Meeting documents

SSDC Area North Committee
Wednesday, 26th August, 2015 2.00 pm

Minutes:

Proposal: Section 73A application to amend condition 2 of planning approval 13/02470/S73 dated 30/08/13 to amend previously approved plans

The Planning Officer presented the application as detailed in the agenda, noting that there was already agreement for 1,000 cattle at the site and the proposal would increase this by a further 70 cattle which was not considered a substantive harm.  When the landscaping was complete there would be little harm. 

The Committee were then addressed by Mr P Ludbrook in opposition to the application.  He said the comments of the Parish Council and local residents would be disregarded in allowing the application.

Mr M Cobden, the applicant, apologised for not dealing with the variation application earlier, however, an opportunity to apply for grant funding had arisen and could not be missed.  He said that he tried to have good relations with his neighbours and he encouraged them and local school groups to visit the site to view the operation. 

One of the Ward Members, Councillor Neil Bloomfield, requested that the proposed landscaping scheme be extended between the silage clamps, straight store and drove and that it be implemented now rather than at the next planting season.  He also asked that enforcement action be taken if the planting was not carried out.

The other Ward Member, Councillor Graham Middleton, said the applicants had been cooperative and helpful in the beginning but rules around grant applications had created issues for them and they had carried out works before seeking permission.  He felt it would take some time to regain the confidence and trust of local residents. 

During discussion, Members were sympathetic to the time constraints placed on grant applications but felt that additional landscaping was required at the site and that the passing places created on the access road be maintained.  A proposal to grant permission as per the officer recommendation, with an additional condition to require the passing places to be retained and a further informative to ensure the landscaping scheme included planting between silage clamps, straight store and drove was made and seconded, and, on being put to the vote, was carried (voting: 9 in favour, 0 against, 2 abstentions).

RESOLVED:

That planning application 15/02867/S73A be APPROVED, as per the officer recommendation, subject to the following:

Justification:

The proposed dairy unit will make an important contribution to the rural economy without significant adverse impact on landscape character, visual amenity, residential amenity, highway safety, ecology or the environment and therefore accords with the aims and objectives of policies SD1, TA5, TA6, EQ2, EQ3, EQ4 and EQ7 of the South Somerset Local Plan and the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework.

Subject to the following conditions:

01.   The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

        Reason:  To accord with the provisions of section 91(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

02.   The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans:

        Site Plan - 01920-00-R (drawing no. 03);

·      Floor Layout (Cubicle Building) – 01920-01-E (Sheet 01);

·      Elevations (Cubicle Building) – 01920-01-E (Sheet 03);

·      Plans (Parlour Building) – 01920-03-C (Sheet 01);

·      Elevations (Parlour Building) 01920-03-C (Sheet 03);

·      Floor Layout (Dry Cow & Calving Building) – 01920-04-B (Sheet 01);

·      Elevations 1 (Dry Cow & Calving Building) – 01920-04-B (Sheet 02);

·      Elevations 2 (Dry Cow & Calving Building) – 01920-04-B (Sheet 03);

·      Plan and Elevations (Straight Store) – 01920-05-B (Sheet 01);

·      Plan (Silage Clamp) – 01920-06-D (Sheet 01);

·      Elevations (Silage Clamp) 01920-06-D (Sheet 02);

·      Sand Separation System, drawing number AG010D16 Sheets 1 to 5). 

        Reason: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

03.   Within two months of the date of this permission a revised external lighting scheme shall be submitted to and agreed in writing by the local planning authority. Thereafter there shall be no other external illumination / lighting other than that set out within the approved external lighting scheme, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority.

        Reason: To safeguard the rural character of the locality to accord with policy EQ2 and EQ7 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

04.   Within two months of the date of this permission an updated Farm Waste Management Plan shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The plan shall subsequently be implemented in full accordance with the approved details and agreed timetable and shall thereafter be permanently complied with unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority.

        Reason: To prevent pollution of the water environment to accord with policy EQ7 of the South Somerset Local Plan and Part 11 of the NPPF.

05.   Within two months of the date of this permission a scheme of landscaping shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The scheme of landscaping shall include indications of all existing trees and hedgerows on the land, and details of any to be retained, together with measures for their protection in the course of the development, as well as details of any changes proposed in existing ground levels. All planting, seeding, turfing or earth moulding comprised in the approved details of landscaping shall be carried out within the first planting and seeding season following the date of this permission. For a period of five years after the completion of the planting scheme, the trees and shrubs that form part of the approved scheme shall be protected and maintained in a healthy weed free condition and any trees or shrubs that cease to grow shall be replaced by trees or shrubs of similar size and species, or by appropriate trees or shrubs as may be agreed in writing by the local planning authority.

Reason: To ensure that the proposed development makes a satisfactory contribution to the preservation and enhancement of the rural character of the area to accord with policy EQ2 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

06. The passing places detailed on drawing number 30 dated 07/03/2013 (submitted as part of planning application 12/04945/FUL) shall be retained and maintained in perpetuity to the satisfaction of the local planning authority.

       Reason: In the interest of highway safety to accord with policy TA5 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

Informatives:

1.       The applicant’s attention is drawn to the advice and recommendations set out within the Environment Agency’s letter dated 10/07/2015 and National Grid’s letter dated 01/07/2015. 

2.       The applicant's attention is also drawn to the Code of Good Agricultural Practice (GoCAP) for the disposal of slurry wastes and is reminded that a 10m buffer zone should be established excluding the spreading of wastes around any sensitive ecological sites.

3.       Please note the comments made by County Rights of Way dated 21/01/2013 in respect of application 13/02470/S73 which apply equally to this application.

4.       The applicant is advised that the landscaping scheme required under condition 6 above should be based on the landscaping scheme agreed under planning consent 13/02470/S73 with additional supplemental planting between the silage clamps / straight store and the adjacent drove.

(Voting: 9 in favour, 0 against, 2 abstentions)

Supporting documents: