Agenda item

Proposed change of use of existing ancillary residential accommodation (storage use and a gym) to ancillary residential accommodation and commercial dog kennels to house up to 8 dogs (resubmission of application 23/00295/FUL).

Councillor Higgs returned to the room.

The application was brought before members for consideration at the request of Councillor Robinson who was in support of the proposal citing that the rural location would be more sustainable and have less impacts upon neighbouring amenity and the proposal would have no greater impacts upon the open countryside.

A site visit occurred to enable members to understand the site context beyond the plans submitted and site photographs taken by the case officer.

The Planning Development Manager introduced the report. The application sought planning permission for a change of use from existing outbuilding (Building B) from ancillary residential accommodation (storage and a gym) to ancillary residential accommodation and commercial dog kennels to house up to 8 dogs. He highlighted that there were no changes to external elevations and all of the works would be internal. He clarified that the site was located outside of the rural settlement of Stalmine in a Countryside Area as designated in the adopted Wyre Local Plan (WLP 31).

Wyre Borough Councillor for Hambleton & Stalmine ward, Julie Robinson, spoke against the officer recommendation.

Darren Curtis, acting as the applicant, spoke in favour of the application.

Councillors Lady Atkins, Catterall, Rimmer and Belshaw asked questions of the speaker.

The Chair ended the public speaking portion of the meeting and opened up the members’ debate.

Some members indicated that they considered that the application site was situated in an ideal location for the proposed use, proposed suitable car parking arrangements and that, if approved, would provide some employment which was an economic and social benefit.

The Head of Planning and Regeneration confirmed that if members were minded to disagree with the officer recommendation, they should identify their reasons and they are to be subsequently recorded in the minutes.

Councillor Higginson proposed the recommendation, and Councillor Fielding seconded the proposal. A vote was carried out and the motion was lost.

Councillor Higginson raised a point of order about the Chair being able to vote. The Chair responded that as a member of the Committee and Chair he was entitled to a first vote on any matter, not only to the exercise of a casting vote.

Following discussion, it was proposed by Councillor Raynor, to grant full planning permission in principle for the change of use, subject to appropriate conditions addressing time (standard condition), plans, use, parking and linking the use to the dwelling and that the Head of Planning & Regeneration be authorised (i) in consultation with the Chair, to agree the details of those conditions, and (ii) to issue the planning permission subject to those detailed conditions. The reasons for the proposal were that, contrary to the officer recommendation, it was considered that:

·         The applicant had made a reasonable effort in the particular circumstances of the case to meet the requirements of Policy SP6 & SP4; and

·         The proposal complied with Local Plan Policies SP2, SP4 and SP6 and Section 2 of the NPPF.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Amos and the motion was carried.