Planning – Application Comments

Consultation Date: Wed 05 Nov 2025

Consultation Date: Fri 22 Aug 2025

Consultation Date: Wed 05 Nov 2025

Consultation Date: Fri 22 Aug 2025

Consultation Date: Wed 27 Aug 2025

Comment Date: Fri 12 Sep 2025

Forget Me Not Lane EDG25.001.FRSR-032.pdf

Comment Date: Fri 12 Sep 2025

PLYMOUTH CITY COUNCIL CONSULTEE COMMENTS FOR A PLANNING APPLICATION.

APPLICATION SUMMARY
PLANNING APPLICATION: 25/01110/FUL
ADDRESS: Land Adj. Forget Me Not Lane, Plymouth PL6 7FA
DESCRIPTION: Non-residential specialist dementia day care unit and associated work.

CASE OFFICER: Jon Fox (Planning Officer)
Development Management, PCC Strategic Planning & Infrastructure, Floor 2 Ballard House PL1 3BJ

CONSULTEE: Gary Lester (Transport Officer)
PCC Strategic Planning & Infrastructure, Transport Planning Team, Floor 2 Ballard House PL1 3BJ

Date: 11th September 2025

COMMENTS:
The Local Highway Authority (LHA) would not wish to raise any objections in principle to the proposed development of a non-residential specialist dementia day-care centre. Situated on land to the north of Estover Close and 'Forresters Business Park', between and with access from the adjacent private lane known as Forget Me Not Lane.

The site has a planning history with the wider site having outline planning consent for three dwellings under application number 25/00095/OUT [which the Planning, Design & Access Statement (PDAS) notes would be the Fall-back position], with the principle of development having been established. In which respect the LHA would also refer to their previous reply (dated 13th February 2025) to the above mentioned earlier consent.

In consideration of the advice contained within the NPPF, the National Model Design Code (par 50 Movement), and the Councils SPD, the LHA continue to consider the application site has relatively poor sustainability and accessibility by anything other than a private vehicle. Due to being situated on the fringe of the Estover industrial estate where the local bus service is limited and with little or no amenities close by.

Referring to the Councils SPD, Transport, paragraph 8.19, as a guide, indicates accessibility to the site by public transport is comparatively low, being as little as between 10 ' 19% accessible by bus. The access to the site itself is also poor being via an old unmade single track private lane shared by all users. With both the location and access lane having previously been subject of concerns over unsustainability, poor accessibility, and the associated adverse traffic impacts. It is incidentally noted from the proposed site plan that although it would remain a single-track lane, the unmade Forget Me Not Lane would be widened along the site frontage by one metre, to between 3 - 3.6 metres wide, along with the provision of a grass verge.

The proposal would provide a specialist dementia day-care centre to accommodate up to ten customers at a time, intended to be managed by three full-time members of staff. The proposed hours of operation would be between 10am to 2pm, with customers being transported to and from their homes by a dedicated minibus service.

The day-care centre would have three off-street car parking spaces that the PDAS shows (in paragraphs 5.17 ' 5.19) would meet the Councils minimum SPD indicative parking standard for such a use. Also providing sufficient space for an emergency vehicle to park within the site which would also serve for deliveries.

The PDAS suggests the proposed associated transport model that is based around and reliant on the use of a minibus for collecting and returning customers from their homes; supports high quality, effective, and safe, modes of transport, to help to mitigate against adverse highway impacts by reducing both the average number trips, and the parking demand.

The proposed use of a dedicated mini bus for collecting and delivering customers would negate the need for the up to twenty in number daily car movements (a total of forty two-way vehicle trips in and out), that would otherwise be generated by customers being dropped off, and picked up, mornings and afternoons. Particularly as the access and application premisses would be unable to accommodate parking for up to ten cars all coming and going at the same time.

To further help mitigate travel impacts and carbon emissions, a minimum of one in number bicycle parking space is needed, along with one in number Electric Vehicle charging point; both in accordance with the advice and details contained in the respective relevant paragraphs including [8.30 & 8.39] of the Councils SPD.

SUMMARY:
The proposed car parking provision at the day-care centre is at the minimum indicative SPD level of three parking spaces. So, the reliance on the use of a minibus to transport customers to and from the proposed day-care centre would be key in helping to mitigate the associated traffic impacts and parking demand.

