Agenda item

Public Participation:

Mr Perrin, agent, spoke in support of the application.

Cllr Jacqui Lay, representing Purton Parish Council, spoke in objection to the application.

The Committee received a presentation by the Planning Officer detailing the main issues in respect of the application, noting the commitment of the Council to provide certain numbers of Gypsy and Traveller sites which the application would help meet, and recommended that planning permission be granted. It was noted that the item had been deferred from 02/11/11 pending receipt of the views of Purton Parish Council.

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

Cllr Mollie Groom, as local Member, spoke in objection to the application.

After discussion,

Resolved:

Planning Permission be GRANTED for the following reason:

The proposed development is considered to be acceptable based on its scale and nature which will limit impact on the character and amenity of the locality, residential amenities and highway safety and meet an established and identified need for Gypsy site provision in the former North Wiltshire area. The proposal is in accordance with Policy DP15 of the Wiltshire and Swindon Structure Plan 2016, Policies C3 & H9 of the North Wiltshire Local Plan (2011), PPS3 "Housing" and advice contained in Circular 01/2006.

Subject to the following conditions:

1. Within the first planting and seeding season following the date of the permission;  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 as shown in the Site Development Scheme Plan  PF:2C dated 16 September 2011.

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

2. The site shall not be permanently occupied by persons other than Gypsies and Travellers as defined in paragraph 15 of ODPM Circular 01/2006.

REASON: Planning permission has only been granted on the basis of a demonstrated unmet need for accommodation for gypsies and travellers and it is therefore necessary to keep the site available to meet that need.

3. There shall be no more than four pitches on the site. The site being the defined by the red line shown on Site Location Plan PF:1A dated 16 September 2011.

REASON: In the interests of visual amenity and the amenity of the occupants on the site.

4. There shall be no more than four caravans (4)  caravans as defined in the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 and the caravans Sites Act 1968, of which no more than two (2) shall be a static caravan or mobile home and no more than two (2) shall be a touring caravan, shall be stationed on the site at any time. The site being defined by the red line on Site PlanPF:1A dated 16 September 2011.

REASON: It is important for the local planning authority to retain control over the number of caravans on the site in order to safeguard interests of visual and residential amenity in accordance with policies C3, NE15 and H9 of the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011.

5 No more than four commercial vehicles shall be kept on the site for use by the occupiers of the caravans hereby permitted and each vehicle shall not exceed 3.5 tonnes in weight.

REASON: In the interests of residential amenity, highway safety and the character of the countryside.

6. Except for the keeping of commercial vehicles as defined in condition 5 above, no commercial activity or use, including the storage of materials and waste, shall be carried out on the site.

REASON: In the interests of residential amenity, highway safety and the character of the countryside.

7. Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (as amended by the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (No.2) (England) Order 2008 (or any Order revoking or re-enacting or amending that Order with or without modification), no buildings or structures, or wall, fence or other means of enclosure shall be erected or placed anywhere on the site.

REASON:  To safeguard the character and appearance of the area.

8. No part of the development hereby permitted shall be first brought into use until the access, turning area and parking spaces have been completed in accordance with the details shown on the approved plans. The areas shall be maintained for those purposes at all times thereafter.

REASON: In the interests of highway safety.