Neighbourhood Forum

4 January 2022

Representation to Planning Committee, Planning Application PL/2021/01000/MINFOT

2 Station Approach, Dorridge, B93 8JF

On 23 December, we were made aware that Council papers published for a Planning Committee meeting on 5 January 2022 included 34 pages relating to this case, with a recommendation to approve. Our urgent request to the Council to delay given Christmas and New Year holidays was refused; we were informed that representations must be in by noon on 4 January.  We did respond by the deadline, at significant cost to holiday time.  Also, given more time, we would have wished to clarify certain points, and in particular give transparency to the many comments and emails the Forum has received supporting the objection.  

 

On 5 January, the majority of Planning Committee Members (but not all) voted to approve the application  (on-line proceedings here, starting at 11:15 minutes). From the proceedings we note:

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• the Agent’s statement that in hindsight “the applicant deeply regrets not having completed the development in accordance with the 2017 approved plans”

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• the Chair of the Planning Committee’s summing up comments that ‘the way this has been handled by the applicant over the years has caused a great deal of angst’ and that he ‘must adhere to what is approved and not go off at a tangent to do your own thing.’

 

The development must conform with the terms and approved plans and be implemented within 4 months. The Council has also advised us that “We are keeping the Planning Enforcement case open until the requirements of the conditions have been met, and will carry out visits to ensure that they are.”

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17 December 2021

Response to Planning Application PL/2021/01000/MINFOT

2 Station Approach, Dorridge, B93 8JF

Further to our 10 May 2021 response, on 10 December we received notification of final consultation from the Council, with a shortened timeframe to respond by 20 December.  

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10 May 2021

Response to Planning Application PL/2021/01000/MINFOT

2 Station Approach, Dorridge, B93 8JF     (see also related APP/Q4625/C/19/3223403 below)

Construction of timber framed single storey extensions plus first floor extension, cladding of structure, forming of new timber fencing to boundary, alterations to fenestration, erection of railings, change of use to drinking establishment with extended food provision (Sui Generis). Partly retrospective.

 

7 October 2020

Planning Inspector Decision: Appeal Ref: APPP/Q4625/C/19/3223403 Dismissed

2 Station Approach, Dorridge

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28 October 2020

We are aware of recent posts on the Skogen website.  The Forum refutes the allegations made, both about it and against our Chairperson.

 

For transparency, we post all our planning application responses to the Council on this webpage.  Through the links above you can read:  the Forum's position regarding objections to the Planning Inspector, noting in particular the 'General Context' section;  the Council's Statement of Case;  and the Planning Inspector's full report.  
 

For clarification, we re-state here a short extract from our response: 
 

"In shaping our response to this Appeal, the NF firstly wants to make is absolutely clear that it is not against Skogen as a business. There is no intent or campaign to close it down: on the contrary, the NF would see it as an asset, if brought in line with the approved plans. Since the NP in principle supports appropriately designed new developments and welcomes the economic benefits such schemes can bring, the NF very much regrets the course of events leading to the current situation”.

 

"The NF cannot accept or condone: disregard of the planning permission (PL/2017/00988/COU); failure to adhere to the approved plans and conditions; the built scheme contravening important policies both in the KDBH NP and SMBC’s Local Plan."
 

It is worth noting also that:

 

• the public appeal hearing scheduled for March was cancelled due to Covid-19

• the Planning Inspectorate is entirely independent and reaches its own conclusions having all the evidence before it.

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With the Council’s Local Plan proposals for large scale development in our Area about to ‘hit the road’, this decision will hopefully reduce instances of planning permission being granted for one thing, then being built differently in the expectation that a retrospective planning application will be 'nodded through'.

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23 December 2019

Response to Planning Appeal Ref: APPP/Q4625/C/19/3223403

Re Planning Application Ref: PL/2017/00988/COU

Location: 2 Station Approach, Dorridge

Solihull's Statement of Case of the Local Planning Authority

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5 November 2021

Appeal Ref: APP/Q4625/W/21/3273047 (Apple Green) linked to APP/Q4625/W/21/3275290 (Extra)

Motorway Services Station (MSA), M42, Junction 4 (Dorridge)

The promoters for both schemes (the other being Catherine de Barnes) have appealed the Planning Committee's decision to refuse both proposals. The Independent Inspector’s inquiry ran from 12 October - 5 November 2021, with proceedings live-streamed on the Council’s YouTube channel.  Link to the final day of the inquiry.  You can get a sense of how things went by going to the closing statements from all parties. The Council’s 40 minute closing submission, starting at 52:50 minutes, clearly sets out why both proposals must be rejected as ‘wholly unacceptable’. We await news on a final decision. 

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9 October 2020

Planning Application PL/2016/02754/MAJFOT

Motorway Service Station at Junction 4 of M42 (off Gate Lane, Dorridge)

Applegreen has submitted a further, updated planning application, full details of which can be read on the Council's website Here (There is so much information that it may be slow to load).

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Having again reviewed the details, the Forum has restated its strong objection in our response Here

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Dorridge Ward Councillor Ken Meeson's objection Here

 

The Forum's response to the original planning application on 22/11/2016 is Here