Change of use of farm building to B1 use with treatment plant and ancillary works.

Change of use of farm building to B1 use with treatment plant and ancillary works.

The Principal Planning Officer reported the following:

• A letter from the applicant’s agent confirming that the applicant has a right of way to his building and is not required to contribute towards maintenance of the access road. A note defining class B1 is also included.
• A letter from the neighbouring residents withdrawing their objections to the application.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking Mr. Howells spoke in objection to the application and Mr. Griffin, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support.

Councillor J.A. Hyde, the local ward member, felt that the impact of B1 industrial use on the site would have an unacceptable impact on the amenity of local residents. She felt that the previous application for holiday accommodation, dismissed on appeal in 2006, would have been more acceptable to the neighbouring residents. She felt that the A49 was already extremely busy and an increase in traffic could have an impact on highway safety.

The Principal Planning Officer confirmed that as the current use of the site was agricultural a residential type usage would be seen as a last resort by the planning inspector. He confirmed that type B1 usage would be small industrial units and they would therefore not be operating large, noisy equipment.

Councillor J.A. Hyde felt that the application was contrary to policy HBA12 of the Unitary Development Plan and should therefore be refused contrary to the officers recommendation. She also felt that the mix of B1 and residential use was not acceptable and cited highway safety as a further ground for refusal.

Councillor J.B. Williams felt that a B1 usage would result in less noise and disturbance than the sites current agricultural usage.

A number of members felt that holiday accommodation would be more suitable on the site and felt that the B1 usage would have an unacceptable impact on the local residents and the local road network.

In response to a number of points raised by members the Development Control Manager confirmed that the traffic for B1 usage would be similar to a residential use. He confirmed that the Economic Development Team supported the application and that the Highways Agency had not objected. He also confirmed that the only objection from the Traffic Manager related to the number of parking spaces on the site.

RESOLVED

That:   (i)    The Southern Area Planning Sub-Committee is minded to refuse the application subject to the reasons for refusal set out below (and any further reasons for refusal felt to be necessary by the Head of Planning Services) provided that the Head of Planning Services does not refer the application to the Planning Committee:

A)  Contrary to policy HBA12 of the Unitary Development Plan.

B)Unacceptable impact on the amenity of local residents.

C)Highway safety.

(ii)   If the Head of Planning Services does not refer the application to the Planning Committee, Officers named in the Scheme of Delegation to Officers be instructed to refuse the application subject to such reasons for refusal referred to above.

[Note:            Following the vote on this application, the Development Control Manager advised that he would refer the decision to the Head of Planning Services.]