Agenda item

Demolition of 582 sq.m (GIA) storage building (B8 Use Class) and erection of 50,445 sq.m (GIA) of research and development accommodation (B1(b) Use Class), including ancillary accommodation and broken down as follows: (i) Office accommodation (9,503 sq.m); (ii) Wafer fabrication (FAB) cleanroom (22,351 sq.m); (iii) Single level basement incorporating 284 no. car parking spaces (9,417 sq.m); (iv) Central Utilities Building (8,694 sq.m); (v) External storage building (480 sq.m); (vi) Cycle parking spaces (80 for staff and 6 for visitors, total 86); (vii) Surface, disabled and visitor car parking (16 spaces) adjacent to the office building entrance; (viii) Access and circulation roads, engineering works and footpaths / cycleways; (ix) Drainage and servicing infrastructure; and (x) Hard and soft landscaping.

Councillor Deborah Roberts proposed deferral on the grounds that the application was premature, would impact adversely on water supply, and should form part of a Masterplan. This proposal was seconded by Councillor Heather Williams and, upon a roll call being conducted, was lost by eight votes to three. Councillors Roberts, Heather Williams aand Richard Williams voted for deferral. Councillors John Batchelor, Bradnam, Daunton, Fane, Heylings, Rippeth and Wright voted against deferral.

Upon a second roll call being conducted, and by nine votes to one, the Committee approved the application subject to

1.    The prior completion of a Legal Agreement under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 securing mitigation measures relating to

a.    Transport

b.    Landscape and ecology

c.     Archaeology

d.    Section 106 monitoring fees

as referred to in more detail in paragraph 195 of the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development;

2.    The Conditions and Informatives set out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development including specific additional wording to condition 6 to require consultation with Natural England, and additional wording to condition 25 to include mention of re-use and recycling.

(Councillors Bradnam, Daunton, Fane, Heylings, Milnes, Rippeth, Heather Williams, Richard Williams and Wright voted to approve the application. Councillor Roberts voted to refuse it. Councillor John Batchelor had missed several elements of the debate due to technical issues. Having taken advice from the Senior Planning Lawyer, Councillor Batchelor did not vote.)

The Delivery Manager (Strategic Sites) acknowledged that this application had attracted a lot of local, national, and international interest recently, mainly for security reasons. He reminded Members that their responsibility as a Planning Committee was to restrict themselves to matters of a planning land use nature and material considerations arising therefrom, and to disregard the identity of the applicant, which was not material. He also reminded Members to base their comments on the Development Plan, South Cambridgeshire Local Plan and National Planning Policy Framework.

Henk Koopmans (Chief Executive Officer, Huawei) and Councillor Barbara Kettel (Stapleford Parish Council) addressed the meeting.

Members focussed their debate on

·       Water supply issues, including potential impact on the water table

·       Landscaping and design

·       Concern about the apparent lack of cycling connectivity with nearby villages, although officers explained that current proposals were proportionate to the application being considered, and that further opportunities would arise in future as the site was developed

·       Biodiversity issues that had been addressed by statutory consultees

·       Clarification that the proposal site was not in the Green Belt

·       Prematurity

·       The need for a Masterplan

·       Issues surrounding ‘high end’ employment, housing, and sustainable transport

Councillor Deborah Roberts proposed deferral on the grounds that the application was premature, would impact adversely on water supply, and should form part of a Masterplan. This proposal was seconded by Councillor Heather Williams and, upon a roll call being conducted, was lost by eight votes to three. Councillors Roberts, Heather Williams and Richard Williams voted for deferral. Councillors John Batchelor, Bradnam, Daunton, Fane, Heylings, Milnes, Rippeth and Wright voted against deferral.

Following further debate, including discussion about Conditions and a Travel Plan, the Chair welcomed the application as an excellent use of a brownfield site that complied fully with the Local Plan, and delivered several benefits for the local area.

Upon a roll call being conducted as to the substantive motion, and by nine votes to one, the Committee approved the application subject to

1.    The prior completion of a Legal Agreement under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 securing mitigation measures relating to

a.    Transport

b.    Landscape and ecology

c.     Archaeology

d.    Section 106 monitoring fees

as referred to in more detail in paragraph 195 of the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development;

2.     The Conditions and Informatives set out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development including specific additional Condition regarding the permission time limit, additional wording to Condition 6 to require consultation with Natural England, and additional wording to Condition 25 to include mention of re-use and recycling of water, such additional wording to be agreed by officers in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee.

(Councillors Bradnam, Daunton, Fane, Heylings, Milnes, Rippeth, Heather Williams, Richard Williams and Wright voted to approve the application. Councillor Roberts voted to refuse it. Councillor John Batchelor had missed several elements of the debate due to technical issues. Having taken advice from the Senior Planning Lawyer, Councillor Batchelor did not vote.)