Outline planning application for construction of a three bedroom dwelling.

Outline planning application for construction of a three bedroom dwelling.

The Principal Planning Officer reported the following:

Orcop Parish Council stated that they fully support the application on the grounds that young people should be encouraged to stay within the Parish.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Mr McRae spoke in objection to the application, and Mr Heath, the applicant, spoke in support.

Councillor RH Smith, the local ward member, noted that the status, character and intentions of the applicant were not material planning considerations but felt that they did have some bearing on applications under UDP policies H7, H8, and E11. He advised the sub-committee that a separate approval was being sought for a small workshop to relocate the applicant’s blacksmithing business which had been operating successfully for 3 ½ years. He noted that the applicant had provided full financial details of his business and also detailed areas of possible expansion.

Councillor Smith felt that the application related to an existing, highly successful, rural business and was therefore supported by UDP policies H7.2 and H8. He added that the applicant had provided evidence that no suitable accommodation was available for conversion and that housing rarely became available in the area, and when it did it was well outside the reach of the first time buyer.

Councillor Smith noted that the application site was less than a mile away from the applicant’s workshop and he felt that this was a reasonable distance. In summing up he felt that adequate justification did exist for a dwelling on the site; that some landscape impact was inevitable but could be mitigated through conditions; and that access issues could also be addressed accordingly. He therefore felt that the application should be approved in accordance with UDP Policies H7.2 and H8.

Councillor PD Price noted the applicant’s comments in respect of the rural housing project undertaken in Golden Valley. He noted that the community and the Parish Council were in support of the application and felt that the Council should support a small rural business.

In response to the previous comments the Southern Team Leader advised members that if they were in support of the application in principle the planning department still had reservations in respect of the site location due to its considerable distance away from the applicant’s workshop and its impact on the wider landscape.

Councillor RH Smith felt that a suitable condition could be added to any planning approval in order to address any concerns in respect of restriction of usage to a rural usage.

RESOLVED

The Southern Area Planning Sub-Committee is minded to approve the application subject to the conditions set out below (and any further conditions felt to be necessary by the Head of Planning and Transportation) provided that the Head of Planning and Transportation does not refer the application to the Planning Committee.

            1) Restricted Occupancy Condition

If the Head of Planning and Transportation does not refer the application to the Planning Committee, officers named in the Scheme of Delegation to Officers be instructed to approve the application subject to such conditions referred to above.

[The Southern Team Leader advised members that he would refer the application to the Head of Planning and Transportation]