Issue - meetings

Proposed development

Erection of educational and office buildings, ancillary residential accommodation and mosque following demolition of existing buildings; provision of improved landscaping and drainage system (as amended by plans received 05/03/2015 and amplified by plans and emails received 26/02/2015, 05/02/2015 and 18/03/2015) at Islamabad, Sheephatch Lane, Tilford.

Recommendation

That, subject to the completion of a S106 agreement to limit the number of permanent residential units and number of visitors to the site (to include an event management strategy) and to secure the community use of the assembly hall within 3 months of the date of the meeting, and subject to consideration of the views of outstanding consultees and any further representations received, and subject to conditions, permission be GRANTED.

Proposed development

Erection of educational and office buildings, ancillary residential accommodation and mosque following demolition of existing buildings; provision of improved landscaping and drainage system (as amended by plans received 05/03/2015 and amplified by plans and emails received 26/02/2015, 05/02/2015 and 18/03/2015) at  Islamabad, Sheephatch Lane,  Tilford GU10 2AQ

The Chairman introduced the Officers present and referred Members to the proposed order of business for the meeting.

With reference to the report circulated with the agenda, officers presented a summary of the planning history of the site, and the current plans and proposals. Officers showed pictures of the site and plans for the application.

Officers outlined the matters of principle/technical judgement and those matters of judgement and advised members of information received following the agenda being published and detailed in the update sheet. This included an update to Members advising them that the proposal constituted inappropriate development in the Green Belt and would, therefore, if Members were minded to grant permission, the application would need to be referred to the Secretary of State. The update sheet also referred to additional comments from the applicant, a response from the Highways Authority and 2 additional letters of object and 1 of support but these did not raise any new material considerations.

Officers advised the Committee that the application would represent the redevelopment of an existing site where the existing buildings had come to the end of their useful life and did not adequately serve the needs of the community living on the site. Although the proposals were materially larger than the existing buildings, is was considered that there were very special circumstances in this instance to justify setting aside the policies of restraint, namely the benefits which would arise from the improved facilities for the regional religious centre. Officers concluded that the harm to the Green Belt by way of inappropriate development would be demonstrably and significantly outweighed by the benefits of the scheme and that permission should be granted.

Following the officers presentation and before the Committee debated the application, in accordance with the guidance for public participation at meetings, each party was given the opportunity to speak for up to 5 minutes. The following people spoke to the application:

Miss Dadak - Objector

Cllr Refl – Tilford Parish Council

Mr Tickle - Applicant/Agent

Cllr Stella Anderson-Payne also spoke to the Committee as Ward Councillor and had up to 4mins.

Having heard the officers’ presentation as well as the representations from the objectors, the Parish Council and the agent, Members were invited to ask any further questions or to seek clarification on areas of concern from the officers.

The Committee considered the points raised by the Parish Council and noted concerns about the public address system, lighting on the site and the noise of wind turbines. Therefore, it was agreed, that if the proposal was past then conditions should be strengthened or added to so that these issues were addressed. The Agent concurred in support of these additions when speaking to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68