Former Norman Offer site
(Also known as: Operational Command Unit (Police))
Operational Command Unit
Application No. 08/00378/FUL Former Norman Offer Transport depot, Southern Road
Contact Details:
Address: Planning and Sustainability
Postcode: SO14 7LS
Telephone: 023 8083 2603
Email: planning@southampton.gov.uk
Details of service:
Operational Command Unit
Application No. 08/00378/FUL Former Norman Offer Transport depot, Southern Road
This application is due to go before the Planning and Rights of Way Panel on June the 24th 2008 between 11am and 12pm. Click the following link PROWP then select the relevent year for details.
The proposed OCU would serve as a police station and command centre for the Southampton Area. The facility is required for a number of reasons.
The existing police station is in a poor state of repair and is no longer suitable for Hampshire Constabulary to provide a modern police service to the residents of Southampton; and
Certain Police Units are currently spread across a number of stations in Southampton. The proposals provide an opportunity to rationalise these specialist units into one state of the art facility.
The application site covers approximately 0.8 hectares and consists of brownfield land that was formally occupied by Norman Offer Haulage Ltd. It was selected for the proposed facility following a detailed site selection exercise, which began in 2005. The application site forms part of a larger site that is allocated in Council's Adopted Local plan for employment use under the provisions of policy MSA14. For the purposes of this Statement the application site is referred to as Phase 1 and the remainder of the site is referred to as Phase For the avoidance of doubt, Phase 2 does not form part of this application.
In order to meet the provisions of MSA14 the Council has indicated that the proposals should result in the creation of a landmark building on the site. The applicant has also been asked to demonstrate that the proposals will not prejudice the development of Phase 2. Notwithstanding ... these comments and the need to satisfy other policy requirements, Council Officers h~V indicated that they do not object to the principle of the proposed development on the Site
A number of technical studies have been prepared in support of the application. In particular, the Design and Access Statement submitted as part of this application demonstrates how the proposed OCU meets the requirements of a landmark building. The Transport Assessment has demonstrated that the proposed development is within walking distance of public transport routes and would actually result in the a city-wide reduction in the number of trips.
The applicant considers that the proposal accords with the requirements of national planning guidance and local planning policies contained in the development plan. These documents set a general presumption in favour of uses that create new jobs and contribute to the local economy.
Last updated: 23 June 2008
