Conversion of rural building to one dwelling and construction of new vehicular access.

The application was approved contrary to the case officer’s recommendation.

The Principal 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. She advised the Committee of one amendment to paragraph 5.3 of the report as six letters of support had been received not four.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Mr Day, the applicant, spoke in support of his application.

In accordance with paragraph 4.8.2.2 of the Council’s Constitution, Councillor PM Morgan, the local ward member, commented on a number of issues, including:

·         The applicant was a local agricultural worker who wished to build a home close to where he currently lived with his family.

·         The proposed accommodation was modest in size.

·         The conservation manager had objected to the application.

·         The existing building was an historic building of local importance and dated back to the hop growing era.

·         The local history society was in favour of retaining the building.

·         The site should not be considered as open countryside, there were a number of dwelling sin close proximity.

·         The proposed application would result in a sustainable development.

·         Issues relating to ecology and water quality could be addressed through conditions.

Members discussed the application and were broadly in support of it. However they did have a number of concerns which they felt could be adequately addressed through appropriate conditions.

A motion to approve the application, citing Unitary Development Plan Policies HBA12, HBA13, S1, S2 and DR2, was moved and seconded.

The Head of Neighbourhood Planning advised Members to consider the three reasons for refusal listed in the officer’s recommendation. He advised that reason two had been addressed by the Committee; that reason one needed to be addressed and that reason three could be addressed through a delegated approval subject to Habitat Regulations being met.

Members discussed the concerns regarding the second reason for refusal and stated that they were of the opinion that the current building was of historic value and was worthy of being retained therefore the application was in accordance with UDP Policies HBA12 and H7. They requested that a condition be added to require the applicant to adhere to a scheme of construction to ensure the existing external walls were retained.

Members continued to discuss conditions which they wished to see attached to the planning permission. As well as the previously mentioned condition addressing a scheme of construction they also requested that an agricultural tie be added as well as the removal of permitted development rights.

The Head of Neighbourhood Planning requested that the condition in respect of the removal of permitted development rights be amended to allow solar panels to be installed at the site.

The mover and seconder of the original motion amended the motion to include a reference to the three proposed conditions as well as any further conditions deemed necessary by officers.

Councillor Morgan was given the opportunity to close the debate. She reiterated her opening remarks and requested that the application be approved.

RESOLVED

THAT subject to further consideration of the watercourse matters, in relation to the Habitat Regulations, officers named in the Scheme of Delegation of Officers (in consultation with the Chairman and Local Ward Member) be authorised to grant planning permission, subject to the following conditions:

1.         F27 Agricultural occupancy

2.         F14 Removal of permitted development rights

3.         A Scheme of Construction  to be submitted for approval ensuring a conversion and not new build

and any further conditions considered necessary by officers.

Reasons for Approval: The application complies with UDP Policy H7, as a re-use of a rural building, in accordance with policies HBA12 and HBA13, as the building is considered by the council to have historical benefits in relation to the  hop picking that was undertaken in the area. The scheme of conversion ensures that this historical reference is retained through the conversion.