Agenda item

To consider the report of the Chief Planning Officer on an application for two detached houses with detached double garages and conversion of Chapel to form annexe at Cragg Wood Nurseries, Rawdon

(Report attached)

The Panel considered both applications together as they related to proposals for a residential development on the same site .Plans and photographs of the site were displayed along with architects drawings of the proposals. Members had visited the site prior to the meeting. Officers reported a new total of 119 signatures to the petition objecting to the proposals

The Panel heard representation from a local resident over concerns of damage to the site and wildlife habitats. Photographs were tabled of the site and text of her verbal submission and stated there were no special circumstances to support approval of the application.

The Panel then heard representation from the agent for the applicant who highlighted the benefits of the scheme, the public consultation undertaken and that designation of a site as Conservation Area did not preclude development.

Members went on to discuss

• Surface treatment. Members were concerned at the proposal to pave the pedestrian footpath and tarmac the access to the dwellings and felt a more sensitive approach to the hard standing elements of the scheme was required
• The current state of the site and dilapidated buildings
• The size of the domestic curtilage of each property
• The impact of the current permitted use should the horticultural nursery re-open in terms of vehicular movements, impact on the landscape

(Councillor J Harper withdrew from the meeting for a short while at this point)

Members noted the proposals would not usually be regarded as acceptable development within the Green Belt as this was not a sustainable site, however the unique nature of the site and very special circumstances such as the enhancements to the site, access improvements, reduction in traffic (from the previous nursery traffic) and benefits the development would bring in terms of land management and maintenance were felt to outweigh the harm arising from inappropriate development in the Green Belt.

RESOLVED –

a) Application 10/03015/FU - That the application be approved in principle and final approval be deferred and delegated to the Chief Planning Officer subject to the conditions specified in the report; plus an additional condition to restrict the domestic curtilage of each dwelling to that shown on the submitted plan and an amendment to Condition No 5 to read “notwithstanding the submitted details, samples of surfacing materials to be submitted and agreed in writing by the LPA” and subject to the completion of a Section 106 Agreement to cover

  i.  improvements to the public footpath (Aireborough No.100), which adjoins the eastern site boundary in discussion with the Rights of Way Officer

  ii.  the right for pedestrians to pass and re-pass along the section of the site access road between Woodlands Drive and the southern end of the public footpath.

In the circumstances where the Section 106 Agreement has not been completed within 3 months of the resolution to grant planning permission, the final determination of the planning application shall also be delegated to the Chief Planning Officer

b) Application 10/03014/CA - That the application be approved in principle and the final approval be delegated to the Chief Planning Officer subject to the specified conditions contained within the report

Councillor J Harper required it to be recorded that she abstained from voting on both matters under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16:5

(Councillor Leadley withdrew from the meeting for a short while at this point)