Agenda item
WD/D/19/000811 - The Hare and Hounds Inn, Slape Hill, Waytown, Bridport, DT6 5LQ
Change of use of land for siting of 4 No. shepherds huts and
toilet/shower block to use for holiday purposes.
Minutes:
The Planning Officer introduced the application to change
the use of land for the siting of 4 shepherd's huts and a toilet / shower block
for holiday purposes. This formed part
of a rural public house situated north of Bridport that was outside the Defined
Development Boundary (DDB) in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
(AONB). The public house had been deemed
as an asset of community value.
An update sheet was circulated to the committee at the
meeting that provided amendments to conditions and clarified the reason why
this application was being determined by the Area Planning Committee.
Members were shown aerial photographs, site plan, elevations
and floor plan, site photos and an illustrative plan of the shepherd's huts.
The key planning issues were explained in relation to the principle of
development, impact on the AONB, design, neighbouring amenity, access and
parking.
Glen Bishop addressed the committee in objection of the
application, referring to aspects of the viability of the business. He considered that the drawings
misrepresented the size of the huts and that photographs did not accurately
represent the location of tables in the garden area during the summer
period.
Roger Miles spoke in objection of the application regarding
the impact of the proposal on the community asset, use of the garden for
community functions, impact of the huts on the skyline and noise and light
disturbance when the huts were occupied.
Cllr Tony Alford addressed the committee in relation to the
public sector equalities duty and disabled access to the huts, reference to
negligible light pollution in the report given that this would be a 24 hour
site, use of the garden as amenity for the huts rather than general usage,
sufficiency of sewerage capacity with respect to the toilet block and the open
boundary on the eastern side. He referred to the relevant national and local
planning policies whilst addressing these points.
Nigel Jones, the agent, addressed the committee in support
of the application, stating that there were no technical or policy reasons to
refuse the application. It was
recognised that the pub was on the edge of viability and the applicants were
injecting significant capital to retain a viable business and create additional
trade to the public house that would retain the pub in the locality.
The Development Manager stated that conditions had been
imposed in order that the scheme was acceptable and to address the areas of
concern including siting and materials for the shower block, landscaping and
lighting.
In response to questions by members she confirmed that the
site plan of the garden was taken to be accurate; the height of the huts
included the wheels, the ground surface was indicated to remain as grass and
that, although the huts were off the ground similar to
a caravan, there could be provision for ramped access.
Members commented on the potential contribution of the
proposal to the viability of the public house, the position of tables in the
garden, whether the tenants had objected, landscaping and privacy for users of
the huts.
They were informed that all representations were detailed in
the report, and although the views of the tenants were not known, this and the
location of tables in the garden were not material to the planning decision.
Proposed by Cllr Louie O'Leary, seconded by Cllr Susan
Cocking.
Decision: That the application be granted subject to the conditions outlined in the appendix to these minutes
Supporting documents: