This report seeks to approve the application of the development guidance principles contained in the Polytunnels Planning Guide 2018, which brings up to date the previous Polytunnels Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) 2008. This will provide planning guidance to prospective planning applicants, officers and members of the council and other interested parties on the erection of polytunnel structures.

That:

The Polytunnels Planning Guide 2018 at appendix 1 is approved for development management and public use to supplement national and local planning policies; and will constitute a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

1.          Not to use the Polytunnels Guide for planning advice to supplement non-specific national and Core Strategy policies and any polytunnel related policies of adopted Neighbourhood Plans. Since there is no polytunnel-specific planning policy guidance at national or local level, this document is considered to be important in setting out the key considerations used in determining planning applications for this type of development. Soft fruit production in Herefordshire is significant, therefore additional planning guidance is considered to be useful to both the public and officers of the council alike.

2.          To prepare a new supplementary planning document in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) Regulations 2012.The advantage of this would be to ensure that there is a formal SPD carrying significant weight as a material consideration in planning applications. The disadvantage would be the significant resource pressure that producing such a document would incur at a time when the Council’s priorities are to produce Development Plan Documents.