Issue - meetings

Assembly received this report introduced by the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Councillor Geddes.

Assembly agreed to approve the revised Planning Advice Note on Religious Meeting places as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

Further to Minute 39 (28 September 2010), the Cabinet Member for Regeneration presented a report on proposed amendments to the Planning Advice Note on Religious Meeting Places (PAN 4) in relation to designated industrial and employment areas within the Borough.

The Local Development Framework Steering Group undertook a review of PAN 4 last October in response to evidence of an adverse impact that proposals for new places of worship were having on rent levels for business premises in those areas, data on vacancy levels and concerns expressed by local businesses.  The Steering Group concluded that the preferred locations of Thames Road and the Rippleside Commercial Area should be removed from PAN 4 and that other uses within the Borough’s designated employment areas should not be allowed at ground floor level.  The changes to PAN 4 were supported by the Development Control Board at its meeting on 16 November 2011.

The Cabinet Member commented that the proposed changes to PAN 4 would achieve a better balance between the need for new places of worship and the protection of business and employment opportunities in the Borough.

Cabinet agreed to recommend the Assembly to adopt the revised Planning Advice Note on Religious Meeting Places (PAN 4), as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.