Agenda item

Recommended for Approval.

Anne Peacock spoke for the application.  Danny Simmonds addressed the Committee in objection to the application.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services recommended that in respect of application 3/14/1514/FP, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.

Councillor D Andrews stated that he had been asked to address the Committee on behalf of the local ward Member, Councillor M Carver.  He drew Members’ attention to the comments from Much Hadham Parish Council on page 89 of the report.  He also referred to the comments from the objecting speaker regarding the impact of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area.

Councillor Andrews commented that he was concerned that the roads were very narrow typical country lanes for the area although these lanes were relatively straight with reasonable sight lines.  He referred to the fatalities highlighted by the Parish Council although two of these incidents had occurred some distance from the site.

Councillor Andrews stated that he could not comment on the issue of dust at the grain store.  He referred to the issue of the noise impact and the great deal of feeling in Much Hadham regarding this application.  He supported the concern that traffic did not come down Kettle Green Road into Much Hadham.

Councillor Andrews stated that he would not welcome the additional HGV movements coming into his ward, and in particular, traffic using the narrow lanes into Barwick via Barwick Ford.  He concluded that there was a balance to be struck in respect of this application.

Councillor M Newman referred to paragraph 7.12 of the report submitted, and stated that this area had been under agricultural use for many years resulting in the production of grain in need of transportation.  He queried the logic of the assertion referred to in the report that the storage facility would cause additional traffic as the traffic was already present.

Councillor Newman stated that, in accordance with the NPPF, there could be no objection in principle to the provision of an agricultural building so long as this was appropriately designed and resulted in no significant or harmful visual impact.  He concluded that the proposed development would be as well hidden as it possibly could be and there was arguably no less visually intrusive location for this grain store.

Councillor P Moore commented that this application seemed to be contrary to policy GBC7 on the basis that the proposed development would not be located next to existing buildings.  She commented that an existing grain store had been demolished to make way for a housing development.  Councillor E Bedford stated that he believed that the proposed development would have a harmful visual impact on the whole area.

The Director stated that Members had touched on all of the salient points and the principle of the proposed development was acceptable in planning terms.  Members were referred to the additional representations summary regarding the issue of traffic generation as well as wording in the report covering the issues of visual impact and noise generation.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the Committee accepted the recommendation of the Director of Neighbourhood Services as now submitted.

RESOLVED – that in respect of application 3/14/1514/FP, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.