Erection of two poultry sheds with office/wash facilities; 4 feed silos; creation of vehicular access with visibility splays, estate road and yard; formation of screening bunds.

In accordance with his declarations at Minute No. 68, Councillor David Evans left the room during consideration of this item.

Councillor David Turner took the Chair.

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

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. 

Members noted the additional information as set out in the Schedule of Additional Letters circulated prior to the meeting.

Mr B Archer, on behalf of residents of Munslow and Aston Munslow, spoke against the proposal in accordance with the Council’s Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committees.

Councillor A Evans, representing Munslow Parish Council, spoke against the proposal in accordance with the Council’s Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committees.

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

·         This was yet another application for poultry sheds in the Corvedale;

·         She acknowledged the need for diversification and the benefits this could bring to a community, but this development was large scale, would sit in an isolated position and take up good agricultural land;

·         Tourism was becoming increasingly important to the economy in Shropshire.  This proposal would not enhance the surrounding landscape and because of the prevailing topography it would mean that not only would there be an impact from the main road but more so from the back roads.  If permitted, she urged Members to consider ways to mitigate the impact on the surrounding area;

·         The proposal would only create 1f.t.e.,would only be of economic benefit to the applicant and would not enhance the local economy;  

·         The villages of Aston Munslow and Munslow were both conservation areas.  This proposal would be contrary to Core Strategy Policies CS5 and CS6 which strove to protect and enhance the local historic environment; and

·         With reference to Core Strategy Policy CS17, she urged Members to consider the cumulative impact of ammonia emissions.

Ms M Seedhouse, the agent, spoke for the proposal in accordance with the Council’s Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committees and responded to questions from Members.

In the ensuing debate, Members considered the submitted plans and noted the comments of all speakers.  The Planning Ecologist responded to questions from Members relating to ammonia emissions and the viability and use of ammonia scrubber systems for this site.  In response to concerns expressed by some Members regarding highway safety, the Principal Planner explained that Highways had raised no objections to the scheme.  The existing speed limits and proposed visibility splays were commensurate with the road network and met national standards.

To help mitigate the impact on the surrounding area, Members requested that the surrounding hedges and bunds be further enhanced with the planting of semi-mature trees and locally sourced native planting.  Members also requested that all external surfaces be BS18B29. 

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;

·             The surrounding hedges and bunds to be further enhanced with the planting of semi-mature trees and the use of locally sourced native planting;

·             The external surfaces of the development to be BS18B29; and

·             Planning Officers be granted delegated powers to amend any conditions as deemed necessary.

At this juncture, the Chairman returned and took the chair.