Proposed conversion of existing barns and annex to provide 2 additional dwellinghouses.    

The application was approved in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation.

(Proposed conversion of existing barns and annex to provide 2 additional dwelling houses.)

(Councillor RJ Phillips fulfilled the role of local ward member and accordingly had no vote on this application.)

The Planning Officer gave a presentation on the application, and updates/additional representations received following the publication of the agenda were provided in the update sheet, as appended to these Minutes.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Mr E Pearson-Gregory of Staunton on Wye Parish Council spoke in opposition to the Scheme.  Mrs K Dyke, a local resident, spoke in objection.  Mr A Coppock, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support.

Councillor RJ Phillips was fulfilling the local ward member role on behalf of Councillor Skelton. In accordance with the Council’s Constitution he spoke on the application making the following principal comments:

·        The buildings were a good example of a traditional Herefordshire farmstead.  There were few now remaining.  It was important that the integrity of the site was retained.

·        The application had been the subject of protracted discussions and attended by a number of errors in processing it.  This had created frustration and led to the Parish Council and residents losing confidence in the process.

·        There was particular concern about the unique status of the two barns each of which was listed in its own right.  He questioned whether the Committee had been presented with sufficient information to determine the application and suggested that consideration be deferred pending a full appraisal of the buildings and their setting. 

·        Concerns about drainage and ecology and the suggestion that there was contaminated land on the site also required further consideration.

In the Committee’s discussion of the application the following principal points were made:

·        The proposal appeared capable of being carried out satisfactorily, subject to the proposed conditions and the council maintaining a watching brief to ensure that the character of the buildings was preserved.  It would ensure that the barns were put to good use.

·        Some members spoke in support of deferring consideration of the application until further detailed survey work had been undertaken.

·        It was observed that the Ecologist had initially expressed some concerns about the discharge of phosphates from the proposed package treatment plant to the watercourse, leading to the River Wye SAC/SSSI and it would be important to ensure that the conditions required by the Ecologist were adhered to.

The Lead Development Manager (LDM) commented that condition 3 as set out at page 61 of the agenda papers provided that no development should commence until the specified survey had been carried out.  The historic buildings officer supported the application subject to conditions and Historic England had no objection.  He also clarified in relation to a question about the removal of permitted development rights that condition 4 on page 59 of the agenda papers removed such rights and any proposals to construct new buildings on the site would require an application for planning permission.  In relation to concerns about the sequencing of works and ensuring the completion of works to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 92