Agenda item

Members had visited the site on the previous day.

The Head of Development Management introduced the report and noted that the applicant had the option to apply for a licence for the use of the land for touring caravans and camping but had chosen to apply for planning permission.

Members noted that during the site visit it has appeared that the activity carried out on site were not those specified in the application and this raised concerns regarding the visual impact of the proposal.

The Officer recommendation to refuse the application was moved and seconded.

The Head of Development Management confirmed that an investigation into the activity on the site would be added to the Enforcement Team workload.

The Officer recommendation was voted on and carried.

RESOLVED:

To REFUSE the application for the following reasons:

1. By virtue of the setting and layout of the prosed touring caravan pitches in this exposed field setting and with the potential of unrestricted number of tents, the proposed development would appear unduly intrusive, having an unacceptable adverse visual impact on the character and appearance of the surrounding open landscape and the general tranquil amenity of the area, harming the valued characteristics of the National Park. This would be contrary to Core Strategy policies GSP1, GSP3, L1 and RT3, saved Local Plan policies LC4 and LR3 and to policies in the National Planning Policy Framework.

2. Owing to the use, and unrestricted number of tents and close proximity of the camping site to nearby residential properties, the proposed development would materially harm the amenity of the occupiers of these dwellings. As such, it would conflict with the Core Strategy Policy GSP3 and Local Plan Policy LC4, which seek to safeguard residential amenity.

3. Insufficient evidence has been provided to allow the Authority to properly determine the likely impact on protected species and ecological interests, contrary to Core Strategy policy L2 and Local Plan policy LC17.