Agenda item

Store building for wood and woodchip for biomass with associated landscaping works (Resubmission of 16/12294/FUL).

Public Participation

Julia Leadbury spoke in objection to the application

Graham Loaddell spoke in support of the application

Tamsin Holmes spoke in support of the application

Cllr David Marks spoke on behalf of Stourton with Gasper PC.

 

The Planning Team Leader Adam Madge, introduced a report which recommended that the application for a Store building for wood and woodchip for biomass with associated landscaping works (Resubmission of 16/12294/FUL) be approved.

 

Key details were stated to include that this would be 4 storey store, with the top half, timber and bottom half concrete with a metal roof. The existing hedgerow would be maintained with additional landscaping planned.

 

Currently, wood from Stourhead estate was chipped elsewhere. Under the new proposals, the wood would be chipped on site 4 times per year and stored on site.

 

Attention was draw to the late correspondence circulated at the meeting.

 

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the Officer.

 

It was noted that the National Trust had agreed to reinstate the styles at the footpath. The Committee asked for reasonable sized hedges and trees to be planted.

 

The tree protection orders were only on the first group of trees; the Planning Officer would ask the TPO Officer to look at the other section of trees also.

 

Members of the public then had the opportunity to present their views to the Committee as detailed above.

 

Stourton & Gasper Parish Council noted their objections, as detailed in the report.

 

The Unitary Division Member; Cllr Jeans then spoke in objection to the application, noting that one of the fears of the local people was that this would, in time be expanded in to a visitor’s centre. Reasons for refusal, were the impact on the AONB.

 

Cllr Jeans then moved the motion for refusal, this was seconded by Cllr Dalton.

 

A debate then ensued where it was noted that the proposal would be utilising an old concrete base. There had been a reduction from the originally proposed 20 days per year to 4 which was considered a a good compromise.

 

The countryside was full of noise and agricultural buildings, the National Trust had appeared to have bent over backwards to make sure this would not stand out, along with the reinstatement of the footpath.

 

The Committee voted on the motion of refusal, this was not carried.

 

The Chairman, Cllr Westmoreland moved the motion of approval, which was seconded by Cllr Devine.

 

Resolved

That Planning Permission be APPROVED with the following conditions:

 

 

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

 

REASON: To comply with the provisions of Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

 

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

 

National Trust Stourhead Visitor Access Management Plan June 2008 13579/TR01

Impact Assessment Issue 2 by Cawse Design dated 15/12/16 ref 1968-2016-GJC

Justification Statement Issue 3 by Cawse Design dated Dec 2016 ref 1969-2016-GJC

Design and Access Statement Issue 4 by Cawse Design dated 3/1/17 ref 1967-2016-GJC

Letter from T. Holmes, Senior Facilities Co-Ordinator, National Trust, dated 22 March 2017

Proposed Location Plan 1300120-P13E dated Dec 2016

Proposed Block Plan and Elevations 1300120-P10C dated March 2016

Proposed Plan 1300120-P11E dated Dec 2016

Landscape Plan 1300120-P9D dated Dec 2016

 

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

 

3. No development shall commence on the biomass store building hereby approved above ground level until the exact details, colours and samples of the materials to be used for the external walls and roofs have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

 

REASON: The application contained insufficient information to enable this matter to be considered prior to granting planning permission and the matter is required to be agreed with the Local Planning Authority before development commences in order that the development is undertaken in an acceptable manner, in the interests of visual amenity and the character and appearance of the area and AONB.

 

4. Prior to the development being first brought in to use, a traffic management plan shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The plan will include details with regards to the number of vehicle movements, types of vehicles, baseline traffic data for the area and a recommended schedule of vehicle movements to help avoid conflict with other road users. The site operations will thereafter be conducted in accordance with the approved plan in perpetuity.

 

  REASON: In the interests of highway safety.

 

5.     The wood chipping process hereby approved shall only take place between the hours of 0900hrs and 1800hrs Mondays to Fridays and between 0900hrs and 1300hrs on Saturdays and shall not take place at any time on Sundays and Bank/ Public Holidays

 

Reason: In the interests of neighbouring amenities

 

6.     The wood chipping process hereby approved may occur on a maximum on a maximum of 4 days per calendar year and shall not generally take place on consecutive days in any calendar year.

 

Reason: In the interests of neighbouring amenities

 

7.     No vehicular deliveries shall be made to or collections made from the development hereby approved except between the hours of:  

0900hrs and 1800hrs Monday to Friday and

0900hrs and 1300hrs Saturdays

 

There shall be no deliveries or collections made to or from the site on Sundays and Bank/ Public Holidays.

 

Reason: In the interests of neighbouring amenities

 

8. No development shall commence on the biomass store building hereby approved above ground level until a scheme of tree and hedge planting has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, the details of which shall include :-

 

• location and current canopy spread of all existing trees and hedgerows on the land;

• full details of any to be retained, together with measures for their protection in the course of development;

• a detailed planting specification showing all plant species, supply and planting sizes and planting densities for the south boundary hedge and its future management; 

• Trees of a size and species and in a location on the west boundary to be agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority, shall be planted in accordance with BS3936 (Parts 1 and 4), BS4043 and BS4428

 

REASON: The application contained insufficient information to enable this matter to be considered prior to granting planning permission and the matter is required to be agreed with the Local Planning Authority before development commences in order that the development is undertaken in an acceptable manner, to ensure a satisfactory landscaped setting for the development and the protection of existing important landscape features.

 

9. All soft landscaping comprised in the approved details of landscaping shall be carried out in the first planting and seeding season following the first occupation of the building or the completion of the development whichever is the sooner. All shrubs, trees and hedge planting shall be maintained free from weeds and shall be protected from damage by vermin and stock. Any trees or plants which, within a period of five years, die, are removed, or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of a similar size and species, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority. All hard landscaping shall also be carried out in accordance with the approved details prior to the occupation of any part of the development or in accordance with a programme to be agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority.

 

REASON: To ensure a satisfactory landscaped setting for the development and the protection of existing important landscape features.

 

Informatives

 

1.     STGA 12 public footpath: please be advised that nothing in this permission shall authorise the diversion, obstruction, or stopping up of any right of way that crosses the site, during or after construction.

2.     The applicant is requested to allow the existing hedge running east/west between Bells Lane and the direction of the B3092 Frome Road, to gain height and thickness, for screening purposes. The hedge is interrupted by a field gate when travelling from Bells Lane to the B3092. The hedge needs to thicken and grow from the field gate to Bells Lane Stourton. (Bells Lane Stourton continues to Bells Lane Zeals). With reference to condition 8 above, the applicant may also wish to include details of this hedge in the landscape details submission.  

3.     The local authority requests that the applicant continues to reassess alternative vehicle routes in future for the transportation of the wood chipping’s based on operational experience as per the National Trust’s letter to the local planning authority dated the 15^th May 2017.

 

4.     The local authority ask that the wood chipping activity does not exceed 68 -74 DBA when measured at a distance of 50M away from the wood chipper as specified in the details submitted to the local planning authority of the wood chipping operation.

 

Members also asked officers that rights of way are notified of the blockage to the right of way.