Contact: Ken Dudley, ext 6902

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

(i) That approval be given for the Chief Executive to conclude appropriate legal Agreements with J Sainsbury Developments Limited in relation to the implementation, at no cost to the County Council, of changes to the Solartron Road/Invincible Road roundabout, changes to the access road junction with Victoria Road and to the making of a financial contribution of £325,000 towards the implementation of the North East Hampshire Transport Strategy.

(ii) That, subject to the completion of these Agreements, there is no objection to the proposal for the erection of a retail foodstore and residential units on land at Solartron Road, Farnborough.

2. Reason

2.1 To ensure proper access to serve the development and to secure an appropriate level of financial contribution towards implementation of the North East Hampshire Transport Strategy (NEHTS).

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected - Not applicable.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted - Not applicable.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor K B Estlin

7. Introduction

7.1 An outline planning application has been submitted by J Sainsbury Developments Limited to Rushmoor Borough Council for the development of a retail store (Class A1) with associated garden centre and 30 two- bedroom residential units on land at the Solartron Works site, Solartron Road, Farnborough. The site totals some 6.67 hectares and is located to the south of Victoria Road, with Solartron Road and Invincible Road to the south of the site (see attached location plan).

7.2 The proposal is to demolish all of the existing office and workshop buildings on the site except Solartron phase three and four offices and workshops which are to be retained. The proposed retail element would take the form of a DIY store (12,077 square metres), together with a garden centre (2,798 square metres) with 468 parking spaces. The residential element would comprise 30 two-bedroom flats with 41 car parking spaces.

7.3 The Borough Council supports this form of development in this location and has resolved to grant approval, subject to the conclusion of appropriate legal Agreements.

7.4 The local Member, Councillor Baulk, supports the principle of this development.

8. Transportation Proposals

8.1 Two separate access points are proposed to serve the retail element of the development. The customer entrance will be formed by the creation of a fourth arm to the improved existing roundabout at the junction of Solartron Road/Invincible Road/Asda car park entrance. An improvement to the existing site access from Victoria Road will provide for the service area and the retained office/workshop buildings. The improvements meet design standards and have been the subject of independent safety auditing.

8.2 The residential development is to be accessed from a new junction to Northmead. The access and estate road will be the subject of a Section 38 Agreement concluded with the Borough Council acting as Agents under the terms of the Agency agreement between the two authorities.

8.3 The on-site layout for the whole of the site includes provisions for car, cycle and disabled parking in accordance with the County Council's Car Parking Strategy 2002, with the residential car parking levels also complying with Planning Policy Guidance Note 3.

8.4 The layout includes cycle and pedestrian links to the town centre and the broader network. With the site being in close proximity to the town centre it also benefits from good public transport accessibility.

8.5 In addition to the highway works to provide proper access to the site, the developer has agreed, in negotiation, to make a financial contribution of £325,000 towards the implementation of NEHTS, and to secure appropriate highway, cycleway and public transport improvements and safety and traffic management measures in the local area as may benefit the site.

9. Financial Implications

9.1 In the event of planning permission being granted the applicant has agreed, at no cost to the County Council, to:

(i) implement an agreed scheme of improvement works to the existing Solartron Road/Invincible Road roundabout;

(ii) implement an agreed scheme of improvement works to the junction of the site with Victoria Road; and

(iii) make a financial contribution of £325,000 towards the implementation of NEHTS in the local area.

7122/KVD