To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Paul Andrews, Clare Davies, Elizabeth Foxton, Tony Johnson and Jeremy Milln,.

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

Councillor Toni Fagan acted as a substitute for Councillor Jeremy Milln

Councillor Barry Durkin acted as a substitute for Councillor Tony Johnson.

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.

Councillor Yolande Watson declared an interest in respect of item no. 8, application 202258 - Sapness Farm, Woolhope: as a member of the Wye Valley AONB Joint Advisory Committee. Councillor Yolande Watson declared an interest in respect of item no.6, application 213836 – Land at Warmhill and Hengrove Woodland, Deepdean – as her partner worked for the Woodland Trust and was a volunteer speaker for ancient woodlands and had been supportive of representatives of the residents.

Councillor Sebastian Bowen declared previous involvement in the racing industry as a jockey and a trainer and sought confirmation from the senior lawyer that this would not mean he was debarred from speaking and voting on application 202258 - Sapness Farm, Woolhope. The senior lawyer advised that as long as Councillor Bowen had no connection with the applicant or landowner it would be fine. Councillor Bowen confirmed that he had no connection to the applicant or land owner.

Councillor Barry Durkin declared an interest in respect of item no. 8, application 202258 - Sapness Farm, Woolhope: as a member of the Wye Valley AONB Joint Advisory Committee.

Councillor John Hardwick declared an interest in respect of item no. 8, application 202258 - Sapness Farm, Woolhope: as a member of the Wye Valley AONB Joint Advisory Committee.

Councillor Felicity Norman declared sporadic voluntary work for the Woodland Trust, but stated that her work had no direct connection to any of the applications.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 10 August 2022.

Councillor John Hardwick stated he had sent an email highlighting an inaccuracy in the minutes regarding the reasons for rejecting application 204443 – Land Adjacent to the Old Kilns, Church Lane, Howle Hill. The minutes recorded a reference to WALF1, but during the meeting of the 10^th it was policy WALF4 that was referred to. A request to amend this was noted.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 10 August 2022 be approved with the amendment.

To receive any announcements from the Chairperson.

The Chairman announced a change of application running order, Item 8 would be the first application to be heard.

Retrospective erection of new stables and turn out paddocks, with associated works.

Application deferred pending additional reports on ecology, manure/waste management and hydrology.

(Councillor Barry Durkin left the committee to act as local ward member for the next application.)

The 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 Slocombe, Chair of Woolhope Parish Council, spoke in support of the application and Mr Loyd, local resident, spoke in objection.

In accordance with the council's constitution the local ward member spoke on the application. He believed that the application represented further over development of an already over developed site in a rural location. The application would cause detrimental damage to the environment and lives of local residents including those beyond the parish of Woolhope. It was pointed out that these were National Hunt stables and that when the season commenced the amount of work, traffic and disruption would increase. The ward member stated he was generally supportive of businesses in rural areas, however as an objective of the core strategy they should not cause unacceptable adverse impact to the amenity of nearby residents with regard to traffic management, environment/ecology and biodiversity. Risks to nearby wildlife, including various breeds of bat, were identified and the increased number of horses on the site would potentially have an adverse impact on water supplies to local residents. More detail on the manure management plan would also be a reasonable expectation.

The Committee debated the application. A motion that the application be deferred was proposed by Councillor Yolande Watson and seconded by Councillor Fagan. The deferral involved requests for a full ecological report, manure management plan, hydrogeological survey and a landscape officer assessment to be submitted. The motion was put to the vote and was carried by a simple majority.

RESOLVED: That the planning application be deferred until a full ecological report, manure management plan, hydrogeological survey and landscape officer assessment have been submitted.

(There was an adjournment at 11:05 a.m.; the meeting reconvened at 11:15 a.m.)

(Councillor Barry Durkin resumed his seat on the committee)

Proposed change of use of existing forestry shed, lean-to and open hardstanding area from forestry to a mixed use of forestry and forestry-related light industry and timber-based craft workshops.

