Agenda item

Recommended for Refusal.

Mr Clive Roberts addressed the Committee in support of the application.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services recommended that, in respect of application 3/12/0145/FP, planning permission be refused for the reasons detailed in the report now submitted.

Councillor D Andrews commented that the former bungalow was in a poor state of repair so therefore any change of use was not inappropriate.  He stated that the development referred to in the report was in fact the provision of a parking area to facilitate the proposed use.

Councillor D Andrews stressed that the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007 stipulated a presumption against development in rural areas aside from land required from agriculture, forestry or small scale community facilities.  He stressed that this application fell into the category of a small scale community facility.

Councillor D Andrews commented on the suggestion that the parking area was not in keeping with the open rural character of the site.  He stressed that the applicant had commented to him that the parking area would be flat.  Councillor D Andrews also stated that the current access track was in a very poor condition and the use of ‘grasscrete’ or similar materials would render the parking area invisible from a very short distance.

Councillor D Andrews emphasised that sustainability would not be an issue given the limited bus service provision in the area.  Residents, as was often the case across East Herts, had no option but to use the private car to get to this location, especially on Sundays.

Councillor D Andrews stated that Hertfordshire Highways and the Hertfordshire Biological Records Centre had not objected to the application.  He stated that the impact of the application on the character and appearance of the area would be very minimal.

The Director advised that the Council’s planning policies stipulated that community facilities should be located in or close to the main population centres across the District.  Members were advised that as this site was within the rural area, the application did not sit comfortably with the Council’s planning policies.  Members could make judgements regarding the community benefits of the proposed development.

The Director stressed that unless Members added a particular condition stating otherwise, the proposed use would be open to any occupier of the site so long as this fell within the range of permitted use classes.

The Director advised that the applicant had indicated a willingness to accept a temporary planning permission on the site.  In response to a query from Councillor S Bull, the Director stressed that no responses had been received from Standon Parish Council.

Councillor D Andrews proposed and Councillor Mrs R Cheswright seconded, a motion that application 3/12/0145/FP be granted on the grounds that the proposed development was acceptable as a small scale community facility in the rural area.

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

The Committee rejected the recommendation of the Director of Neighbourhood Services as now submitted.

RESOLVED – that in respect of application 3/12/0145/FP, planning permission be granted subject to conditions to be formulated by Officers in consultation with the local Ward Member.