Agenda item

Full Application - Change of use of land to a seasonal caravan & camping site and change of use of an outbuilding for mixed use at Wallbrook House, Higg Lane, Longnor

Minutes:

 

Members had visited the site on the previous day.

 

The Planning Officer reported that the applicant had submitted an ecology report but this had arrived too late to be included in the Planning Committee report.  The Authority’s Ecologist had been consulted and agreed there was nothing in the ecology report to change the officer recommendation.

 

The following spoke under the Public Participation at Meetings Scheme:

 

  • Dr Peter Owens, Objector
  • Barbara Simpson, Objector
  • Beth Simpson, Objector
  • Paula Goodwin, Applicant’s daughter
  • Dean Goodwin, Applicant’s son

 

Members noted that the key issue of the application was the landscape impact as the site is in an isolated and exposed area which was clearly visible from the surrounding countryside.  The operation was run as a permitted development in association with the Camping & Caravan Club and Natural England who had issued a certificate to allow five caravans and unlimited tent pitches on the site, the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme also hold an exemption certificate for the use of an additional area for Duke of Edinburgh Scheme participants to use.

 

The Officer recommendation to refuse the application was moved and seconded, put to the vote and carried.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the application be REFUSED for the following reasons:

 

1.

By virtue of the siting and layout of the proposed touring caravan pitches in this exposed field setting and with the potential of unrestricted numbers 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 generally 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, including the provisions of Paragraph 115 relating to development in National Parks.

 

2.

Owing to the increased use and close proximity of the camping site to nearby residential property, it is considered the proposed development would materially harm the living conditions of the occupiers of that dwelling. As such, it would conflict with Core Strategy Policy GSP3 and Local Plan Policy LC4, which seek amongst other things, to safeguard residential amenity.

 

3.

Insufficient evidence has been provided to allow the Authority to properly determine whether the proposed development would not harm protected species, contrary to Core Strategy policy L2 and Local Plan policy LC17.

 

 

 

Supporting documents: