- Residents received letters 3 days prior to the Planning Committee  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31