Decision details

The Planning Officer outlined the application to the Committee with the assistance of a slide presentation. In response to questions confirmed:

• The issue regarding phosphates had been addressed.
• The applicants wished to grow fruit and vegetables for their own use and to re-wild, by planting wildflowers, approximately 40% of the land
• Whilst it was the applicant’s intention to remove the caravan this could be conditioned.
• The biodiversity enhancement plan focused on bats because it was felt that the re-wilding would address any other issues.

It was subsequently proposed by Cllr Grimes and seconded by Cllr Bolt to recommend approval of the application subject to conditions as per the Planning Officer’s recommendation in the report and an additional condition on the removal of the caravan. On being put to the vote the proposal was carried unanimously.

Resolved

To Grant Permission subject to the following conditions and subject to the additional condition as detailed by the officer, the wording of this condition to be delegated to the Service Manager Planning North to be agreed in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Development Committee:

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

Reason: In accordance with the provisions of Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1990 ( as amended by Section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004).

2.    The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the approved plans listed in schedule A.

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

3.    No external lighting shall be erected or installed on the building hereby permitted or within the application site unless prior written consent is sought from the Local Planning Authority.

Reason:  In the interests of visual amenity, to protect the dark skies of the countryside and in the interests of the Favourable Conservation Status of local populations of European Protected Species in accordance with policies D2, D20 and D24 of Sedgemoor Local Plan 2011-2032

4.    The building hereby permitted shall not be used for the housing of livestock without the prior written consent of the Local Planning Authority

Reason:  to prevent unacceptable impacts as a result of increased phosphate loading associated with housing livestock and to prevent unacceptable impact on the amenity of neighbouring residents in accordance with policies D20, D24 and D25 Sedgemoor Local Plan 2011-2032

5.    A Biodiversity Enhancement Plan (BEP) shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to first use.  The BEP shall include measures to ensure that no net loss to biodiversity occurs as a result of the development should include measures to enhance the site for horseshoe bats (such as the creation of species rich grassland around field margins).  The BEP should also include a landscape masterplan which identifies the areas of planting proposed, a planting schedule and specification of seed mixes/species of stock and general implementation.

Reason:  To ensure that development sites are appropriately landscaped to provide enhancement of the environment, mitigation for vegetation that is to be removed, to ensure biodiversity is maintained and that planting schemes are established and managed into the future, in accordance with policy D20 Sedgemoor Local Plan 2011-2032.

Schedule A

Location Plan Drg No. 01

Proposed Block Plan Drg No. CPS/141/AB25

Proposed Agricultural Shed Drg No. CPS/141/AB24