We are pleased to report that Kennedy Wilson’s planning application for employment use on land at Summit Avenue in Farnborough was granted consent last week by Rushmoor Borough Council. The development proposals comprise the demolition of three existing office buildings to provide a single industrial unit with 146,300sqft (13,592sqm) GFA. A flexible Class E (G)(iii) / B2 / B8 use with 24hour operation was granted. There were a number of challenges to overcome associated with the HGV generation of the 24 hour operation and the parking provision. HTC’s masterplan is below.
We are pleased to report the final hurdle having been crossed in gaining consent for a large industrial project at Padge Hall Farm, south of the A5 at Hinckley and east of The Long Shoot in Nuneaton. Mountpark submitted a hybrid application seeking outline consent for 1.4 million sqft of B2/B8 floorspace, plus detailed consent for Unit 1, that will provide 600,000sqft to be used by logistics company Syncreon. The cross boundary application, ably marshalled by Oxalis Planning, has been granted consent by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, Rugby Borough Council, and Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council.
All our services were involved. The Transport Planning team undertook strategic traffic modelling, detailed modelling of 15 study area junctions, and micro simulation modelling of the A5 corridor, in order to gain no objections from National Highways, Warwickshire County Council, and Leicestershire County Council. The proposals include a new access on the A5, a scheme of mitigation works to the A5/A47 Dodwells Roundabout, pedestrian and cycle measures along the A5, and enhancements to the local bus service. A key feature of the proposals is the lowering of the A5 carriageway under the railway bridge on the eastern boundary of the site – the most bashed bridge in the UK. Each strike is estimated to cost the local economy about £20m, often resulting in the closure of the A5, leading to significant delay and congestion on the surrounding roads. Our Infrastructure Design team demonstrated a scheme is deliverable, and our Water Management team gained acceptance that the works can be appropriately drained, with National Highways concluding that the works would provide “substantial betterment to the operation of the existing A5”. We now look forward to the detailed design phase of the project. DFC Architecture’s illustrative masterplan below.
We are pleased to report that Bowbridge Homes’ appeal against refusal of their application has been allowed. Ably marshalled through the process by nineteen47, who led on planning and layout design, the Public Inquiry took place in March. Unusually, Charnwood Borough Council withdraw its reasons for refusal following cross-examination by Bowbridge’s Counsel, Isabella Tafur of Francis Taylor Building. Landscape evidence was provided by Influence Landscape Planning and Design, and ecology evidence was provided by RammSanderson Ecology Ltd. Highways was not a reason for refusal, despite considerable local opposition. A small but challenging site given the topography.
Thanks to Mountpark for hosting us at their annual charity football match last night at QPR’s grounds in London, raising funds for Variety, Combat Stress, and Young Lives vs Cancer. We thoroughly enjoyed an excellent evening.
We were pleased to receive confirmation that the non-material amendment to the DCO for Northampton Gateway SRFI has been granted by the Secretary of State for Transport. The amendment allows occupation of some of the warehousing ahead of the rail connection being in place. Segro have constructed the rail terminal, but they require Network Rail to provide the rail connection which is the cause for the delay and hence the need for the amendment to the DCO. The amendment was controversial locally, due to misplaced concerns over increased traffic, and we were involved in responding to local concerns, and securing agreement from National Highways that the amendment would not lead to an increase in traffic (as the rail terminal is a traffic generator in its own right). SEGRO’s CGI of how the site will look is shown below.
Last night we enjoyed a few drinks and three escape rooms. Post match analysis showed a healthy competitive streak over who had the fastest time, or the easiest room.
The Perkins family own Perkins Bar & Bistro on the site of the former Plumtree railway station. The family submitted an application to expand their operations on the same site, adding additional overnight guest accommodation, a dedicated ceremony hall, and a small rear extension to the existing restaurant. Those proposals have been granted consent by Rushcliffe Borough Council. Our Transport Statement supported the application, with the trickiest part being the assessment of car parking demands given the different uses. We surveyed the existing demand and forecast the potential demand, for various different time periods throughout the week, to ensure sufficient spaces could be provided within the site. Design Haus Architecture’s drawing showing the proposed northern elevation of the restaurant extension is shown below.
We are pleased to report North West Leicestershire District Council’s resolution to grant consent to Harworth Group’s hybrid application known as Bardon Hill West. The application sought full consent for five employment units totalling 2,719sqm for light industry, general industry, and/or storage/distribution use. Outline consent was sought for 4,000sqm of the same uses on the remainder of the site. There were a number of engineering challenges posed by the relatively small sloping site. We carried out extensive ground modelling to understand the earthworks and assist the masterplanning. That overlapped with the drainage strategy set out in our Flood Risk Assessment. The design and assessment of the access addressed interactions with the adjacent level crossing, including discussions with Network Rail and Leicestershire County Council to agree mitigation measures. MDG’s masterplan below.
