Issue - meetings
25/02260/FP Northway Filling Station, Great North Road, Hinxworth, Baldock, Hertfordshire, SG7 5EX
Meeting: 04/06/2026 - Planning Control Committee (Item 8)
PDF 239 KBREPORT OF THE
DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER
Temporary consent allowing for the erection of a detached
food-to-go building (Greggs Pod) and other associated minor site
alterations including the formation of vehicle parking for a period
of two years (development already commenced).
Additional documents:
Decision:
RESOLVED: That application 25/02260/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to:
A) The resolution of the LLFA matters to the satisfaction of the Local Planning Authority with the imposition of planning conditions or amendment of planning conditions as necessary with any actions required pursuant to LLFA response being devolved to the Development and Conservation Manager; and
B) The conditions and informatives as set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager, with the additional condition as follows:
‘Conditon 6
Within 12 months of the first implementation of the approved use, the operator shall undertake monitoring of vehicle movements within the Northway Service Station forecourt and their interaction with the adjacent highway network (A1). A GG104 Risk Assessment Report shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, in consultation with National Highways, at the end of the 12-month period and any mitigation shall thereafter be implemented in accordance with an agreed timetable.
Reason: To enable the operational impacts of the development on the Strategic Road Network to be assessed and to ensure that the safe and efficient operation of the A1 slip road is maintained in the interests of highway safety and network performance and in accordance with Policy T1 of the North Hertfordshire Local Plan 2011 – 2031.’
Minutes:
Audio recording – 02 hours 32 minutes 31 seconds
N.B. Councillor Tom Tyson declared an interest as Member Advocate Objector and moved to the public speaking gallery.
The Senior Planning Officer provided a verbal update on matters relating to Application 25/02260/FP and advised that:
· They were awaiting a final response from the Local Lead Flood Authority (LLFA).
· Following further concerns raised by the Agent to the Neighbour, National Highways were willing to propose an additional condition to mitigate any concerns over internal vehicle movements.
The Senior Planning Officer then presented the report in respect of application 25/02260/FP accompanied by a visual presentation consisting of plans and photographs.
The following Members asked questions:
· Councillor Caroline McDonnell
· Councillor Louise Peace
· Councillor Clare Billing
· Councillor Claire Winchester
· Councillor Martin Prescott
In response to questions, the Senior Planning Officer advised that:
· Those wanting to access the Greggs Pod would turn left as they drove into the service station.
· The application had been deferred from the Committee meeting on 12 March 2026 as National Highways concluded that the application needed a risk assessment.
· After discussion, the site needed to be assessed while the pod was live, which would take place during the two years given for temporary permission.
· There were also food facilities on the A1 northbound service station.
· The site layout had already been amended after comments from National Highways.
In response to questions, the Development and Conservation Manager advised that:
· National Highways did not have an issue with the slip roads entering and exiting the site, they only wanted to assess internal vehicle movements.
· The site layout may be changed to improve its functioning during the assessment period, but if this could not improve the situation, it would weigh against any proposal to renew planning permission.
· Planning permission would be recommended for refusal if there was a highways safety issue, but National Highways had not raised concerns of this kind.
The Chair invited the first Public Objector, Ms Hayley Doyle to speak against the application. Ms Doyle thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation, and highlighted the following:
· They had not been made aware of the additional condition detailed by the Senior Planning Officer in their verbal update until now.
· They had reviewed the application on behalf of the adjoining landowner who had raised concerns on several issues.
· Members should defer the application until they were able to visit the site as online pictures did not provide an adequate view of the site.
· The slip road to exit the site was already unsuitable for the existing arrangement and this application would only intensify this.
· A safety audit would be carried out if a permanent application was applied for in two years, but consideration had to be given to the possibility of a serious accident occurring before then.
· Severity of the highway impacts should be considered against paragraph 155 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
· The Committee needed to consider whether the application for temporary permission ... view the full minutes text for item 8