Agenda item

Retention and alterations to an existing agricultural building and the retention of a stable block and tack room in connection with the use of land for equine and agricultural purposes (resubmission of 17/04844/FUL).

Public Participation

Zena Church (applicant) spoke in support of the application.

Alan Breckon (Agent) spoke in support of the application.

Rosie Wilkinson spoke on behalf of Grimstead Parish Council.

 

The Planning Officer, Joe Richardson presented the application for retention and alterations to an existing agricultural building and the retention of a stable block and tack room in connection with the use of land for equine and agricultural purposes (resubmission of 17/04844/FUL).

 

The previous application which had been refused, sought to amend the design, and that included a groomsman’s quarter within the barn.

 

This application seeks to amend that issue with the removal of the groom’s quarter. The site also had a stable block and a tack room.

 

Other details included in this proposal included the removal of the French windows and replace with a shutter door. The casement windows would be retained and include shutters to give more of a barn appearance. The barn would also be timber clad and have a new roof.

 

The site was set back from the public highway.  There was an existing mobile home on the site, which would be removed.

 

The use of the barn would remain for agricultural and equestrian use.

 

The application was recommended for approval.

 

Members had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the Officer, where it was clarified that current ongoing enforcement action had been suspended pending the consideration of this application. If the application was approved the applicant would in due course be permitted to apply for a variation.

 

The upper floor area within the barn was for general agricultural use.

 

Members of the public then had the opportunity to present their views as stated above.

 

The applicant had previously acted on bad advice of a former agent, and now sought to make improvements to reinstate a more barn like appearance to the building. The requirement of a toilet and seating area was for the comfort of her family members. The applicant did not intend to live on the site, and intended to retain the agricultural use for livestock.

 

Grimstead Parish Council spoke to object to the application, noting that the current barn did not reflect the original planning permission, in that it had  windows and French doors and did not blend in with the surrounding area. The PC consider the building to be more akin to an inhabitable dwelling than a barn.

 

The Division Member Cllr Chris Devine then spoke in objection to the application, noting a ref to another similar previous development in the local area, called Windrush, which was next to the application site, further down the road. He informed the Committee that Windrush had originally put in for an office and a tack room in a barn, then four years later they put in for a Certificate of Lawfulness and now they were living there. The size of the barn in this application was enormous, it also had a second floor, and was nothing like the original design.

 

This site was also in a Special Landscape Area (SLA). He felt that the barn should be made to go back to what it was supposed to be.  Take the upper floor out of this as well. This is a house in waiting.

 

Cllr Devine then moved the motion of refusal, this was seconded by Cllr Dalton, on the grounds of overdevelopment, and inappropriate development in a SLA.

 

The Planning Team Leader, Richard Hughes noted that the application for consideration did not include any residential accommodation.

 

A debate then followed, where they key issues raised included that the application would need to be considered on its own merits and not speculate on what the applicant or future owners may or may not do.

 

The applicant had advised that they would not been putting up any lighting externally.

 

The barn was already there, so it could not be considered overdevelopment.

 

The Committee then voted on the motion of refusal, against Officers recommendation.

 

The Motion was not carried.

 

Cllr Westmoreland then moved the motion of Approval with conditions, in line with Officer’s recommendation. This was seconded by Cllr Matthew Dean.

 

Resolved

That application 18/04897/FUL be approved with the following conditions:

 

 

1.     The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans:

 

DWG No: 918.1 Site Location Plan, Proposed Site Location Plan, Proposed Ground and First Floor Plan of Existing Barn, Existing Floor Plan of Tack Room and Stables Date Received 22.05.18

 

DWG No: 918.2.A Proposed Barn Elevations Date Received 14.08.18

 

DWG No: 918.1.A Manure Storage Plan Date Received 02.10.18

 

REASON: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

 

 

2.     Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (or any Order revoking or re-enacting or amending that Order with or without modification), the site shall be used solely for the purposes of agriculture and the private stabling of horses associated with the agricultural/equestrian use of the land.

 

 

REASON: The proposed use is acceptable but the Local Planning Authority wish to consider any future proposal for a change of use, other than a use within the same class(es), having regard to the circumstances of the case.

 

3.     The development hereby permitted shall only be used for the private stabling of horses and the storage of associated equipment and feed and shall at no time be used for any commercial purpose whatsoever, including for livery, or in connection with equestrian tuition or leisure rides.

 

REASON: In the interests of highway safety.

 

4.     No burning of manure or other material derived from the keeping of horses or livestock shall take place on the development site or land connected with it.

 

REASON: In the interests of amenity