Agenda item

Item 12:  Erection of an agricultural building for free range egg production and associated feed bins and hardstanding areas

Land north of Vale Farm, Enmill Lane, Pitt, Winchester

Case number: 18/01082/FUL

The Head of Development Management referred Members to the Update Sheet which set out the following:  A supplementary consultation response from the Head of Environmental Health with a recommended condition which would replace Condition 9 with an expanded reason to include all sensitive receptors; It was also pointed out that ‘Arquiva’ had been removed from the site address to avoid confusion with the company of that name which was not connected to the proposal and the site address had been amended to read ‘Land North of Vale Farm, Enmill Lane, Pitt.

In addition, a verbal update was provided as follows:

That a final response had been received from Natural Englandstating that consideration of plans and projects within 5km to assess the ‘in combination effect’  was reasonable and plans and projects could include the anaerobic digester (although it was pointed out that in a previous consultation response Natural England had stated that the anaerobic digester would not have an impact on Crab Wood SSSI and this was read out to Members), the manure should be stored in line with best practice and covered and the manure heap to the north of Sarum Road should be moved further south, and the woodland buffer is welcomed.

In addition, the officer proposed an amendment to Condition 5 to require planting to be carried out prior to commencement of use and an amendment to Condition 5 to remove the wording ‘the northern end of’ and drew Member’s attention to the wording; in the section of the report relating to residential amenity where the reference should be to Condition 9 not Condition 10;  and finally, it was reported that an additional email had been received from an objector relating to the manure storage and the impact of the emissions on human health. 

In response to questions from Members, the Environmental Protection Officer clarified that in relation to the storage of manure, there were four sites located. It was likely that only one store would be used at any one time. These stores would be used by rotation one year at a time, ensuring that there was at least a two year gap period prior to return.

During public participation, Mary Hill (Crabwood Action Group), Sue Wood (Sparsholt Parish Council) and David Killeen (Hursley Parish Council) spoke in objection to the application and Sam Burge spoke in support of the application and all answered Members’ questions thereon.

During public participation, Councillor Warwick spoke on this item as Ward Member.  Councillor Horrill also spoke on this item as Ward Member for the contiguous ward of Wonston and Micheldever. 

In summary, Councillor Horrill stated that she was representing the residents of Sparsholt Village on this complex and technical application and considered that, if the Committee was minded to approve the application, it should be sufficiently assured that the interpretation of the extensive data was reasonable.

Councillor Horrill questioned why a development should be agreed when situated alongside the heavily utilised Clarendon Way? She suggested that the building was likely to result in a danger to public health with increased pollution, dust, ammonia and vermin at the nearby Pisnent camping site and along the ancient woodland, which indicted that the proposal was contrary to National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Councillor Horrill considered animal welfare to be a concern with 32,000 chickens on site where levels of welfare could not be assured. She referred to the additional vehicle movements created by the development along Woodman Lane, Sparsholt, Pitt and Sarum Road which were already used as ‘rat runs’ during peak hours.

In conclusion, Councillor Horrill stated that it was the residents that would have to live with the consequences if the application was approval and urged the Committee to consider that, if they had any doubt, to refuse the application.

In summary, Councillor Warwick stated that this was a unique application on the boundary of two parishes, Sparsholt and Hursley, and that care needed to be taken in the consideration of this application. She stated that the Clarendon Way trail was one of Winchester’s important cultural assets that needed to be protected and that a robust plan was required for the levels of manure to avoid any environmental damage.

Councillor Warwick suggested that options to relocate the proposal to a less sensitive part of the site away from the SSSI should be investigated further to ensure that ammonia levels were kept as far away as possible to minimise the impact. She stated that no survey had been carried out on Crabwood since 2009 and that objections had been raised by several organisations including the Wildlife Trust who considered that the application could cause potential damage to Crabwood.

In conclusion, Councillor Warwick stated that the proposed development was sited in a sensitive location which did not respect, protect or enhance the community asset along Clarendon Way, but increased pollution, odour and light pollution, contrary to Policy DM19 and urged the Committee to request the applicant to consider an alternative environmentally sustainable position for this application.

In response to the concerns raised by Councillor Warwick, the applicant clarified that other on site locations had been considered. However, these failed to meet the requirements in order to make the site free range, whereby a 40 acre ranging area for birds was to be provided and the need to ensure an adequate power and water supply to the building.

At the conclusion of debate, the Committee agreed to grant permission for the reasons and subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the Report, Update Sheet and the verbal updates given at the meeting, as set out above; subject to an amendment to Condition 9 to clarify the reasons for the condition in relation to the manure storage plan; and the requirement for landscaping to be in place prior to commencement on site.