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

(Councillor Watson left the meeting at 11:16 a.m.)

The planning officer gave a presentation on the application

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking Ms Mckenna, local resident, spoke on behalf of local residents in objection to the application, and Mr Hamilton, agent, spoke on behalf of the applicant, to support the application.

In accordance with the council's constitution the proxy for the local ward member spoke on the application. In summary he commented that the application would potentially impact surrounding tourist-based businesses and that noise pollution from windows and doors be left open would disturb the tranquillity of the area and be difficult to police. The development was contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework (paragraph 180) which sought to restrict development resulting in the deterioration of irreplaceable habitats such as ancient woodland unless there are wholly exceptional reasons for doing so. The application would increase human activity in the area, disturbing and displace mammals and birds, and causing damage to the woodland ecosystems.

Walford’s NDP supports proposals which result in a net gain of biodiversity. The proxy for the local ward member proposed the development was contrary to RA5 as it was not compatible with neighbouring uses and will cause undue environmental impacts and RA6 because of its scale. Furthermore the application did not comply with LD2 in relation to the retention and protection of nature conservation sites and LD3 protection and retention of existing green infrastructure due to increased personnel and traffic.

It was also stated that the application was contrary to E4 as it doesn’t utilize or enhance the County’s unique environmental heritage assets and SS1 as it doesn’t serve and enhance environmental assets.

The Committee debated the application.

The proxy for the local ward member was given the opportunity to close the debate and urged that the conditions of the “beefed up” in relation to hours of operation, soundproofing of the unit and work being carried out internally with all doors and windows closed.

The lead development manager stated that these requested alterations were already covered off within condition 4 of the paper.

A motion to approve the application consistent with the case officer’s recommendation was proposed by Councillor Polly Andrews and seconded by Councillor Paul Rone. The motion was put to the vote and carried by a simple majority.

RESOLVED – That subject to the receipt of a positive response from Natural England in relation to the Habitat Regulations Appropriate Assessment, planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions and any other further conditions/amendments considered necessary by officers named in the scheme of delegation to officers:

Proposed rural tourism venture, to include: conversion of two barns to provide 2 no. holiday lets, proposed 3 no. new holiday let units, proposed recreation barn with indoor swimming pool and separate proposed BBQ pavilion, use of existing bungalow as holiday let, car parking and landscaping.

Application approved in accordance with the case officer’s recommendation, with an alteration to the conditions.

(Councillor Toni Fagan left the committee to act as local ward member for the next application.)

(Councillor Watson resumed her seat on the committee.)

The 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 Bothamley, local resident, spoke in objection to the application and Ms. Watkins, planning agent, spoke in support of the application.

In accordance with the council's constitution the local ward member spoke on the application. It was questioned whether the scale of the development was contrary to RA6. Concerns about the scale of the development and the impact on the local road network were raised. Those opposed to the development suggest it would create an unsustainable pattern of development, which would have a direct impact on the rural road network of narrow country lanes, which aligned with essential drainage ditches and very few passing places. The committee was asked to consider whether the application complied with paragraph 84 of the NPPF in relation to impact on local roads? Does the proposal comply with the core strategies of RA6 in relation to scale and is the harm to the rural countryside balanced by Policy E4, which encourages sustainable tourism that is not damaging to the character or quality of the environment.

The committee debated the application.

The Lead development manager suggested that the motion proposers delegate to the case officer the task of adding an extra condition relating to the inclusion of additional passing bays and water harvesting plans. The lead development manager confirmed that the alterations to the conditions would be implemented through the delegation to offices contained in the recommendation

The local ward member closed the debate and referred to the water harvesting and additional passing bays and welcomes these additions.

A motion to approve the application consistent with the case officer’s recommendation and the alterations to the conditions, as listed above, was proposed by Councillor Boulter and seconded by Councillor John Stone. The motion was put to the vote and carried by simple majority.

RECOMMENDATION

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:

Date of next site inspection – 27 September

Date of next meeting – 28 September

28^th September 2022