Decision details

The Committee considered a retrospective application that had been submitted for siting an InPost Parcel Locker at Unit 5, Ankerbold Road, Old Tupton, Chesterfield. The application had been referred to Committee by Local Ward Member, Councillor D Hancock, on the basis of highway safety concerns. An update report had been circulated which set out late representations regarding the application.

The recommendation by officers was to approve the application. The report to Committee explained the reasons for this.

The report contended the parcel locker would represent an acceptable visual addition to the area. Officers accepted that the proposed development would result in increased levels of activity within the vicinity of the site, such activity would not result in any significant harm to the existing residential amenity levels of

properties in the locality. Officers also suggested that development would not result in any unacceptable impact on highway safety in the vicinity, in line with the consultation response from DCC Highways Officers.

Officers concluded that the proposal represented an acceptable form of development within the defined Settlement Development Limits of Tupton. They recommended, therefore, that the application be approved subject to conditions.

Before the Committee considered the application it heard from Local Ward Member, Councillor David Hancock, and objectors Jeffrey Fagan and Norman Hill.

Committee considered the application. It took into account the relevant Local and National Planning Policies. These included Local Plan Policy ID3, concerning sustainable travel, and National Planning Policy Framework paragraph 116, concerning impact on highway safety.

Committee discussed the application. Some Members suggested that a need for a parcel locker in this location was lacking, and that it was having an unacceptable impact on local amenity. Some Members felt that more evidence was needed on the impact on highway safety in order to consider the application properly. In this context, it was suggested that the application be deferred in order for more evidence to be collected and a Traffic Impact assessment to be conducted. Committee discussed the likelihood of the parcel locker being the root cause of highway safety concerns in the vicinity. It was suggested that this uncertainty supported the proposition of allowing more time to gather evidence.

At the conclusion of the discussion Councillor M Foster and Councillor H Liggett moved and seconded a Motion to defer the application until a traffic impact assessment had been completed by the applicant. The Motion was put to a vote and approved.

RESOLVED – That the application be deferred and the applicant be requested to complete and submit a traffic impact assessment.