Therefore, the LHA recommends that should planning permission be granted then the following conditions should apply including the use of a dedicated mini bus to transport customers to and from the premisses to be secured and manged by way of a simple Travel Plan: -

TRAVEL PLAN (Amended)
() The development hereby permitted shall not be brough into use until a simple Travel Plan has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The Travel Plan shall seek to encourage staff, and customers, to use modes of transport other than the private car to get to and from the premises. Including [as stated and proposed in the planning application] by the operation of a dedicated mini-bus service to transport customers to and from the premisses daily, to assist accessibility and help to reduce the associated 'carbon footprint' of the site. It shall also include measures to control the use of the permitted car parking spaces, and for the introduction of one 'Electric Vehicle Charging Point', and cycle parking. Along with the arrangements for monitoring the provisions available through the operation of the Travel Plan including the continuing use of a dedicated mini bus to transport customers to and from the premisses [unless otherwise agreed in writing by the LPA]; and the name, position, and contact telephone number of the person responsible for the implementation and monitoring of the Travel Plan. From the date of the occupation the occupier shall operate the approved Travel Plan.

Reason:
The Local Planning Authority considers that such measures including the use of a dedicated mini bus service to transport customers to and from the premisses are needed in order to reduce reliance on the use of private cars, and mitigate short term parking demand and associated vehicle movements. To help reduce the associated carbon footprint, and to assist in the promotion of more sustainable travel choices, in accordance with Policy DEV29 of the adopted Plymouth & Southwest Devon Joint Local Plan 2014 - 2034.


CYCLE PROVISION (amended)
() The development shall not be occupied until space has been laid out within the site for the parking of a minimum of one in number bicycle to be parked and secured in accordance with the guidance set-out in paragraph 8.30 of the Councils SPD, to provide high quality conveniently located, secure, and preferably covered, cycle parking/storage. Thereafter the secure area for parking/storing bicycles shall remain available for its intended purpose and shall not be used for any other purpose without the prior consent of the Local Planning Authority.

Reason:
In order to promote cycling as an alternative to the use of private cars in accordance with Policy DEV29 of the adopted Plymouth & Southwest Devon Joint Local Plan 2014 - 2034.


PROVISION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING POINTS (amended)
() Prior to the development being brought into use one in number electric car charging point shall be provided in accordance with the details set out as a minimum requirement in par 8.39 & Table 33 of the Councils Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). Also, in accordance with the national guidance available at: - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electric-vehicle-homecharge-

Reason
To assist in the lowering the carbon footprint of the development in accordance with Policy DEV29 of the adopted Plymouth & Southwest Devon Joint Local Plan 2014 - 2034.


CAR PARKING PROVISION
() The building shall not be occupied until the car parking area shown on the approved plans has provided in accordance with the approved details, and that area shall not thereafter be used for any purpose other than the parking of associated cars.

Reason:
To enable vehicles used by occupiers or visitors to be parked off the public highway so as to avoid damage to amenity and interference with the free flow of traffic on the highway in accordance with Policy DEV29 of the adopted Plymouth & Southwest Devon Joint Local Plan 2014 - 2034


Gary Lester
Transport Planning Officer
Officer authorised to sign on behalf of the Service
Director for Strategic Planning & Infrastructure

Comment Date: Wed 10 Sep 2025

The proposal relates to land adjoining east of Dark Lake View in Estover. Development proposal comprises a dementia day unit ' for daytime respite care up to 10 clients. The accompanying planning statement outlines the objective of the scheme to support clients with dementia living in the community for as long as possible. Also cited are the RTPI guidance on Dementia friendly planning and PCC objective to become a Dementia Friendly City. For further advice on this it is recommended to consult ASC colleagues ' specifically Mark Collings.

The site has an extant planning permission for the construction of 3 dwellings. Whilst there may be a concern that an alternative non residential proposal would result in a small loss of possible housing, this needs to be weighed against the wider merits of the proposed dementia unit which would support independent community living for multiples of households through the provision of respite services. Given the increasing need to support people with dementia living in the community ' we understand that this type of support provision is required in order to sustain the independent housing needs of many households. On balance HDT therefore supports this proposal.

Comment Date: Thu 04 Sep 2025

2501110FUL Land Adj. Forget Me Not Lane .pdf

Comment Date: Thu 28 Aug 2025

958338 Consultation Response 2.pdf