Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Patrick Fealey, Susan Lewin and Jackson Ng.  Councillor Nic Brown attended as a substitute for Councillor Ng.

To agree the minutes of the Strategic Sites Committee meeting held on 16 February 2023.

Resolved:  The minutes of the meeting held on 16 February 2023 were agreed as an accurate record and were signed by the Chairman.

Councillor Richard Newcombe declared a non-prejudicial interest in item 4, 22/07549/FUL, as he was one of the Buckinghamshire Council representatives on the Chilterns Conservation Board (CCB) which was responsible for the management of the Chilterns areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).  Whilst the site was not in an AONB, it was in close proximity. There were no comments made by the CCB on the application and Councillor Newcombe stated that he had not been party to any discussions prior to the meeting; he was not pre-determined.

Proposal:  Creation of new film and TV studios incorporating the retention of 1 x existing sound stage, construction of further new production facilities including 7 x sound stages, 10 x workshops, 4 x production facility buildings, 1 x rehearsal building, ancillary offices, cafe and amenity space, parking, landscaping and new vehicular access off Marlow Road.

A site visit was carried out on 7 June 2022.

Speaking as the agent, Mr Oliver Bell, accompanied by Mr James Enright, the applicant.

It was proposed by Councillor Peter Cooper and seconded by Councillor Nic Brown and

Resolved: that the application be delegated and deferred to the Service Director of Planning and Environment for APPROVAL subject to:

A.      The applicant submitting a detailed junction design of the site access onto Marlow Road and a bat survey to demonstrate whether bat roosts would be affected by the junction works:

1) The accessdesign shall include:

a)      Appropriatehighway signage.

b)      Carriagewayresurfacing toinclude highfriction surfacing.

c)      Speedreducing roadmarkings.

d)      Wideningof theMarlow Roadcarriageway toinclude theprovision ofa ghost island right turn lane.

e)      Visibilitysplays

B.      The Service Director of Planning and Environment considering the results of the bat survey and whetherbats are affected. If so,to considerwhether a criminaloffence is likely tooccur and if so whether the derogation tests would be met.

C.      The Service Director of Planning and Environment to consider whether there is any conflict withpolicy DM13and DM34and ifso, whetherthe planningbalance indicatesthat permission should be granted.

Subject to points A to C being resolved to the satisfaction of the Service Director of Planning and Environment, the satisfactory completion of a legal agreement or Memorandum of Understanding (if the Council own the site at the time of completion of the agreement) to secure:

·       Atravel plan(including monitoring payments)

·       Shuttlebus provision

·       TrafficRegulation Orderspeed survey

·       Ifthe speedsurvey recommendsthat therebe achange tothe speedlimit thefunding and implementation of a Traffic Regulation Order on Marlow Road

·       Biodiversityoffsetting schemeto delivera 10% biodiversitynet gain

Or if thisis not achievedthen theapplication berefused forsuch reasonsas theService Directorof Planning and Environment considers appropriate.

And Subject to the conditions and revised conditions as set out in the report and supplementary report. These are to be formalized in consultation with the Chairman if they are to differ from those set out.

And subject to an informative being added drawing the applicant’s attention to the fact that the development should ensure that there is sufficient infrastructure in place to increase the 50 electric vehicle charging points to meet any future demand.