For:            Messrs E & J Price per CJ Watkinson, Brightwells, Cathedral Chambers, Thorpe House, Broad Street, Hereford, HR4 9AS

 

Ward: Castle

The receipt of two letters of objection was reported. It was also reported that the Conservation Officer had no objection to the application.

 

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Major Berry spoke against the application.

 

The Sub Committee debated the concerns raised by the objector regarding noise and effluent and Councillor BF Ashton asked if the application could be deferred pending resolution of these issues.  The question was also raised about whether retrospective consent should be granted at all. The Northern Team Leader said that there were a number of conditions in the recommendation which covered landscaping, noise and drainage and that it would strengthen the enforcement capacity of the officers if permission was granted as recommended.  The Sub Committee still had a number of concerns about these issues and said that it was important for them to be properly addressed within the conditions and subsequently enforced.  It was agreed that the Environmental health Officer should be notified about the objectors’ concerns.

 

RESOLVED

 

That planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

 

1 -     The caravan hereby permitted shall be removed permanently from the site on or before 5 years from the date of this approval and the land reinstated in accordance with details (including timescale) which shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.

 

         Reason:  The local planning authority is not prepared to permit residential caravans in this location other than of a temporary basis having regard to the special circumstances of the case.

 

2 -     No caravan on the site shall be occupied between 1st October in any one year and 1st May in the succeeding year.

 

         Reason:  To prevent the establishment of a residential use in the countryside where it would not normally be permitted.

 

3 -     No external surface of any static caravan hereby approved shall be of a colour other than one which has previously been approved in writing by the local planning authority for that purpose.

 

         Reason:  To minimise visual intrusion.

 

4 -     The foul drainage from the proposed development shall be discharged to a septic tank and soakaway system which meets the requirements of British Standard BS 6297:1983.  There shall be no connection to any watercourse of land drainage system and no part of the soakaway system shall be situated within 10 metres of any ditch or watercourse.

 

         Reason:  To prevent pollution of the water environment.

 

5 -     Within one month of the date of this decision notice a scheme for the provision of storage, prior to disposal, or refuse, crates, packing cases and all other waste materials shall be submitted for the approval of the local planning authority.  The approved scheme shall be implemented prior to the first occupation of the development hereby permitted.

 

         Reason:  In the interests of amenity.

 

6 -     The occupation of the caravans shall be limited to persons in full-time employment at Oakchurch Farm under the Home Office Seasonal Agricultural workers scheme or equivalent, unless otherwise previously agreed in writing by the local planning authority.

 

          Reason:  Planning permission has only been granted given the farming requirements of Oakchurch Farm.

 

7 -     Details of any external lighting proposed to illuminate the development shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.  Development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details and there shall be no other external illumination of the development.

 

         Reason:  To safeguard local amenities.

 

8 -     Full details will be submitted to the Local Planning Authority prior to the first recognised planting season after the issuing by the Council of this approval notice and agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority on details of all boundary tree and hedge planting and internal tree/shrub planting within the caravan park complex.

 

         Reason:  In order to protect the surrounding landscape and improve the visual impact of the development on the surrounding landscape.

 

9 -     All planting, seeding or turfing comprised in the approved details of landscaping shall be carried out in the first planting and seeding seasons following completion of the development, whichever is the sooner, and any trees or plants which within a period of 5 years from the completion of the development die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species, unless the local planning authority gives written consent to any variation.  If any plants fail more than once they shall continue to be replaced on an annual basis until the end of the 5 year  period

 

         Reason:  In order to protect the visual amenities of the area.

 

10 -      The landscaping scheme required by Condition No. 8 above shall include the following:

 

         a)  Full details of all existing physical and landscape features on the site including the position, species, height, girth, spread and condition of all trees, clearly distinguishing between those features to be retained and those to be removed.

         b)  Full details of all proposed fencing, screen walls, hedges, floorscape, earth moulding, tree and shrub planting.

         c)  Full details of all protective measures to prevent damage during the course of development to trees and other features to be retained.

 

         Reason:  In order that the local planning authority may be satisfied that the deposited scheme will meet their requirements.

       

11 -      H30 (Travel plans )

        

         Reason: In order to ensure that the development is carried out in combination with a scheme aimed at promoting the use of a range of sustainable transport initiatives.

 

12 -      Each caravan unit will have its own designated car parking space and sufficient room will be allowed in order that it may enter and leave this space in a forward gear.  The car parking space will be constructed in accordance with full details as approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority within 12 months of the issuing of this approval notice.

 

         Reason:  In the interest of highway safety and to minimise the likelihood of indiscriminate parking.

 

13 -      Within 12 months of the issuing of this approval notice provision for cycle parking will be provided on site in accordance with full details as previously approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

 

         Reason:  In order to ensure that there is adequate provision for secure cycle accommodation within the application site, encouraging alternative modes of transport in accordance with both Local and Nation Planning Policy.

 

14 -   The site shall be securely locked by means of a gate and padlock during the period 1st October and 1st May of the following year.  With no means of public access onto the site.

 

         Reason:  In order to ensure that the site is not in occupation for a full year, as the location is considered unsuitable as a permanent residential site.

 

15 -      Within 3 months of the date of this permission the applicant shall have agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority, a travel plan to ensure that occupiers have sustainable options to gain access to leisure/shopping facilities.

 

         Reason:  To ensure a sustainable option is available to reduce reliance upon car borne transport.

 

16 -   The occupancy of each individual caravan unit will be in accordance with a specification list submitted within one month of the date of this decision notice and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority (or will not exceed these numbers).

 

         Reason:  In order that the Local Planning Authority can have control over the number of persons on site, in the interests of the amenity of the surrounding areas.

 

Informatives:

 

1 -   N15 - Reason(s) for the Grant of PP/LBC/CAC

2 -   HN25 - Travel plans