Decision details

Proposal Description: Item 7: Retrospective planning application for an agricultural polytunnel and     solar battery and animal feed store (resubmission of application 21/01858/FUL

The application was introduced. A verbal update was provided at the meeting by the planning case officer noting the wording to condition 2 to be changed to read ‘Within three months of this permission. Details of materials for the finishing of the storeroom to be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority’.

Councillor Wallace spoke as Ward Member in objection to the application. In summary, Councillor Wallace raised the following points:

·       Councillor Wallace highlighted that this particular site had a history of planning issues, requiring significant officer time and generating considerable resident interest.

·       He acknowledged that while there had been pushback against the appearance of the polytunnel, this had been accepted by the inspector.

·       Stated that the primary remaining concern related to drainage.

·       Councillor Wallace explained that the polytunnel and associated structures supported the applicant's agricultural activities and were deemed to have no harmful effect on the character or appearance of the area, according to the report.

·       He emphasised that the key issue was drainage, which was the reason the inspector dismissed the polytunnel aspect of a previous appeal in 2023.

·       It was noted that surface water drainage surveys had been conducted to address the flood risk concerns, suggesting sufficient storage capacity in the filter trench.

·       Since the main surface water drainage survey a year prior, further work had been carried out on the site, including engineering on a drainage ditch and additional hard standing.

·       Cautioned that the drainage calculations might not be entirely reliable due to the ongoing addition of hard standing.

·       If the committee were minded to approve the application, he urged the consideration of additional conditions to prevent any further hard standing, as this would exacerbate drainage issues.

·       Highlighted the need for ongoing maintenance of the Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) and infrastructure drainage ditches, noting that a condition for this appeared to have been included by the case officer.

The Committee proceeded to ask questions and debate the application.

During debate, the council’s Senior Planning and Litigation Lawyer clarified the position of permitted development rights when applying additional conditions to ensure any condition was necessary, relevant to planning, relevant to the development to be permitted, enforceable, precise and reasonable in all other regards.

          RESOLVED:

                    The committee agreed to grant permission for the reasons and subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the Report, the               verbal update, and subject to the following additional conditions:

(i)             Lighting condition: Details to be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority.

(ii)            New condition (in addition or supplementary to condition 3) requiring the applicant to illustrate details of hardstanding that is required for the purposes of servicing the polytunnel and feed store to be submitted. The precise wording to be delegated to the Chair of Planning Committee, in consultation with the Service Lead: Built Environment.