Agenda item

Revised resolution approved as follows:

That temporary consent for a period of three years be granted, subject to conditions.

The Committee considered a report which sought approval for a change of use of land for use as a gypsy and traveller site involving the provision of 3 no. household pitches with no more than 6 no. caravans of which no more than 3 no. shall be static caravans or mobile homes and the erection of 2 no. amenity buildings and associated hardstanding and parking areas.

The Senior Planning Officer reported that following an article on Oxfordshire radio that morning, a number of emails had been received by the planning department objecting to the development on green belt land, lack of consultation and the recommendation for approval being against the view of the parish council.

The Committee was advised that the decision of Inspectors appointed by the Secretary of State to allow the appeal against the refusal of application 10/00839/F for the change of use of land for British Romany Gypsy families at OS Parcel 2678 adjoining A34 by Hampton Gay and Poyle should be taken as a material consideration when considering this application.

The Committee considered the impact of the development on Green Belt and whether there were very special circumstances under which development could be permitted on this occasion. Members acknowledged the objections that had been submitted in relation to the proposal. In considering the application, the Committee noted that the inquiry had criticised the lack of suitable sites in the district which could accommodate gypsy and traveller families. In response to Member’s queries about existing consent for gypsy and traveller sites, the Solicitor advised the Committee that all sites in the district were private and the Council could not therefore control who they permit on their land.

Councillor Gibbard proposed that temporary consent for a period of three years be granted, subject to conditions. Councillor Lawrie Stratford seconded the proposal.

In reaching their decision the Committee considered the Officers’ report, presentation and written update.

Resolved

That application 11/01356/F be approved for a temporary period of three years subject to:

(i)                 Departure procedure

(ii)               The submission of an amended drawing revising the layout of the site, the removal of the objection from the Environment Agency

(iii)             The imposition of the following conditions:

(1)       1.4A - Full Permission: Duration Limit (3 years) (RC2)

(2)               The site shall not be occupied by any persons other than gypsies and travellers as defined in paragraph 15 of ODPM Circular 01/2006.

(3)               No commercial activities shall take place on the land; including the storage of materials and no vehicle over 3.5 tonnes shall be stationed, parked or stored on this site.

(4)               No more than 6 caravans, as defined in the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 and the Caravan Sites Act 1968 (of which no more than 3 shall be static caravans or mobile homes) shall be stationed on the site at any time.

(5)               Except where otherwise stipulated by conditions attached to this permission, the development shall be carried out strictly in accordance with the documents submitted with the application and the following drawings: Amended Site layout (to be received), site location plan, detail of boundary fencing, proposed amenity building.

(6)               That within 2 months of the date of the permission a scheme for landscaping the site shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, the scheme shall include:

(a)    details of the proposed tree and shrub planting including their species, number, sizes and positions, together with grass seeded/turfed areas,

(b)     details of the existing trees and hedgerows to be retained as well as those to be felled, including existing and proposed soil levels at the base of each tree/hedgerow and the minimum distance between the base of the tree and the nearest edge of any excavation,

(c)     details of the hard surface areas, pavements, pedestrian areas, crossing points and steps.

(7)               That all planting, seeding or turfing comprised in the approved details of landscaping shall be carried out in the first planting and seeding seasons following the occupation of the building(s) or on the completion of the development, whichever is the sooner;  and that any trees and shrubs which within a period of five years from the completion of the development die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species, unless the Local Planning Authority gives written consent for any variation.

(8)               That within 2 months of the date of the permission, samples of the materials to be used in the construction of the external surfaces of the day rooms hereby permitted have been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. Development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

(9)               That within 3 months of the date of this decision, the existing means of access between the land and the highway shall be improved, laid out and constructed strictly in accordance with the approved site layout plan and specification of the means of access attached hereto, and that all ancillary works therein specified shall be undertaken in accordance with the said specification.

(10)          That before the development is first occupied, the parking and manoeuvring areas shall be provided in accordance with the site layout plan hereby approved and shall be constructed, laid out, surfaced, drained and completed in accordance with specification details to be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to the commencement of development, and shall be retained unobstructed except for the parking and manoeuvring of vehicles at all times thereafter.

(11)          Prior to the development a scheme for the provision and management of a buffer zone alongside the Kingsbridge Brook shall be submitted to and agreed in writing by the local planning authority. Thereafter the development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved scheme and any subsequent amendments shall be agreed in writing with the local planning authority. The scheme shall include:

(i)                 plans showing the extent and layout of the buffer zone

(ii)               details of any proposed planting scheme, (for example, native species)

(iii)             details demonstrating how the buffer zone will be protected during development and managed/maintained over the longer term.

(12)          Upon receipt of the Ecology survey the following condition shall be used:

            The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the recommendations set out in Ecology Survey unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

(13)          That at the expiration of 3 years from the date hereof the use specified in your application shall be discontinued and the land shall be restored to its former condition on or before that date.

(14)          That this permission shall enure for the benefit of Lilly Price and her family (as detailed in the application) only, and of no other persons whatsoever, and shall not enure for the benefit of the land.  Upon the applicant ceasing to occupy the land, it shall revert to its former use.