Agenda item

Recommended for Approval

The Head of Planning and Building Control recommended that in respect of application 3/21/1925/FUL, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed at the end of the report submitted with delegated authority being granted to the Head of Planning and Building Control to finalise the detail of the conditions and to issue the permission.

The Interim Development Management Team Manager summarised the minor application and set out the relevant background information for Members. He detailed the late representations that had been received and referred to an equine needs assessment.

The Interim Development Management Team Leader talked about the sustainability of the development and summarised the policy considerations and referred in particular to policies DPS2 and ED2 and in detail in respect of policy HOU5. He said that this Metropolitan Green Belt site would be occupied by a worker serving as a yard manager and that the essential need for this accommodation on site had been satisfactorily demonstrated.

Members were advised that a residential dwelling would not normally be permitted in the Green Belt. The Interim Development Team Leader referred to the close ties to the equine business and three relevant policy strands. He referred in particular to conditions 4 and 5 in the report and the stipulation that the residential use would cease if the site was no longer to be used as an equine business.

The Committee was advised that two relevant exceptions for development in the Green Belt could be applied in this case. The Interim Development Management Team Leader said that one exception was the partial or total redevelopment of a previously developed site and the other matter was the change of use. He talked about the tests that had to be met for caravans in the green belt and said that use of part of a site for a caravan required planning permission. Members were advised that the caravan itself did not require planning permission and a key point was the preservation of green belt openness.

Mr Miles addressed the Committee in support of the application.

Councillor Fernando said that his sole remaining concern was the siting of what was a large property in the green belt. He commented on whether there was a need for such a large caravan in the Metropolitan Green Belt.

Councillor Andrews asked if permitted development rights should be removed or restricted in case the business did not remain in the same ownership or control. Councillor Crystall asked for clarity in respect of condition 4 and the status of the worker living in the proposed caravan and he asked if the link between the caravan and the equine business be overturned by a further planning permission.

The Interim Development Management Team Leader talked about planning balance and said that Officers considered that the proposed development was acceptable. He said that if the occupant retired in place then Officers would assess that situation at that point, should an application be made for additional accommodation.

Members were advised that there had been active dialogue with the occupants of the site and the enforcement team and Officers were satisfied that the proposed conditions would be complied with on this site.

Councillor Redfern proposed and Councillor Rutland-Barsby seconded, a motion that application 3/21/1925/FUL be granted planning permission subject to the conditions detailed at the end of the report submitted with delegated authority being granted to the Head of Planning and Building Control to finalise the detail of the conditions and to issue the permission, subject to the addition of a condition that the caravan hereby permitted shall not be rented out, let out or sold separately from the use of the wider site.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED –that (A) in respect of application 3/21/1925/FUL, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed at the end of the report, subject to the addition of a condition that the caravan hereby permitted shall not be rented out, let out or sold separately from the use of the wider site; and

(B)   delegated authority be granted to the Head of Planning and Building Control to finalise the detail of the conditions and to issue the permission.