Apologies were received from Councillors CR Butler, PGH Cutter, DW Greenow, MD Lloyd-Hayes, NE Shaw, and WC Skelton.

To receive details of any Member nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Committee.

Councillor RJ Phillips substituted for Councillor DW Greenow, Councillor D Summers for Councillor MD Lloyd-Hayes and Councillor EJ Swinglehurst for Councillor NE Shaw.

To receive declarations of interests in respect of Schedule 1, Schedule 2 or Other Interests from members of the committee in respect of items on the agenda.

Agenda item 5 – 172156 – Hazlefield, Broad Oak

Councillor EJ Swinglehurst declared an other declarable interest because she knew the applicant and their family and was a member of Welsh Newton and Llanrothal Group Parish Council – a consultee on the application.

Agenda item 6 – New House Farm, New House Farm Barn, Grafton Lane, Grafton

Councillor J Hardwick declared an other declarable interest as he knew the applicant.

Councillor SD Williams declared a Schedule 1 interest and left the meeting during the consideration of the application.

Agenda item 7 – The Master’s House, St Katherines, High Street, Ledbury

Councillor EL Holton declared that she was the council’s representative on the Malvern Hills Trust and that she was the adjoining ward member.

To receive any announcements from the Chairperson.

The Vice-Chairman reported that Mr Roland Close, Principal Planning Officer, was leaving the authority.  On behalf of the Committee he thanked Mr Close for his work and wished him well for the future.

Erection of dwelling for agricultural manager. 

(Erection of dwelling for agricultural manager.)

The Senior Planning Officer (SPO) 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 G Breakwell, the applicant, spoke in support of the application.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the local ward member, Councillor DG Harlow, spoke on the application.

He made the following principal comments:

·        He stated that he lived about a mile from the site and his property was surrounded by the applicant’s land.  The property had at one time been the applicant’s farmhouse.  However, he had not purchased it from the applicant but from a subsequent owner.  He knew the applicant but not socially.

·        He could confirm from his local knowledge that the applicant cared for the farm.  It was sensible in the interests of animal welfare for a farmer to live on the farm.  Currently the applicant had lived on site for 12 years in a caravan.  The farm had been farmed by the family for 100 years.

·        There were several letters in support of the application with little opposition.

·        The dwelling would not be visible from the road and would only be visible to a very few properties.  It would not inconvenience anyone and the council should show flexibility.

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

·        There was a wish to support a family seeking to hand down a farm through thegenerations and there was some sympathy for the personal situation of the applicant.

·        There had been a bungalow on site with an agricultural tie.  The applicants had applied to have this removed and the property had subsequently been sold four years ago.  This action appeared contrary to the stated wish to enable the family to live on site and expand the business.

·        It was noted that the agricultural consultant had concluded that there was no essential need for the development of a further dwelling.  Some members disagreed asserting that someone needed to be on site to deal with animal welfare issues.

·        The SPO referred members to the committee update which contained revised information on the size of the landholding and numbers of livestock.  She confirmed that she had sought and received confirmation from the agricultural consultant that his opinion had been based on that information. There was one property on site with an agricultural tie and one property, the converted barn, with no tie that was occupied by the applicant’s parents.

·        The proposal was contrary to policies RA3, RA4, SD1 and LD1.

·        The Parish Council opposed the proposal.

·        The design was not of sufficient quality or suitable for the site.  It would be visually prominent from some aspects.  There had been no effort to screen the building.  A proposal for a modest and functional building would have been more appropriate.

The Lead Development Manager confirmed that the caravan on site was currently  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74.

Proposed change of use of residential dwelling to office accommodation.

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

(Proposed change of use of residential dwelling to office accommodation.)

(Councillor Williams having declared an interest left the meeting for the consideration of this application.  Councillor Holton left the meeting during part of the debate and accordingly had no vote on this application.)

The Senior 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 H Bryant of Callow and Haywood Group Parish Council spoke in opposition to the Scheme.  Ms J Hardy, a local resident, spoke in objection.  Mr P Lewis, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the local ward member, Councillor JF Johnson, spoke on the application.

