CONCERNS have been raised about the amount of time it has taken to decide whether planning permission should be granted for a new dance studio near Dursley.
Plans were submitted to Stroud District Council in July to develop the old Sunnyside Garden Centre along the A38 at Gossington near the Slimbridge roundabout.
The scheme was put forward by husband and wife Martyn Rees and Sally Prout, who hope to bring the derelict site 'back to life'.
Proposals include constructing three separate buildings - a warehouse, a large office space with a canteen and showroom, and a dance studio for the Sally Prout School of Dancing.
The school is much-loved across the district teaching children including in Cam and Dursley as well as in Stonehouse, Leonard Stanley and Minchinhampton.
Many former pupils have gone on to attend prestigious dance schools including The Royal Ballet School.
Meanwhile, the commercial buildings would be used by the family for their online business Domli which sells modern wooden furniture.
Despite receiving more than 70 letters of support - including from Slimbridge Parish Council - the application has faced extensive delays and has not yet been heard by the district development control committee.
According to the application, if approved, it is believed that 28 new full-time jobs would be created at the site.
The scheme has now been supported by Siobhan Baillie MP who revealed her eldest daughter Gigi dances with the school.
The application is scheduled to be heard at SDC’s development control committee on Friday, January 26.
"It is not good enough"
It is supported by Siobhan Baillie MP, whose daughter Gigi dances with the school.
Ms Baillie said: "I am often brought into planning issues when constituents are concerned that their views or plans are not being listened to properly.
“It is positive that since I first met Martyn at a surgery appointment, we now have a date for the planning committee but the council is saying that this may even be delayed and it is not good enough.
“We are constantly told that the council wants to bring old brownfield sites that are in disrepair back into good use so I am interested to understand more about the situation.
“It was helpful to see the site again and how much work has been done by the family to clear it ready for development.
“I must declare a bit of an interest as my daughter Gigi dances at Sally's classes and I danced into my teens so I am supportive of dancing with all our fabulous local groups and organisations.
“The proposals for the ballet studio are for senior students, and for their examinations and as a centre of excellence in performing arts, particularly dance, for the Stroud area – local classes will continue in villages.
“There is nothing locally with space and a sprung floor for any students who want to dance more seriously and train for a place at a vocational school. "
“We are upset about the delays"
Applicant Mr Rees said: “We are grateful to Siobhan for coming to see the site.
“We are asking SDC to permit this ecologically sustainable development to proceed to bring a derelict brownfield site back into life and bring good employment opportunities to this area.
“My wife has dedicated her life to ballet so it is an exciting chance to include a space to give local children an opportunity to dance to a higher standard.
“We have answered the questions raised by the council.
“As the garden centre would've generated much more traffic than our plans, I am hopeful that anybody interested in that side of things will look carefully at the evidence we have submitted.
“The little cafe idea is for students and families only, not as a retail cafe, so they have an option of staying while classes are on.
“We are upset about the delays and issues we have experienced as we have been trying everything we can to do the right thing for the area and with the council.”
Stroud District Council statement
A SDC spokesperson said: “A referral was made to the council’s Development Control Committee in early December 2023 and the application is scheduled to appear before committee members at their meeting in January.
“The council’s planning officers have been working with the applicant to resolve issues around ecology and highways, which rely on detailed survey and technical work.
“Prospective developers are encouraged to use the council’s pre-application advice services to engage early in potential issues and solutions.”
You can view the application quoting reference S.23/1327/FUL or see here - tinyurl.com/44znc2sa
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