To erect up to 9.5 hectares of fixed Polytunnels over arable (soft fruit); the relocation and upgrading of a farm access/egress on the C1124; the erection of a 648 m2 profiled-steel-clad portal frame General Purpose Agricultural Storage Building; the erection of 6 no. 14.7 metre diameter 600 m3 capacity Water Storage Tanks. Laying out and surfacing (in loose granular material) of internal farm tracks.

Application approved, in accordance with the case officer’s recommendation.

Councillor Peter Hamblin left the committee to act as the local ward member for the following application.

The principal planning officer gave a presentation on the application and the updates/representations received following the publication of the agenda, as provided in the update sheet and appended to these minutes.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking Mr Lees, spoke on behalf of Marden Parish Council, Mrs Suart, local resident, spoke in objection to the application and Mr White, on behalf of the applicant, spoke in support.

In accordance with the council's constitution the local ward member spoke on the application. In summary, he explained that the applicant was a successful and significant local business and employer. The current application had involved extensive consultation and a number of representations had been made in objection and support. As a consequence of the representations received the application had been amended. A number of objections focused on highways issues but these had been addressed and it was confirmed that there would be a minor amount of vehicle movements, involving tractors and trailers, to the site.

The committee debated the application. During the course of the debate the committee encouraged the extension of the 30 mph speed limit up to the proposed entrance to the development and the replacement of any hedging lost as a consequence of the entrance to the site.

The local ward member was given the opportunity to close the debate.

A motion that the application be approved in accordance with the case officer’s recommendation was proposed by Councillor Bruce Baker and seconded by Councillor Richard Thomas. The motion was put to the vote and was carried by a simple majority.

RESOLVED – that:

That planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions and any other further conditions considered necessary by officers named in the scheme of delegation to officers: