Agenda item

Applications outside the area of the South Downs National Park (SDNP):

Item 14:  (RETROSPECTIVE) (AMENDED DESCRIPTION) Proposed use of first-floor mezzanine and partial use of ground floor of (northwest) agricultural storage building for office purposes (Class B1).

Meadows Farm, Ervills Road, Worlds End, Hambledon.

Case number: 18/01806/FUL

The Head of Development Management referred Members to the Update Sheet which contained comment received from CPRE Hampshire (11.12.2018) raising concern over increased heavy traffic, lighting and hours of operation restrictions.  The retention of the office facilities introduced an element of transportation to and from the site by office workers.  This was not considered to introduce excessive use of the access track or ‘increased heavy traffic’.  The Highways Officer and Rights of Way Officer had raised no objection on these grounds.

In addition, condition 4 restricted the hours of operation as recommended by the Environmental Health Officer and condition 06 requested lighting details to be submitted including beam orientation and a schedule of the lighting equipment used. This then restricted the use of lighting between 21:00 and 06:30 the following morning.

Therefore the receipt of this comment did not alter the officer’s recommendation.

An additional objection comment had been received from Denmead Parish Council (12.12.2018) providing a history of the Agricultural Prior Notification (APN) applications.  Comment raised concern regarding the addition of windows and lighting and concluded by making comments on the amount of concrete surrounding the site.

Conditions to control the hours of operation alongside lighting (including hours of lighting use) were included to avoid adverse impact on the tranquil nature of the surrounding environment.

The Head of Development Management concluded in the Update Sheet that as this application considered the retention of an office use only where each application was determined on its own merits, significant harm which justified refusing the application had not been found.

During public participation, Paula Langford-Smith, Denmead Parish Council and Carolyn Hargreaves (World End Residents Association) spoke in objection to the application and Robert Tutton (agent), spoke in supportand answered Members’ questions thereon.

During public participation, Neil Lander-Brinkley spoke on behalf of Councillor Stallard (Ward Member) with a pre-prepared speech.

A summary of the points raised by Neil Lander-Brinkley on behalf of Councillor Stallard is set out below:

-       The landscape was part of Hampshire Treasures

-       The application was retrospective

-       Policy MTRA4 and rural buildings

-       Traffic counts had exceeded 60 per day on a single track farm access lane, which was greater than needed and was unacceptable.

-       The increase in traffic movements was not warranted and was a burden on a narrow country lane

-       The Farm House was not connected to the barn

-       The floodlighting was very visible over the countryside

-       NPPF was time limited

-       The development was outside of the development boundary

-       Office staff came from a wide area and there were better business sites locally that were sustainable.  The Parklands Business Park was for Small and Medium sized enterprises and had parking

-       The volume of concrete on the land

-       Policy DM23 – development should not affect the local character and environment

-       There had been no engagement with the local community on the application

-       There was considerable objection and the application should be refused

The Committee agreed to defer the decision to a meeting of the Planning (Viewing) Sub Committee to be held on Tuesday 8 January 2019 to commence at 12:00noon.  The Planning (Viewing) Sub Committee would visit the site before the meeting in order to assess the impact of the partial use of the agricultural storage building for office use.