Erection of polytunnels to cover cherry orchard and construction of a balance pond.

The application was approved in accordance with 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.

 

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Miss Watson, representing some of the local residents, spoke in objection to the application and Mr Hammond, the applicant, spoke in support.

 

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

 

·         There had been 120 letters of objection and 50 letters of support for the application, however Huntington only had an electoral roll of 88.

·         The National Planning Policy Framework supported sustainable economic growth; the expansion and diversification in agriculture; and also stated that the Council should seek to approve sustainable development.

·         The Council’s officers did not object to the application.

·         There was no evidence to suggest that polytunnels affected tourism.

 

The debate was opened with a member noting that he was disappointed that the cherry trees had already been planted prior to planning permission being granted. He also noted the concerns of the local residents in response to comments regarding the lack of local employment opportunities, however he considered that in his experience with fruit farms in his area, local people did not apply for the jobs when they were advertised. In summing up he drew Members attention to the time limited nature of the application and considered that it should be approved.

 

Members discussed the application and voiced some concern in respect of the proposed landscaping condition. They noted that screening could take some time to mature and requested that mature screening be incorporated to reduce any impact on the neighbouring dwellings.

 

There was some debate in respect of the possible impact the application would have on tourism in the area. It was noted that tourism bought £412,000,000 into the Herefordshire economy in 2012 and that this should not be jeopardised through any development.

 

In response to the points raised, the Principal Planning Officer advised that the Transportation Manager had not objected to the applications and that workers were currently being transported from Ledbury to a neighbouring site, therefore traffic movements would not increase. He also advised that landscaping, as well as a 30m buffer zone, had been offered by the applicant. Members noted the condition and requested that any landscaping had to have an immediate effect.

 

Another Member of the Committee had concerns in respect of the application and its impact on the neighbouring bed and breakfast business. He asked Members to consider all of the local businesses that could be affected by the proposed polytunnels. He noted the Officer’s comments but stated that there would be additional vehicular movements as workers would still need to be transported between the two sites. He also expressed concerns regarding landscaping and questioned whether the polytunnels would ever be able to blend into the landscape.

 

Some further concern was expressed in respect of highway movements with members noting that the roads around the farm were very narrow with few passing points. Members noted that agricultural workers would be transported from Ledbury and had some concern regarding early morning and late night transportation. They therefore requested that a travel plan condition be added to the recommendation and also requested that consideration be given to passing points along the narrow roads.

 

In response to the points raised by the Committee, the Development Manager noted that the application was finely balanced and advised that a travel plan condition could address the concerns raised regarding vehicle movements. He also added that the applicant had offered additional landscaping but that this could be enhanced further through planning conditions if required. The Committee requested that time restrictions on movements and passing points be considered in the travel plan.

 

Councillor Hope was given the opportunity to close the debate. He reiterated his opening remarks and requested that the application be approved.

 

RESOLVED

 

That planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

 

1.         A01 Time limit for commencement (full permission)

 

2.         B01 Development in accordance with the approved plans

 

3.         G10 Landscaping scheme

 

4.         G11 Landscaping scheme - implementation

 

5.         No polytunnel or associated development will be situated within 30 metres of the boundary of any residential curtilage of any dwelling house that is located outside of the application site. This land shall not be used in connection with the growing of cherries on site, including such uses as ancillary storage, servicing or for staff welfare facilities or congregating areas.

 

Reason: To safeguard the amenities of the occupiers of dwelling houses within the immediate vicinity and to comply with Policy DR2 of the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan.

 

6.         In the event of any polytunnel hereby permitted becoming redundant for the growing of cherries upon the application site, the poly tunnel which includes the supporting structure shall be removed off site within a period of 6 months of it being last used for cherry production.

 

Reason: To ensure that any structure that becomes redundant for fruit production does not remain on site and to comply with Policy LA2 of the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan.

 

7.         None of the poly tunnels hereby permitted shall be covered with polythene during the period from 1st October until April 1st in the following year.

 

Reason: To ensure that the visual impact of the development hereby permitted is limited to the growing season during leaf cover and to comply with Policy LA2 of the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan.

 

8.         None of the poly tunnels hereby permitted shall be lit with artificial lighting.

 

Reason: In the interests of the visual amenity and to comply with Policies DR2 and DR4 of the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan.

 

9.         The polytunnels and any supporting infrastructure hereby permitted shall be removed off site within 20 years of the date of this planning permission and the land afterwards will be returned back to its original condition in accordance with a timetable to be submitted to the Local Planning Authority no later than 19 years of the date of this planning approval.

 

Reason: In consideration of the visual and amenity impact on the surrounding landscape and the life expectancy of the cherry crop and to comply with Policies DR2 and LA2 of the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan.

 

10.       There shall be no raising of ground levels within flood zone 3, the ‘high risk area’ 1% annual probability floodplain, of the site.

 

Reason: To alleviate the increased risk of flooding and to comply with Policy DR7 of the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan.

 

11.       Prior to any development on site, full details will be submitted to the Local Planning Authority and approved in writing with regards to implementation of a working method statement and a habitat enhancement scheme. This shall be based on the recommendations in the ecological report dated 9 October 2012 and include full details and timetables for the:

 

·      construction and habitat enhancement of the irrigation pond and associated works to the stream;

·      swale construction between the poly tunnels in Field 4 and land that is to remain as permanent pasture;

·      management of buffer strips alongside all boundaries and watercourses, and;

·      management of the remaining permanent pasture land, hedgerows, the River Arrow and the tributary stream.

 

Reason: In consideration of the ecological impact of the development and mitigation requirements and to comply with Policies NC1, NC4, NC6, NC7 and NC8 of the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan in relation to nature conservation and biodiversity and to meet the requirements of The National Planning Policy Framework and the NERC Act 2006.

 

12.       H30 - Travel Plan condition

 

Informatives:

 

1.         The Local Planning Authority has acted positively and proactively in determining this application by assessing the proposal against planning policy and any other material considerations. Negotiations in respect of matters of concern with the application (as originally submitted) have resulted in amendments to the proposal.  As a result, the Local Planning Authority has been able to grant planning permission for an acceptable proposal, in accordance with the presumption in favour of sustainable development, as set out within the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

2.         The applicant is reminded that the adjacent public rights of way must be kept open and free from obstruction at all times.

 

3.         The local Planning Authority will be expecting an enhanced landscaping submission as required by condition number 4 to provide for landscaping to protect nearby residents.