Agenda and minutes

Councillor Richard Eddy welcomed all parties to the meeting and gave guidance on the use of the building together with the emergency evacuation procedure.

The Committee noted apologies from Cllr Goggin (substituted by Cllr Bennett) and Cllr Pearce (substituted by Cllr Jackson).

To note any interests relevant to the consideration of items on the agenda.

Please note that any declarations of interest made at the meeting which are not on the register of interests should be notified to the Monitoring Officer for inclusion.

There were none.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting as a correct record.

It was moved by the Chair Cllr Eddy and seconded by Cllr Fi Hance that Committee

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on the 3^rd November 2021 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To note appeals lodged, imminent public inquiries and appeals awaiting decision.

The Committee noted the details of the appeals lodged and set out in the report.

a.      Attention was drawn to the Silverthorne Lane and Clanage Road public inquiries; an outcome from the Secretary of State relating to Silverthorne Lane is expected early 2022 and for Clanage Road the decision is expected by the second week of February 2022.

To note recent enforcement notices.

Committee noted the enforcement notices set out in the report.

a.      Breach of Condition notices had been issued to two food stores who are in breach of conditions relating to the hours of delivery.

b.      Officers explained that such breaches are dealt with by the Magistrate Court should the stores fail to comply with the Notices issued.

Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this item

Any member of the public or Councillor may participate in Public Forum.  The detailed arrangements for so doing are set out in the Public Information Sheet at the back of this agenda.  Public Forum items should be emailed to democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk and please note that the following deadlines will apply in relation to this meeting:-

Questions - Written questions must be received 3 clear working days prior to the meeting.  For this meeting, this means that your question(s) must be received in this office at the latest by 5 pm on Thursday 9^th December 2021.

Petitions and Statements - Petitions and statements must be received on the working day prior to the meeting.  For this meeting this means that your submission must be received in this office at the latest by 12.00 noon on Tuesday 14^th December 2021.

Members of the public who wish to present their public forum statement, question or petition at the meeting must register their interest by giving at least two clear working days’ notice prior to the meeting by 2pm on Monday 13^th December 2021.

PLEASE NOTE THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NEW STANDING ORDERS AGREED BY BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL, YOU MUST SUBMIT EITHER A STATEMENT, PETITION OR QUESTION TO ACCOMPANY YOUR REGISTER TO SPEAK.

In accordance with previous practice adopted for people wishing to speak at Development Control Committees, please note that you may only be allowed 1 minute subject to the number of requests received for the meeting.

Members of the Committee received Public Forum statements in advance of the meeting.

The Committee considered the following Planning Application.

Officers introduced this report and made the following points during their presentation:

The application is for the demolition of existing buildings and structures including the office buildings known as, Bank of England, Bank House and Norwich Union House on Wine Street. The construction of three new office buildings for commercial, business and service use.  The ground floor for retail outlets, food and drink establishments.  Alterations and repairs to St Mary le Port Church tower and ruins and wider improvements to the public realm.  The site borders Castle Park.

The presenting officer highlighted the following:

• That the applicant had the option, through the City Centre Framework, to develop all 4 quarters of the site but have submitted plans for just 3/4 of the site; 3 buildings.
• Shared with committee a presentation with views of the development as a visual aid.
• The site is in the City and Queens Square Conservation Area
• The plans showed the proximity to Bristol Bridge.
• The report outlined in depth the issues arising from the removal of the trees on site and the proposed mitigations.
• The applicant had moved the location of Building B to preserve a higher number of trees.
• In respect of the conservation areas the report includes comments and concerns raised by Historic England.
• Officers recommend approval subject to the amendment sheet; seeking delegated authority to finalise s106 Agreement conditions.

The following clarification were given:

1. The site is allocated for mixed use within policy BCAP37, the Central Bristol Area Plan.
2. Officers assured committee that the benefits of the scheme had been carefully weighed against the harm that would be caused to heritage assets; assessed against all polices and issues arising from the wider consultation to form a balanced view on the development.
3. Committee in their questioning fully explored the issue of the loss of trees.
4. Officers confirmed that they had liaised and discussed at length with the applicant each tree on site; a detailed slide of the trees to be retained and those removed was shared with committee. The assessment carried out meant that DM17 policy had been adhered to.

e.    Regrettably trees will be lost but conditions had been imposed to protect those trees being retained during the course of construction; the development had been redesigned to move the position of building B, on High Street, to retain trees.

f.      That at this stage it was not possible to determine where the replacement trees would be located within the development, but officers were confident that this would be finalised via s106 agreement; accepted that financial contribution and replanting of new trees, would not offset the loss of senior/older trees.

g.    Funds would be available to the Area Committee CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy); Members suggested an advice note to that committee to consider investment into Castle Park.

8. The development plot is not a large area only 1.2 hectares; a difficult site that had been derelict for many years, for this reason; the proposed height of the buildings allowed the development to be commercially viable;  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

The next meeting will be held on the 2^nd February 2022 at 6pm.