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Agenda item

24/01143/OUT - The Royal Agricultural University, Stroud Road, Cirencester

Purpose

Outline planning application with all matters reserved except for access, for a mixed-use development associated with the Royal Agricultural University comprising up to 24,012 sqm of floorspace for office (Use Class E(g)(i)), research and development (E(g)(ii)), education (F1(a)), conferencing (F1(e)), and café (E(b)) uses, Including the conversion of Trent Lodge to café use, associated parking, access and highway works, landscaping, public realm, utilities, and all ancillary works and structures. The development is known as The RAU Innovation Village and forms part of its wider masterplan, supporting research and innovation in food production, climate change, and land management at The Royal Agricultural University Stroud Road Cirencester

 

Case Officer

Ceri Porter

 

Ward Member

Councillor Mark Harris

 

Recommendation

That the application be PERMITTED subject to:

i. legal agreement(s) between the Applicant and the District Council and Gloucestershire County Council prior to the decision notice being issued;

ii. agreement of the draft conditions set out in the report together with any draft conditions as may be agreed by Members at Planning & Licensing Committee;

iii. delegated authority being given to the Head of Planning Services, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning & Licensing Committee, to amend and/or add to the suggested draft conditions where such amendments would not deviate significantly from the purpose of the draft conditions.

Minutes:

The proposal was for Outline planning application with all matters reserved except for access, for a mixed-use development associated with the Royal Agricultural University comprising up to 24,012 sqm of floorspace for office (Use Class E(g)(i)), research and development (E(g)(ii)), education (F1(a)), conferencing (F1(e)), and café (E(b)) uses, Including the conversion of Trent Lodge to café use, associated parking, access and highway works, landscaping, public realm, utilities, and all ancillary works and structures. The development is known as The RAU Innovation Village and forms part of its wider masterplan, supporting research and innovation in food production, climate change, and land management.

 

Case Officer

Ceri Porter

Ward Member

Councillor Mark Harris

Recommendation

That the application be PERMITTED subject to:

i. legal agreement(s) between the Applicant and the District Council and

Gloucestershire County Council prior to the decision notice being issued;

ii. agreement of the draft conditions set out in the report together with any draft conditions as may be agreed by Members at Planning & Licensing Committee;

iii. delegated authority being given to the Head of Planning Services, in

consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning & Licensing Committee, to amend and/or add to the suggested draft conditions where such amendments would not deviate significantly from the purpose of the draft conditions.

 

The Chair invited the Case Officer to introduce the application.

Harrison Bowley presented the application in Ceri Porter’s absence.

Updates:

·         Active Travel England had recommended deferral, but following discussions with Gloucestershire County Council Highways, the proposed active travel measures were considered acceptable as part of wider committed infrastructure, subject to existing Grampian-style conditions.

·         An air quality consultation was ongoing due to revised transport assessment data

 

Public Speaker

Speaker 1 - Alex O’Dell – Objector

The close proximity to existing homes was highlighted, particularly the location of plot 4B near residential boundaries, with concerns raised about privacy, noise, outlook, and sense of enclosure. Concerns were raised about increased pedestrian activity near residential boundaries, with potential impacts including disturbance, overlooking, and loss of privacy. Mitigation was requested through landscaping, screening, lighting control, and path design. A detailed Construction Management Plan was requested covering programme timing, working hours, construction traffic routes, dust and noise control, and ongoing communication with residents during construction.

 

Speaker 2 – Mr Peter McCaffery – Applicant’s representative

The Innovation Village brought together industry, farmers, landowners and researchers to develop practical solutions for sustainable agriculture and biodiversity recovery, whilst supporting rural resilience and skills development.

It was expected to attract investment and generate significant local economic benefits, including increased employment and opportunities for young people to remain in Gloucestershire.

The development was designed as a landscape-led, low-carbon campus that set high standards for sustainability, nature recovery and environmental performance, supporting the university’s mission to equip future graduates to address global challenges.

 

Member questions

Members of the Committee asked a series of questions and noted that:

·         The Innovation Village was not expected to directly increase student numbers requiring accommodation in the local area. A wider Estate Masterplan had been developed which sought to provide further student accommodation, but this required planning permission in its own right and would need to be subject to a separate application.

·         All detailed design matters, including layout and building design, are reserved for future approval through reserved matters applications. Concerns raised, particularly regarding Plot 4B, have been noted and considered at this stage. The current parameter plans already indicated that this plot would be limited to a single-storey building.

 

Member comments

·         Strong overall support and positive summary of the scheme.

·         The development was considered beneficial for Cirencester and the wider Cotswolds.

·         Concerns highlighted around the junction due to mixed users, including pedestrians, cyclists, school children, buses and caravans. A request was made for a 20mph speed limit to improve safety.

 

Councillor Julia Judd proposed to PERMIT the application D subject to: i. legal agreement(s) between the Applicant and the District Council and Gloucestershire County Council prior to the decision notice being issued; ii. agreement of the draft conditions set out in the report together with any draft conditions as may be agreed by Members at Planning & Licensing Committee; iii. delegated authority being given to the Head of Planning Services, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning & Licensing Committee, to amend and/or add to the suggested draft conditions where such amendments would not deviate significantly from the purpose of the draft conditions. Councillor Nikki Ind seconded the proposal.  The proposal was put to the vote and agreed by the Committee.

 

RESOLVED: to PERMIT the application.

 

Supporting documents:

 

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