Change of use of building from B8 to B2 & B8 use, erection of additional B8 storage building and extension to existing building; conversion of existing stone byre to B1 (a) Office use.

Change of use of building from B8 to B2 & B8 use, erection of additional B8 storage building and extension to existing building; conversion of existing stone byre to B1 (a) Office use.

Please refer to the late material circulated before the start of the meeting

Development Control Manager, Clive Reynolds, referred to the late material that had been circulated at the start of the meeting and gave an outline of some of the additional representations that had been received. He said that the application was seeking to expand an established commercial enterprise that had previously been allowed on appeal and located in a rural location. Strictly controlled by planning policy, the Development Control Manager said that the site had good highway links adjacent to the A417. Following the recent expansion of the business, the application was for change of use and alterations to existing buildings at the site, which would enable the applicant to continue trading whilst removing the need to create outside storage not permitted as part of the approved scheme. The Development Control Manager said that, despite concerns from local residents, the development was sufficiently distant from potentially affected properties and would be regulated by appropriate conditions, as had been suggested by the Environmental Health Officer.

Public speaking

Speaking from a personal perspective and on behalf of local residents, an objector to the application said that:

‘the applicant had taken a rather cavalier approach to the application. Expressing concerns about noise pollution and the impact of the proposals on the local area, the objector said that to approve the application could send out the wrong message to other applicants trying to expand their businesses. Objecting quite fervently to the inappropriateness of the application, (especially in meeting national guidelines and local planning policy), the speaker also criticised the blatant disregard to the council’s local plan. He said that the proposals undermined the council’s core strategy document and could set a precedent for encouraging industrial development in the open countryside, which, in his opinion, would be detrimental to the district’s greatest asset, its natural beauty’.

The applicant said that: -

‘following approval of planning permission in 2008, the business venture at the site had expanded quite considerably. He said that, in response to the demands placed on the business and changes in circumstance, the applicant had felt it was necessary to create additional storage for the machinery and materials at the site. The speaker believed the application complied with planning policy and had the full support of the council’s statutory consultees’.

Committee consideration

Drawing comparisons with the three business related applications considered earlier in the meeting, Councillor Philip Burford said that, on reflection, the expansion of this small agricultural based business was reasonable justification for the proposed development of the site. Noting the lack of objection from the parish council and acknowledging the concerns of the public speaker, Councillor Burford felt that, on balance, the proposals were acceptable. He suggested, however, that the site warranted a good tidy up and approval of the application might encourage this. Some members expressed concern that the application might send out the wrong message and said that it was not a good idea to allow development in the open countryside just to improve the appearance of a site.

Vote

Councillor Philip Burford moved and Councillor David Thomson seconded the officer’s recommendation. A recorded vote was taken and,

For (13)

Councillors James Bevan, Philip Burford, Gethyn Davies, Frankie Evans, Jackie Fraser, Terry Glastonbury, Val Hobman, Gabriella Kirkpatrick, Paul McMahon, Norman Stephens, Lynn Sterry, Arthur Thomas and David Thomson

Against (0)

Abstentions (1)

Councillor Jane Horne