Purpose

To approve an amendment to the SVEZ Local
Development Order (LDO), which includes updated proposals for the
Thicket Mead roundabout and A362 works next to Sunnyside, as well
as amended wording of condition 12 of the LDO, to allow for the
submission and approval of final technical highway plans.

Decision

(1) 
To adopt an amendment to the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone (SVEZ)
Local Development Order (LDO) recommended by the Local Planning
Authority, to meet the aims of policy SSV9 of the Local Plan, and
to ensure compliance with relevant highway standards and guidance.
The LDO amendment relates to condition 5 (supporting documents) and
condition 12 (highway approved plans). It is proposed to adopt
revised plans for the Thicket Mead roundabout and A362 works
adjacent to Sunnyside. A minor revision to the LDO boundary for the
off-site highways works at Sunnyside is proposed. The wording of
condition 12 is proposed to be amended to remove its status as a
‘fixed compliance’ condition.
 
(2) 
To delegate to the Director of Capital & Housing Delivery, in
consultation with the Cabinet Member for Economic and Cultural
Sustainable Development, the authority to adopt future amendments
to the LDO as approved under Decision E3486. Such amendments shall
be limited to those within the remit of section 96A and 73 of the
Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Reasons for the decision

An amendment to the LDO is required
to adopt revised plans for the Thicket Mead roundabout. The revised
design includes a more conventional layout and geometric shape to
the roundabout. This change would not have a material impact on the
traffic movements when compared to the approved roundabout
design.
 
The amendment also seeks to adopt
revised plans for the A362 works adjacent to Sunnyside. The revised
design comprises a revision from a 2m footpath on the northern side
of the carriage way, to a 3.5m shared use path. This facilitates
greater connectivity with the Somer Valley Links (SVL) project.
 
A minor revision to the LDO boundary
for the off-site highways works at Sunnyside is proposed. This is
to resolve the highway alignment to meet the highway standards. To
the west, the junction with Paulton Road is now to be excluded and
to the east, the redline boundary is to be extended c. 30m to
capture the tie-in works with the SVL project.
 
It is proposed that the wording of
condition 12 be amended to remove its status as a ‘fixed
compliance’ condition. This change will allow the LPA to
approve any future modifications to the submitted highway general
arrangement plans that may arise during the technical design and
approval process.
 
These changes reflect the ongoing
detailed design work and thus assist with the delivery of the
scheme. There will be no change to the mix of uses, the quantum of
development or the boundary of the LDO development site itself.
Development on site will continue to be determined by a Design Code
that specifies the amount of development that can take place on
each plot as well as the characteristics of any buildings,
landscaping and parking.

Alternative options considered

Do nothing – do not adopt the LDO
amendment. However, this would mean that the highways layout could
not be improved in the manner described.