4
www.stokegiffordjournal.co.uk
t: 01454 300 400
February 2019
News
Local councillors win site inspection concession Decision on “sensitive” planning application deferred for planning committee to consider physical context of site
A
decision on whether the Willow Brook Centre will be allowed to construct two drive-through food units in the north-eastern corner of its car park, just 25m away from residential properties in Wheatfield Drive, has been deferred for at least a month. The delay, to allow time for councillors on South Gloucestershire Council’s (SGC’s) Development Management Committee to undertake a site inspection visit, was agreed after planning officers who had recommended approval were faced with a barrage of criticism from a spokesperson representing residents of nearby properties, supported by Bradley Stoke Town Council’s deputy town clerk and three South Gloucestershire councillors representing wards in Bradley
Stoke and Stoke Gifford. The controversial food units, which are anticipated to be occupied by McDonald’s and Starbucks, form phase 1 of the proposed development, for which full planning permission is being sought. The application also seeks outline permission for phases 2 and 3, which include the addition of two new units on the end of the existing retail terrace (beyond Poundstretcher) and rearrangement of the car park. Meeting in Kingswood on 24th January, the committee heard first from the developer’s agent who stressed that the council’s officers now have no objections to the scheme after minor amendments had been made to the plans and a specialist report on night time noise had been commissioned and its conclusions accepted. He
added that the new food units are essential to maintain the viability of the centre at a time of declining retail sales on the high street. The meeting then heard from a representative of the Dewfalls and Wheatfield Drive Residents Association (DAWDRA), who summarised some of the points raised in the 145 public objections lodged against the scheme, which include concerns over noise, litter, cooking smells and anti-social behaviour. The representative said her group had met with the developers, but they had shown no willingness to compromise, in particular with regard to the question of why the food units weren’t being built closer to the main buildings at the centre (and thereby much further away from residential properties).
The latter point was echoed by Cllr Sarah Pomfret (Bradley Stoke Central and Stoke Lodge) who had forced the holding of the meeting by ‘calling in’ the application. She pointed out that keeping the centre buildings away from residential properties had been a design objective of the original Willow Brook Centre masterplan. Next up was Cllr Brian Hopkinson (Bradley Stoke Central & Stoke Lodge) who pointed out that residents in Dewfalls Drive and Wheatfield Drive would also suffer through the main access road into the centre being realigned, in phase 2, to “come right up to the backs of houses”. He also questioned whether the centre needed extra retail space when it currently has vacant units and said he feared
m ve Get things moving with Ocean Bradley Stoke Book a free valuation today… Call: 01454 205 070 Mail: bradleystokesales@oceanhome.co.uk
oceanhome.co.uk
To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400