Agenda item

Item 7: (Part retrospective) Erection of private recreational stable to be used  in association with Hayden Barn Cottage

Hayden Barn Cottage, Hayden Lane, Warnford, SO32 3LF

Case number:  SDNP/20/00708/FUL

At its meeting on 18 June 2020, the committee had agreed to defer the determination of this item to allow for a pre-emptive site visit to take place to view the application in the context of its location. A site visit was attended by all members of the committee, except Councillor Bentote who was not nominated as deputy at the time of the site visit, and the application was before the committee for further consideration.

The Service Lead: Built Environment referred Members to the Update Sheet which stated that a further three letters of representation had been received raising no additional issues to those previously covered in the report.

During public participation, Jackie Ware and Councillor Mark Rogers (Warnford Parish Council) spoke in objection to the application and Dan Roycroft (agent) spoke in support of the application and all answered Members’ questions thereon.

During public participation, Councillor Lumby spoke on this item as Ward Member.

In summary, Councillor Lumby thanked the committee for attending the site visit and referenced particular aspects including the history of the area and location of the site in an area of outstanding natural beauty, the raised height of the site above the neighbouring property, the telegraph line, the proximity of the boundary and a possible suitable alternative location in the top of the field. He made reference to the focus of the application and plans of the existing building, which had not been permitted and therefore considered the primary focus should be on the land prior to the commencement of the retrospective work (ie open ground land).

Councillor Lumby suggested that, in addition to the refusal of the consent, the committee also request that the unauthorised works carried out be investigated and that appropriate enforcement proceedings be taken. He raised concern that there was no reference that the field failed to comply with the standards of the British Horse Society for two, let alone three horses and queried why three stables were required for one horse.  In addition, he also expressed concern regarding the interpretation of the South Downs National Park policies.

In conclusion, Councillor Lumby urged the committee to refuse the application and request that the applicant be encouraged to submit an alternative application in an improved location away from neighbouring properties.

The Service Lead: Built Environment reminded Members that the neighbourhood issues referred to during discussion were not material planning considerations and that land use planning matters should remain the focus of the committee.

In response to Members’ questions, the Council’s Landscape Architect clarified that the land would be reinstated where the existing stable was currently located, together with the removal of the hardstanding, in order to return the site to how it looked prior to the installation of the stable.

At the conclusion of debate, the committee refused permission for the following reasons: the proposed siting of the stables, track and alteration of levels results in harm to the landscape character of this part of the South Downs National Park by reason of siting, scale and raised land which fails to reflect the context and type of landscape and special quality of this part of the South Downs National Park and fails to demonstrate a conservation based land management approach; contrary to policies SD4 and SD24 of the South Downs National Park.