Agenda item

Removal of existing residential caravan and erection of one dwelling

The application was brought before Members of the Planning Committee for determination at the request of Councillor Julie Robinson.

A site visit took place to enable Members to understand the proposal beyond the plans submitted and the photos taken by the Case Officer.

An update sheet with additional information was published on the council’s website and made available at the meeting, this information only having become available after the original agenda was published. The committee considered the update sheet, which contained additional information.

Clare Bamber (Applicant) spoke in favour of the application.

Julie Robinson (Wyre Borough Councillor for Hambleton and Stalmine) spoke in favour of the application.

After careful consideration, it was proposed by Councillor Moon, seconded by Councillor Catterall and a decision was taken (11:0:0) that the application be refused (as per the recommendation) under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as set out below:

1.         The proposed development by reason of the location of the application site outside a defined settlement boundary and not within an adopted housing allocation would introduce residential development into an undeveloped area of countryside, and this would represent an unacceptable and unnecessary encroachment/projection into the countryside area where no justification for such development exists. As a consequence, the proposal would be contrary to Policies SP1 and SP4 of the Wyre Local Plan 2011-31 and to the provisions of the NPPF. There are no material considerations to out-weigh the conflict of the proposal with the development plan and the NPPF with respect to restricting development in the countryside.

 2.        The application site is located within the countryside and the development would involve the creation of a residential development in a poorly accessible location detached from the nearest settlement. The site would be accessed via unlit, winding rural roads, subject to national speed limits, with no pedestrian footpaths. Future users of the proposal would be heavily reliant on the use of a private motor vehicle to access the site with no opportunity to access the site via alternative sustainable travel modes. The proposed development is considered to be sited in an unsustainable and socially inaccessible location which would increase the need to travel by car and fail to contribute towards creating a sustainable community. The proposal is therefore contrary to locational guidance contained within the NPPF, in particular Paragraphs 8 and 102 and contrary to Policy SP1, SP2 and CDMP6 of the Wyre Local Plan 2011-31.

 3.        The proposed residential development, by reason of the proposal's scale, siting and provision of a domestic curtilage, would result in a reduction in the open character of the countryside which would be visually detrimental to the appearance of this area of countryside. This would be contrary to Policy SP4 and CDMP3 of the Wyre Local Plan 2011-31 and the NPPF.

 4.        The proposed development would constitute inappropriate development in an area at risk of flooding as the proposed application site falls within Flood Zone 3 and inadequate evidence has been submitted to show that there are no reasonably available sites appropriate for the proposed development in areas with a lower probability of flooding. This would not steer development to areas with the lowest probability of flooding, thereby increasing the number of people and properties at risk from flooding and fail the Sequential Test, which is contrary to Section 14 of the NPPF and the National Planning Policy Guidance 'Flood Risk and Coastal Change, and Policy CDMP2 of the Wyre Local Plan 2011-31.