Agenda item

Construction of earth shelter dwelling - Land At Turleigh Farm Green Lane Turleigh Wiltshire

Public Participation:

-       Dr Richard Hoffman spoke in objection to the application

-       Mr Roger Berthoud spoke in objection to the application

-       Mr Alvin Howard, architect, spoke in support of the application

-       Mr Graham Jenkins, applicant, spoke in support of the application

-       Mr Vincent Guowell spoke in support of the application

Councillor Linda Conley, Unitary Member for Winsley and Westwood, welcomed the opportunity for this unusual application to be considered at a public meeting.

Officers introduced the report which sought refusal and in doing so drew the committee’s attention to the late list. During the ensuing debate members of the committee generally expressed support for the project and its sustainable aims but felt that this was outweighed by the adversarial impact on the open country side as the site was located in the Green Belt, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and in a Conservation Area

Resolved:

That planning permission be REFUSED

For the following reasons:

1. The proposal by reason of its location in the green belt would be harmful by reason of inappropriateness and its intrusion into the openness of the green belt, contrary to Planning Policy Guidance 2: Green Belts.

2. The proposal by reason of its location in open countryside and without adequate justification is fundamentally unsustainable, contrary to Policy H19 of the West Wiltshire District Plan 1st Alteration (2004).

3. The proposal by reason of the change of use of a substantial area of land and the establishment of a dwelling in a visually prominent site with associated access and domestic paraphernalia would have an adverse impact on the appearance of the landscape of this part of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and would conflict with policies C1 and C2 of the West Wiltshire District Plan 1st Alteration (2004).

4. The proposal by reason of its visual intrusion into the open and spacious rural character of the conservation area, and the change of use of a substantial area of land for the establishment of a dwelling with associated access, landscaping and domestic paraphernalia in a prominent position, would fail to preserve or enhance the open and spacious character and appearance of the conservation area contrary to policies C17 and C18 of the West Wiltshire District Plan 1st Alteration (2004).

5. The proposal by reason of the lack of evident investigation into the use of non-mains drainage and the inadequate information to ensure that groundwater sources are protected from the proposed means of foul water disposal, would be contrary to DETR Circular 03/99: Planning Requirement in respect of the Use of Non-Mains Sewerage incorporating Septic Tanks in New Development, Annexe A, paragraphs 3, 4 and 6, and Policy U4 of the West Wiltshire District Plan 1st Alteration (2004).

6. The proposal by reason of the inadequate information submitted in order to assess the potential impact on protected species is contrary to Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation and its accompanying ODPM Circular 06/2005 Biodiversity and Geological Conservation – Statutory Obligations and their impact within the planning system, paragraph 99.