Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Cllr Howard Marshall.

Cllr Marshall was substituted by Cllr Desna Allen.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 04 April 2012.

The minutes of the meeting held on 04 April 2012 were presented. It was,

Resolved:

To approve as a true and correct record.

There were no declarations.

There were no announcements.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.

Statements

Members of the public who wish to speak either in favour or against an application or any other item on this agenda are asked to register in person no later than 5.50pm on the day of the meeting.

The Chairman will allow up to 3 speakers in favour and up to 3 speakers against an application and up to 3 speakers on any other item on this agenda. Each speaker will be given up to 3 minutes and invited to speak immediately prior to the item being considered. The rules on public participation in respect of planning applications are detailed in the Council’s Planning Code of Good Practice.

Questions

To receive any questions from members of the public or members of the Council received in accordance with the constitution which excludes, in particular, questions on non-determined planning applications. Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named on the front of this agenda no later than 5pm on Wednesday 18 April 2012. Please contact the officer named on the front of this agenda for further advice. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to Committee members prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

The committee noted the rules on public participation.

An appeals update report is attached for information.

The Chair drew the Committee’s attention to application 10/04575/OUT, which will be going to Public Inquiry on 9^th May 2012.

It was,

Resolved:

To note the contents of the update.

Public Participation

Mr Stephen Eggleton spoke in objection to the application.

Mrs Helen Eggleton spoke in objection to the application.

Mr Simon Chambers, agent, spoke in support of the application.

The Planning Officer introduced the report, which recommended permission be granted, and noted the item had been deferred from the meeting on 22 February to seek the views of Highways and to establish the lawful usage of the site and the resulting implications. It was clarified that the proposed extension has already been constructed and is in use.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officers. Questions were raised as to the nature of the work within the facility and the extension specifically, the past history of the site prior to office and light industrial use, and the purpose of and extent of use of the proposed generator. It was explained that conditions had been proposed to limit the hours of use of any forklift on site, the request for an acoustic report to assess the noise impact of the generator, and the distance to the nearest properties, which was deemed sufficient.

Members of the Public then had the opportunity to address the Committee as detailed above.

Cllr Toby Sturgis, as Local Member, then spoke in objection to the application.

A debate followed, during which the impact of previous applications on site on the current proposal was raised. It was,

Resolved:

To REFUSE the application for the following reason:

The proposed development, by virtue of its design and extensive size and scale amounts to more than limited expansion or limited new building, to the detriment of its rural setting. The proposal therefore fails to accord with Policy BD5 of the adopted North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011.

Public Participation

Mr Richard Cosker, agent, spoke in support of the application.

The Planning Officer presented a report which recommended refusal. In an update to the report, the Planning Officer revealed the Parish Council wished the application refused, and that the Council’s Principal Ecologist raised no objections. He clarified that the key issues were the principle of new builds in rural locations, and the nature and design of any proposed build.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officers. The definition of Serviced Accommodation was raised.

Members of the public then had the opportunity to address the Committee, as detailed above.

A debate followed, during which the likelihood of further rural builds was discussed, as well as the appropriate level of diversification of rural land supported by Council policies.

It was,

Resolved:

That Planning Permission be REFUSED for the following reason:

The proposed development would be located in a rural area remote from public transport, local services and employment opportunities and would constitute unsustainable development contrary to the aims of policies RLT9 and RLT10 of the Wiltshire and Swindon Structure Plan 2016 and policy C3 of the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011.

The proposed development by reason of its scale, character and size would be an incongruous feature in this rural area and would not conserve or enhance the rural character of the area contrary to policies C3 and NE15 of the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 and policies RLT9 and RLT10 of the Wiltshire and Swindon Structure Plan 2016. 

There were no urgent items.