The report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing is enclosed.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing that related to the erection of a new Lidl foodstore (Use Class E) with associated car parking and landscaping.

This application was deferred at the meeting of the Committee held on 16 March 2023; where the Committee resolved to be ‘minded to refuse’ the proposal and requested that Officers bring a report to a future meeting to address their concerns.  which related to highways safety and specifically to traffic management and the impact that this would have on pedestrian and cycle users of the area.

In response to issues raised at the previous meeting, additional information had been submitted by the applicant in order to further address these concerns.  The Planning Officer provided a brief outline of the additional measures proposed and advise that both the Council’s Highways department and Transport for Greater Manchester were satisfied with what was now being proposed and would add an additional layer of safety for all users of the highway and footway.  On this basis, Panning Officers could not provide appropriate planning grounds for refusal.

An objector attended and addressed the Committee on the application. She raised concerns that the amendments to the highways safety had not and could not make the site suitable for a large supermarket. The proposed development was in the middle of a four school campus and would have an adverse impact on pedestrian and child safety as well as an increase in traffic within the locality.  It was felt that the updated highway safety proposals still did not mitigate the concerns already raised.  The proposed development was expected to increase traffic by up to 300 cars per hour at peak times and it was felt that the new proposals still did not address the concerns raised by the Committee when it first considered the application.

The applicant’s agent attended and addressed the Committee.  He stated that the original application had been amended following concerns raised around highways safety.  The measures now proposed were in addition to existing safety measures proposed.  The applicant was also willing to review traffic patterns in the first three months of operation by way of a condition with a view to ensure it operated in a safe and appropriate manner.  He commented that the Council’s Highways Department and Transport for Greater Manchester  were now satisfied with the additional safety proposals.  As previously presented the development would deliver a significant number of tangible benefits to the local community.

Councillor Midgley (Ward Councillor Chorlton Park) state that whilst she recognised the different views on the application from local residents, in her view the additional highways safety mitigations now addressed concerns previously raised.  If approved, she hoped the applicant would work with the local community to ensure they were responsible and responsive neighbours.

The Planning Officer reminded the Committee that the current office building on the site provided 105 car parking spaces that could be brought back into use or changed under to retail units under permitted development without the need for the proposed highway safety measures now being proposed, which was a material consideration.

The Chair invited the Committee to make comments or ask questions to the Planning Officer.

Councillor Hughes addressed the Committee.  He sought confirmation that the Council’s Highways Department were now satisfied with the safety proposals that had been put forward.

The Planning Officer confirmed that the Highways Department was satisfied with the safety measure now being proposed.

Councillor Andrews proposed a motion to approve the officer’s recommendation of Approve for the application.

Councillor S Ali seconded Councillor Andrews’s proposal.

Decision

The Committee approves the application as set out in the report.