Agenda item

Buckerfields Nursery, Southend, Ogbourne St George, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 1SG – Conversion of storage barn to four units of holiday accommodation including erection of single storey extensions.

Buckerfields Nursery, Southend, Ogbourne St George, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 1SG – Conversion of storage barn to four units of holiday accommodation including erection of single storey extensions.

The following people spoke in favour of the proposal:

Mr Paul Oakley, the agent

Mr Terrence Wright, the applicant

The Committee received a presentation by the Area Development Manager which set out the main issues in respect of the application. He introduced the report, which recommended approval.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions, after which the Committee received statements from members of the public as detailed above, expressing their views regarding this planning application.

Cllr Jemima Milton made a statement on behalf of Ogbourne St George Parish Council, objecting to the proposal, and after discussion regarding,

·         The principle of allowing re-use and extension of the building to provide holiday accommodation;

·         The compatibility of the proposed use with the principles of sustainability

·         The impact of the proposed use on the countryside and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty;

·         The impact on highway safety;

·         The impact on residential amenity;

·         The levels of local demand and supply of holiday accommodation; and

·         The prospect of limiting guests’ stay length through planning conditions to ensure primarily tourist, and not business, use

It was,

Resolved:

To approve the application for the following reasons:

The decision to grant planning permission has been taken on the grounds that the proposed development would not cause any significant harm to interests of acknowledged importance, including the character and appearance of the landscape of this part of the area of outstanding natural beauty, and having regard to the following policies and proposals in the Kennet Local Plan 2011 namely: policies PD1 & NR7; and Central Government planning policy set out in PPS4 & PPS7.

And subject to 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 materials to be used in the construction of the external surfaces of the development hereby permitted shall match in material, colour and texture those used in the existing building.

REASON: In the interests of visual amenity and the character and appearance of the area.

3.     Notwithstanding Class C3 of the Schedule of the Town and County Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (or in any provision equivalent to that Class in any statutory instrument revoking and re-enacting that Order with or without modification) the accommodation hereby permitted shall be used to provide holiday accommodation only, which shall not be occupied as permanent, unrestricted accommodation or as primary place of residence. An up-to-date register of names and main home address of all occupiers shall be maintained by the owner and shall be made available at all reasonable times to the Local Planning Authority.

REASON: In order to ensure that the accommodation is not occupied on a long-term basis because the site is in an area where the Local Planning Authority would not normally permit new dwellings.

4.     This decision relates to documents/plans submitted with the application, listed below. No variation from the approved documents should be made without the prior approval of this Council. Amendments may require the submission of a further application. Failure to comply with this advice may lead to enforcement action which may require alterations and/or demolition of any unauthorised buildings or structures and may also lead to prosecution.

Drawing nos. 3163.1 & 3164.2 dated Nov 2010 (and received by the Ipa 09/12/2010) and red-edged site plan.