Agenda item

We considered the report of the application and late correspondence which was recommended for approval subject to the seven conditions outlined in the report.

In doing so, the following points were noted:

·       Excavation work has taken place on the site and concern was raised that the land at the rear of the site may now be unstable with the removal of trees, vegetation and stones.  This might need to be investigated before approval of the application is considered.

·       Concern was expressed that the amount of proposed development would result in overdevelopment of the site, particularly when the touring vehicles are on site.

·       The site adjoins Border Waste Crick.  This site had not been granted planning permission as there was a concern regarding land slippage towards the motorway.

·       Concern was expressed that the excavation work might adversely affect the residential safety of the applicant and his family as there might be the potential for a landslip at the site.

·       Mathern Community Council had looked at Planning Policy H8 and consider that the application does not meet the requirements of the policy.  It was considered that the site was not large enough to house the proposed development resulting in overdevelopment of the site. It was considered that not all of the site was suitable for development.

·       Under the parking policy, the two park homes, as the residential units, will require five parking places. A turning area should be required in order to allow vehicles to leave the site in a forward gear when joining the highway.

·       Caravan model conditions outline the need for a six metre gap between caravans and mobile homes due their flammable nature.

·       The local Authority has undertaken a gypsy and traveller assessment and it has been outlined that there is a need for eight sites around the County.

·       This site is privately owned and the applicant for this site falls within the assessment.  The applicant has established a need to find a home within the County.  This site would provide that need.

·       The site has been looked at in terms of Policy H8 and it was established that the development meets that criteria. 

·       It is situated in a sustainable location.

·       The visual amenity is considered to be acceptable.

·       The highway safety aspect has been investigated and it has been identified that visibility is good from the site.

·       In terms of the proposed amount of development on the site, if it is considered to be over development of the site, the applicant has indicated that he would be willing to have just the two park homes on the site for himself and his son, which would be a personal consent for him and his family to have a home within the County.

·       With regard to the excavation work at the rear of the site, the applicant had indicated to the Planning Department that he had not undertaken any work which required planning consent.  The removal of trees and landscaping does not require planning consent.  However, if the Committee had concerns, there could be a pre-commencement condition added to ensure the stability and safety of the land at the rear of the site.

·       The Environmental Health Department had indicated that a caravan licence would be required.

·       This is a privately owned site.

·       Removal of the four touring caravans would alleviate the issues regarding over development of the site.

It was proposed by County Councillor M. Feakins and seconded by County Councillor R. Harris that application DM/2019/01480 be approved subject to the seven conditions outlined in the report and subject to the following additional conditions:

·       Re-describe and remove reference to touring caravans.

·       Add a personal permission condition.

·       That permission is for two park homes only.

·       Condition landscaping including means of enclosure. 

·       Condition regarding a check to ensure that the bank to the rear (north) is stable to enable development to proceed.

Members did also suggest that there were conditions put on for a Construction Management Plan and also that a condition be added to outline that the site is for commercial use only.

Officers outlined that a construction management plan would not be necessary for the scale of development given it would be for the installation of two park homes.  It was also outlined that a condition to restrict the use of the site for residential only was unnecessary given that any other use would be contrary to any planning consent and therefore the Council would be able to take appropriate enforcement action to any unauthorised uses.  

Upon being put to the vote, the following votes were recorded:

In favour of the proposal               -         9

Against the proposal                     -         0

Abstentions                                   -         4

The proposition was carried.

We resolved that application DM/2019/01480 be approved subject to the seven conditions outlined in the report and subject to the following additional conditions:

• Re-describe and remove reference to touring caravans.

• Add a personal permission condition.

• That permission is for two park homes only.

• Condition landscaping including means of enclosure. 

• Condition regarding a check to ensure that the bank to the rear (north) is stable to enable development to proceed.