Agenda item

Recommended for Approval

The Head of Planning and Building Control recommended that in respect of application 3/16/1939/FUL, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.

The Head summarised the application and detailed the relevant planning history.  The application would provide space for approximately 1460 burial spaces and space for cremated remains.  The application had been submitted a number of years previously and was before Members for a decision now that the concerns of the Lead Local Flood Authority and the Environment Agency had been resolved.

Members were advised that the site was located outside the settlement boundary of Buntingford and in the rural area beyond the Green Belt.  The application was therefore contrary to rural area policy.  Officers had not however, identified any visual harm regarding the proposed development or any harm in relation to highways matters, proposed drainage or in respect of any neighbouring properties. 

The Head emphasised that there was an identified need for further burial space in the local area and another application for a cemetery had been approved a number of years ago.  That application had not been implemented however due to it not being the preferred site and this application had been submitted to meet the identified need.  Officers had recommended approval as there was no other identified harm and the conflict with rural area policy was outweighed by the benefits of the application.

Councillor M Casey expressed concerns that this was a vulnerable ground water area and there was a risk of pollution of the water table and of drinking water.  He commented on the conditions stipulating that all burials must be at least 250 metres from a well and at least 30 metres from any other spring or watercourse.  He stated that he had not seen any wells and questioned whether there were any springs.  He sought clarification on the expected demand of up to 10 burials a year.

Councillor D Andrews commented on what would take place if the entrance gates did not open automatically and a vehicle needed to access the site.  He believed that the gates should be sufficiently set back so as to avoid vehicles overhanging the road.

Councillor J Jones, as the local ward Member, referred to the identified need for extra burial capacity as the nearby burial ground had 6 spaces left.  He stated that he would be supporting the application and referred to the purchase of land from a local charity for Buntingford Town Council.  He emphasised that New Homes Bonus funds had already been spent on potential flooding and drainage issues.

The Head confirmed that condition 7 in the report submitted was linked to the consultation response from the Environment Agency and related to a flood mitigation strategy for this site.  Officers believed that there would be no impact on groundwater and the technical advice from the Environment Agency was that the application was acceptable subject to this condition being accepted.

The Head advised that condition 5 required the gate to remain open from 7 am to 7 pm and given the nature of the road and traffic and the expected number of burials, a significant impact on highway safety was not anticipated.

Members discussed the restriction of 10 burials a year.  The Head advised that the figure of 10 burials a year had been included in the documents that had been circulated to the statutory consultees and that there was not a condition which restricted the number of burials to 10 a year.  Councillor T Stowe commented on the provision of water sinks in the soil substructure and a soakaway or French drain on the perimeter of the site.

Councillor D Andrews proposed and Councillor D Oldridge seconded, a motion that in respect of application 3/16/1939/FUL, the Committee support the recommendation for approval subject to the conditions detailed in the report submitted.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.  The Committee supported the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Building Control as now submitted.

RESOLVED – that in respect of application 3/16/1939/FUL, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report submitted.