The Development Control Committee of Stroud Council met on Tuesday 4 March 2025. The committee considered a hybrid planning application for the extension of Aston Down Business Park and reviewed the Q3 budget monitoring report for 2024/25.

Aston Down, Cowcombe Lane, Chalford, Gloucestershire, S.20/0716/FUL

The committee considered a hybrid planning application for the extension of Aston Down Business Park, located in Chalford, Gloucestershire. The proposal included an outline application for Zones A, D, and E, and a full application for Zones B and C, all for employment floor space within Use Classes B1, B2, and B8, along with relocated car parking.

The application was called in by the Head of Development Management due to its scale and location within the Cotswold National Landscape area. Numerous objections were raised by Minchinhampton Parish Council, citing concerns about increased traffic, highway safety, and the impact on the Cotswold National Landscape. The Cotswolds Conservation Board also objected, stating that the development would have a significant adverse effect on the purpose of the National Landscape designation and that exceptional circumstances had not been demonstrated.

Conversely, Cotswold District Council raised no objections. GCC Highways also raised no objection, subject to conditions and financial obligations, stating that the proposed development would not cause significant highway safety or network assurance issues. Natural England and the Environment Agency also raised no objections, with the latter recommending conditions.

The officer's report recommended refusal of the application. The report highlighted that the proposal constituted 'major development' within the Cotswold National Landscape and that no exceptional circumstances had been demonstrated to justify such development in this protected area. It also noted that the proposal failed to further the statutory purposes of the protected landscape, making it contrary to Policy ES7 of the Stroud District Local Plan and paragraphs 189-190 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

The committee decided that the application was For Determination.

Budget Monitoring Report Q3 2024/25

The committee received and noted the Q3 budget monitoring report for the financial year 2024/25. The report indicated a projected net revenue loss of income of £333,000 against the latest budget. This variance was primarily attributed to a significant drop in planning application fee income, forecast to reduce by £422,000 (29%) compared to the budget. This reduction was attributed to current economic uncertainty, a shortage of skilled labour, and increased costs and borrowing, leading to fewer applications being submitted. The report also mentioned a planning appeals forecast of £105,000, including costs awarded to the council in an appeal for a housing development in Kingswood. A variance in the salary budget was also noted due to vacancies within the service. The committee resolved to note the outturn forecast for the General Fund Revenue budget.