Agenda item

Use of land to site toilet/shower block and erection of decking and steps (retrospective).

Cllr Jean Dunseith and Cllr John Worth did not take part in the debate or vote on this application.

The Committee considered a retrospective application for use of land to site a a toilet/shower block and erection of decking and steps.

The Senior Planning officer presented the proposal for a permanent toilet and shower block.  A temporary block had been a condition of an original planning permission granted under officer delegation in 2019 in connection with use of the field for camping between 23 June - 8 September each year. 

The Committee was advised that this was a new planning application for a permanent structure that needed to be considered on its own merits and was not a variation of conditions approved as part of the previous permission in 2019.

Plans and photographs showed the location and appearance of the toilet/shower block and its visual impact on the rural area, in particular, from different points along Nottington Lane drawing nearer to the site.

The key planning issues were outlined including principle of development, visual amenity and biodiversity, as well as a summary of the conditions in connection with the application, if approved.

Public written representations received, some of which were also read out at the meeting, are attached to these minutes.

Cllr John Worth, speaking as the Ward Member - Chickerell, highlighted the lack of regard for the planning process or adherence to the original permission by the applicant; the permanency and increased size of the structure, impact on visual amenity and the weakness of the Covid pandemic as a reason for its size given its presence on the site since September 2019.

Cllr Jean Dunseith, also speaking as the Ward Member - Chickerell, highlighted that conditions existed to put a boundary around the planning permission and those attached to the original permission had been disregarded.  In her view this would be a judgement on the importance of conditions.

Whilst appreciating the desire to achieve an award winning camping site, the Committee expressed concerns relating to a lack of respect for the planning process in the way the development had been carried out; the need for a Biodiversity Plan including impact of lighting on wildlife ; the adequacy of the soakaway and septic tank to support a larger block and the need for disabled access.

Members requested additional conditions including the requirement for a Biodiversity Plan and disabled access.

The Committee was advised that the lighting associated with the block was switched off during periods when not in use and that the efficacy of the soakaway / septic tank would be a private matter for the applicant and that any complaints was a separate issue to be dealt with by the Environmental Health department.

Subject to the inclusion of the suggested additional conditions, it was proposed by Cllr Kate Wheller, seconded by Cllr Nick Ireland

Decision: That authority be delegated to the Head of Planning to approve subject to the planning conditions as set out in the officer’s report and additional conditions regarding the submission and implementation of a biodiversity mitigation and enhancement plan, particularly in respect of small mammals and the impact of lighting, and a condition in respect of disabled access to the toilets and shower facilities, to comply with the wording of the Disability Act, with the conditions to be agreed between the planning officer and Chairman of the planning committee.

Following consideration of the above application, the meeting was adjourned between 11.23-11.33am for a comfort break.