Agenda item

Recommended for Approval.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services recommended that, in respect of applications 3/12/0587/FP and 3/12/588/FP, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.

Councillor S Bull praised the applicant and stated that the application should be supported as the outcomes for the rural area could only be positive.  Councillor G Jones was also supportive of the application.  He expressed concerns however, relating to the extent of the incursion into the rural area beyond the Green Belt.

Councillor G Jones commented on whether permission could be approved either on a temporary basis or specifically on the basis that the occupant of the site was Connect Scaffolding.  Councillor N Symonds stated that such applications were needed on the outskirts of Bishop’s Stortford and approving this application would ease problems of unemployment and youth unemployment in East Herts.

The Director advised that government guidance stipulated that personal permissions should not be granted to businesses, on the grounds that businesses often changed hands which would undermine the planning conditions.

Members were advised that a temporary permission could be applied so long as the time period was a reasonably long timescale, such as 5 years, which would allow a degree of clarity for the operation of the business.

Councillor M Newman proposed and Councillor S Bull seconded a motion that applications 3/12/0587/FP and 3/12/0588/FP be approved for a temporary period of 10 years.

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

The Committee supported the recommendations of the Director of Neighbourhood Services, subject to the planning permission being for a temporary period of 10 years.

RESOLVED – that (A) in respect of application 3/12/0587/FP, planning permission be granted subject to the following amended conditions:

1.    The use hereby permitted shall cease on or before 25^th June 2022 and any structure and engineering works hereby permitted shall be removed on or before that date and, the land shall be reinstated to its former condition or in accordance with details to be submitted and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

        Reason: The development is a temporary expedient only having regard to the viability and operation of the business.

2.    Approved Plans (2E10) Insert 211211DWG007 Rev A and 211211DWG008 Rev A

3.    Within 3 months of the date of this permission, full details of soft landscape proposals shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The details shall include, as appropriate: (a) Planting plans; (b) Written specifications (including cultivation and other operations associated with plant and grass establishment); (c) Schedules of plants, noting species, planting sizes and proposed numbers/densities where appropriate; (d) Implementation timetables.  Thereafter the development shall proceed in accordance with the approved details.

        Reason: To ensure the provision of amenity afforded by appropriate landscape design, in accordance with policies ENV1, ENV2 and ENV11 of the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007.

4.    Within 6 months of the date of this permission the area of land used for the parking of cars shall be hard surfaced in materials to be previously agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

        Reason: In the interests of the appearance of the development, in accordance with policy ENV1 of the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007.

5.    The car park shown hatched in green on plan ref. 211211DWG007 Rev. A shall be used solely for the parking of vehicles and not for the storage of scaffolding or machinery.

        Reason: In the interests of the appearance of the site, in accordance with policy ENV1 of the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007.

Directive:

1.    Groundwater Protection Zone (28GP)

Summary of Reasons for Decision

The proposal has been considered with regard to the policies of the Development Plan (East of England Plan May 2008, Hertfordshire County Structure Plan, Minerals Local Plan, Waste Local Plan and the saved policies of the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007 and in particular policiesGBC1, TR7, TR8, ENV1 and ENV2) and the National Planning Policy Framework.  The balance of the considerations having regard to those policies, the viability and operation of the business and mitigation measures available to limit visual impact, is that permission should be granted.

(B)   in respect of application 3/12/0588/FP, planning permission be granted subject to the following amended conditions:

1.    The use hereby permitted shall cease on or before 25^th June 2022 and any structure and engineering works hereby permitted shall be removed on or before that date and, the land shall be reinstated to its former condition or in accordance with details to be submitted and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

        Reason: The development is a temporary expedient only having regard to the viability and operation of the business.

2.    Approved Plan (2E10)Insert 211211DWG003 Rev A; 211211DWG004 Rev A; 211211DWG005 Rev A; 211211DWG006 Rev A and 211211DWG009 Rev B.

Summary of Reasons for Decision

The proposal has been considered with regard to the policies of the Development Plan (East of England Plan May 2008, Hertfordshire County Structure Plan, Minerals Local Plan, Waste Local Plan and the saved policies of the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007 and in particular policies GBC3, ENV1 and ENV2) and the National Planning Policy Framework.  The balance of the considerations having regard to those policies, the viability and operation of the business and the limited visual impact caused is that permission should be granted.