Agenda item

Mr David Randall spoke in objection to the application.

Mr Tony Allen, agent, spoke in support of the application.

Mr Crawford Stoddard, on behalf of Cholderton Parish Meeting, spoke in objection to the application.

The Planning Officer introduced the report, which was recommended for approval.

A debate ensued during which issues such as the fact that various temporary permissions had been granted to the site and some had not been renewed at the appropriate time, the balance between encouraging tourism and protecting the environment, the total amount of staff accommodation to be available on site were raised.

With the inclusion of additional conditions regarding the removal of the existing log cabins and the ground to be reverted to agricultural use, it was

Resolved:

Planning permission be GRANTED for the following reason:

The removal of the two dilapidated Log Cabins together with the proposed temporary retention and location on the site of the mobile homes for staff accommodation, are considered to represent a significant visual improvement resulting in no demonstrable harm to the immediate site, neighbours and the wider surrounding countryside. As such the proposal is considered to be in general accordance with the aims and objectives of saved policies G1, C2 and T2 of the adopted Salisbury District Local Plan which are contained within Appendix C of the adopted South Wiltshire Core Strategy, and with the Local Planning Policy Framework (LPPF) parts:  3 Supporting a Prosperous Rural Economy.

Subject to the following conditions:

1 The occupation of the mobile homes shall be limited to a person solely or mainly employed in the business occupying the site.

REASON: The site lies within an area where planning permission would not normally be granted for development unrelated to the essential needs of the established business.

POLICY – G1 – General principles for development, C2 – Development in the Countryside, T2 – Tourist attractions in the countryside.

2. The mobile homes hereby permitted and any ancillary works or structures shall be removed and the land restored to its former condition on or before the 30th June 2014 in accordance with a scheme to be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority.

REASON: Permission has been granted on a temporary basis to establish whether there is a functional need for permanent on site residential accommodation in relation to the agricultural tourism enterprise on the site.

POLICY – G1 – General principles for development, C2 – Development in the Countryside, T2 – Tourist attractions in the countryside.

3.  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 ref.no. APL/01 Site Location Plan

Drawing ref.no. CFc/p01a Site Plan as Proposed

Drawing ref.no. CFc/p/10 Block Plan as Proposed

Planning Design and Access Statement

REASON: For the avoidance of doubt.

4. The two existing Log Cabins adjacent to the northern boundary with Amesbury Road shall be removed from the site and the land restored to its former condition and Use within 6 months of the date of this decision.

Reason: The log cabins are located on agricultural land without having first been justified in relation to any agricultural business and there location away from the main cluster of buildings has resulted in a visually incongruous development in the open countryside and the Special Landscape Area.