He made the following principal comments:

·        He had redirected the application because of the level of concern expressed by local residents, mostly living along Grafton lane.  The road was narrow and at peak hours was a rat-run to the A49.  During consideration of the Southern link road there had been discussions as to whether the road should be closed off as a through road and as part of the national cycleway.

·        The proposal would increase traffic and those traffic movements would take place during peak hours.

·        There was a Christmas tree business on the site but he was not aware from the highways team that this caused any major issues.

·        The Parish Council had raised the point that there had not been a design and access statement making it difficult for them to consider the application.

·        There was a view that it was not the right place to start a commercial enterprise.

·        Whilst there had been rumours about what might happen on the site he recognised that the Committee was determining the application before it.

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

·        Rural businesses could have difficulty finding sites.  The site was suitable for its proposed use.

·        The concerns of local residents that the use of a site could change was acknowledged.  However, the proposed conditions clearly restricted the use of the site to an administrative function.

·        The Parish Council’s objection was noted.

·        Additional conditions were suggested relating to the hedgerow, traffic, working hours and bat welfare and an informative requested making clear that the permission was solely for a facility for the administration of the business due to traffic concerns.

The Lead Development Manager commented that the conditions could be included.  He added that the Transportation Manager had informed him that whilst the proposal was acceptable there would be concerns if there were to be any expansion of the facility.  However, that would need to be the subject of another application.

The local ward member was given the opportunity to close the debate.  He commented on the importance of the proposed conditions to ensure that there were restrictions to prevent traffic going to and from the site at all  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.

Landscaping of the masters house to enhance its setting.

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

(Landscaping of the Master’s House to enhance its setting.)

(Councillor Phillips had left the meeting and was not present during consideration of this application.) 

The Principal Planning Officer gave a presentation on the application.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Fran Robinson, a local resident, spoke in objection to the proposal.  Ms R Sears, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the local ward member, Councillor EPJ Harvey, spoke on the application.

She made the following principal comments:

·        In principle she supported the proposal.

·        She expressed a number of reservations relating to the sale of St Katherine’s Barn and the implications for the successful landscaping of the area.

·        She noted that one of the aims of the landscaping scheme had been to bring the complex of buildings together as a whole.  It was important that this was achieved. 

·        Historic England had asked for car parking space to be moved back from the buildings to create an improved setting.  A revised car parking scheme had been developed but was being dealt with separately from the planning application.  This meant there was no assurance this would be achieved.  She was concerned that the proposal might conflict with the alternative layout.

·        The removal of 3 car parking spaces to the north would enhance the view of the master’s house but these spaces were amongst the few that enabled people with reduced mobility, but without disabled badges, to access and exit their vehicles easily. Without agreement to the revised car park layout there was no indication as to whether these would be recreated elsewhere in the car park.

·        The existing self-binding gravel was being carried into the Master’s house, damaging flooring.  It would be good to avoid further damage.

·        The positioning of the planters would prevent the use of the space for market stalls and limit the utility for outside events. If the area between the Master’s House and the car park was to be cordoned off and used for a market area in future the current landscaping proposals would not provide the necessary power supply points.

·        The planters would also have a negative impact on the use of the outside space in conjunction with the use of St Katherine’s Barn as a venue.  Whilst that was a private enterprise the council should seek to ensure that the space was developed to achieve the best for the whole community.

·        The scheme was welcome and an important investment in the public realm.  However, she was keen for it to be ensured that the scheme integrated with plans for the car parking remodelling and that the completed project achieved the vision for the site.

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

·        The Friends of the Master’s House and Ledbury Civic Society supported the proposal.

·        Whilst some car parking was necessary it was to be hoped that the future remodelling would maximise the benefits to the setting that could be obtained.

·        The proposal had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

Date of next site inspection – Monday 17 December 2018

Date of next meeting – Tuesday 18 December 2018

Noted.