Conversion of farm buildings to ten holiday units and associated parking and landscaping.

The Principal Planner introduced the application and with reference to the drawings and photographs displayed, he drew Members’ attention to the location and layout. 

Members had undertaken a site visit that morning and had viewed the site and had assessed the impact of a proposal on the surrounding area. 

In accordance with the Local Protocol for Councillors and Officers dealing with Regulatory Matters (Part 5, Paragraph 15) Councillor Cecilia Motley, as local Ward Councillor, made a statement.  She then left the table, took no part in the debate and did not vote on this item.  During her statement, the following points were raised:

·         This application represented a further increase in the number of holiday lets.  If granted, it would mean 34 units in total in a very rural area;

·         She expressed concerns regarding the patio arrangements to the east and questioned why a patio should be located so close to the boundary;

·         Tourism - Norton had already fulfilled its quota;

·         The lane to the site was narrow with too few passing places and was used by loaded farm vehicles as well as other vehicles using the route as a cut-through. More passing places would be needed to minimise disruption on the lane;

·         Landscaping - the complex should not become overbearing on the surrounding landscape;

·         Lighting – light pollution was already an issue so lighting should be low voltage and kept to a minimum; and

·         Ecology – bats were valued in the area so it was important that appropriate conditions should be attached to protect them.

In the ensuing debate, Members considered the submitted plans and noted the comments of all speakers, and it was:

RESOLVED:

That, as per the Officer’s recommendation, planning permission be granted, subject to:

·         The conditions as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, subject to Conditions No. 7 and 9 being amended as follows:

7.    No development shall commence until a lighting plan has been submitted to the local planning authority in writing. The lighting plan shall demonstrate that the proposed lighting will not impact upon the local landscape and ecological networks and/or sensitive features, e.g. bat and bird boxes (required under a separate planning condition). The submitted scheme shall be designed to take into account the advice on lighting set out in the Bat Conservation Trust’s Artificial lighting and wildlife: Interim Guidance: Recommendations to help minimise the impact artificial lighting (2014).  The development shall be completed in accordance with the approved details.

Reason: To safeguard the visual amenities of the open countryside and minimise disturbance to bats, in accordance with Policies CS5, CS6 and CS17 of the Shropshire Local Development Framework Adopted Core Strategy.

9.    No development shall commence until a scheme for the provision of formal vehicular passing places between the application site and Greenway Cross to the north and between the application site and Onibury to the south, has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.   The approved scheme shall be implemented fully through an agreement under Section 278 of the Highways Act 1980 before the first occupation of the holiday accommodation hereby permitted.

Reason: In the interests of highway safety, in accordance with Policies CS6 and CS7 of the Shropshire Local Development Framework Adopted Core Strategy.

(At this juncture, the meeting adjourned at 04:36 pm and reconvened at 04:43 pm.)