Planning Application

New Agricultural Grain Store Building

Shortwood Farm, Glebe Road,

March 2021

APPLICANTS DETAILS Bletsoe-Brown Ltd

ISSUED BY Lauren May BSc (Hons) MA Planning Consultant

PROJECT Full application for the erection of a new agricultural grain store building at Shortwood Farm, Glebe Road, Mears Ashby

42 Headlands NN15 7HR 01536 412464 berrys.uk.com

Bletsoe-Brown Ltd KA39978

Contents

1. Introduction ...... 4 2. The Site and Surroundings ...... 5 3. The Proposed Development ...... 7 4. Policy Assessment ...... 10 5. Conclusion ...... 12

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1. Introduction

1.1 This Planning Statement accompanies a full application for the erection of an agricultural grain store at Shortwood Farm, Glebe Road, Mears Ashby. This report outlines the key site considerations and explains the basis of the proposal.

1.2 This statement is provided to assist Borough Council of as the Local Planning Authority (LPA) in its determination of this planning application and should be read in conjunction with the plans provided, specifically:

• Application Forms • Site Location Plan – 1:1250 scale • Site Block Plan – 1:500 scale • Proposed Floorplan – 1:100 scale • Proposed Elevations – 1:100 scale

1.3 This statement will illustrate that the proposed application is an appropriate scheme in terms of planning policy and other relevant material considerations.

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2. The Site and Surroundings

2.1 The application site is located within the Parish area of Mears Ashby within the Borough Council of Wellingborough Local Authority Area of Northamptonshire.

2.2 The application site is located 1km north of the village of Mears Ashby and 1.2km north east of the village of . Additionally, the application site is located 500m east of .

Sywell Aerodrome

The Site

Sywell The Site

Mears Ashby

Aerial image of local area, red star shows the location of application site, (source Google Maps) 2.3 This application specifically relates to the agricultural yard commonly referred to as Shortwood Farm, Glebe Road, Mears Ashby.

Application Site

Aerial image of Shortwood Farm showing existing site layout (source Google Maps)

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2.4 The site currently comprises a modern agricultural building which is surrounded by a large area of hardstanding enabling agricultural vehicles to move around the site.

2.5 There is an established agricultural vehicle access into the site. The access is well set back from the highway which enables agricultural vehicles to safely pull off the highway.

Existing agricultural vehicle access set back from the highway.

Image of existing vehicle access into Shortwood Farm from Glebe Road (source Google Maps)

2.6 The agricultural yard is owned and managed by Bletsoe-Brown Limited, a family run agricultural enterprise which farm approximately 1000ha of agricultural land within local area.

2.7 The site is not located within a Conservation Area nor is it considered to be within an area with any special landscape value. Furthermore, there are no listed buildings at, or within, close proximity to the site.

2.8 According to the Indicative Environment Agency fluvial and groundwater flood risk maps, the entirety of the site is within a Flood Zone 1 and therefore at the lowest risk of flooding.

2.9 The site is not subject to any other planning or environmental designations or constraints which would prevent or constrain development of the site.

Planning History

2.10 There is one planning application available to view on the Borough Council website which relates to the agricultural development at Shortwood Farm details of this application are summarised below:

• WP/1994/0350 ‘Grain store with lean-to’ – Approved 21.03.1995

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3. The Proposed Development

3.1 This application seeks to gain full planning permission for the erection of a new grain store building at Shortworth Farm, Glebe Road, Mears Ashby, Northamptonshire.

3.2 The proposed building will be located to the east of the existing grain store building on the site which will aid in reducing the visual impact of the proposed development within the open countryside setting.

Proposed location of new grain store

3.3 The proposed building will be of a similar size and scale as the existing grain store on site. The building will have a footprint of 900sqm (30m x 30m) and will have an eaves and ridge heights of 6m and 8.208m respectively.

Proposed building elevations NOT TO SCALE

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3.4 The building will have a steel portal frame with walls composed of concrete panels to a height of 2.4m with anthracite composite cladding above. The roof will be composed of anthricite coloured composite roof panels.

3.5 The building will have four roller shutter doors, two will be located on the eastern facing elevation and the two will be located on the southern facing elevation. Additionally there will be four external personnel doors to enable access into the building.

3.6 The proposed grain store building is required by the applicant to support the ongoing agricultural enterprise.

3.7 The proposed building will be accessed utilising the existing agricultural vehicle access onto Glebe Road. It is not believed that the proposal will increase the frequency of the use of the access as the proposed building is required to support the ongoing agricultural enterprise rather than expanding upon it.

Permitted Development Rights

3.8 Class A of Part 6 Schedule 2 Article 3 of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) () (Amendment) Order 2018 allows agricultural buildings of up to 1000sqm to be constructed under a Prior Notification application. However due to the application site’s proximity to Sywell Aerodrome the maximum height of agricultural building which could be achieved under a Prior Notification application would be restricted to 3 meters, which does not meet the applicant’s building needs. Therefore a full planning application has been submitted.

Design and access statement

3.9 Use: The development relates to the erection of a new grain store building to support the existing agricultural business at Shortwood Farm, Glebe Road, Mears Ashby.

3.10 Size: The proposed building will have a footprint of 900sqm (30m x 30m) with an eaves height of 6m and a ridge height of 8.208m.

3.11 Layout: The proposed building will be located to the east of the existing grain store building on the site.

3.12 Landscaping: The building will be screened by the mature vegetation to the north of the proposed building and also the existing buildings and structures within the Beckworth Emporium site. The building will also be partially screened by the existing grain store building on the site.

3.13 Materials & Appearance: The building will have walls composed of concrete panelling with anthracite composite cladding above. The roof will be composed of anthracite coloured composite roof panels.

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3.14 Access: The building will be accessed via the existing vehicle access onto Glebe Road which has good visibility in both directions.

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4. Policy Assessment

4.1 Section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires decisions to be made in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. In this case, the development plan comprises:

• National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) • Joint Core Strategy (Part 1) 2016; • The Plan for The Borough of Wellingborough (Part 2) 2019

4.2 In compliance with Section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 planning applications should be determined in accordance with the policies of the Development Plan unless other material considerations indicate otherwise. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is a material consideration.

National Planning Policy Framework

4.3 The updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was published on 19th February 2019. This document superseded the July 2018 version.

4.4 Paragraph 83 considers the need for a prosperous rural economy. This paragraph discusses how development related to agriculture and other land based rural businesses such as this proposal should be supported.

4.5 The approval of this application will allow an established farming business to invest in a new grain store at Shortwood Farm which will support the prosperity of the land based agricultural enterprise which will in turn support the wider local rural economy.

North Northamptonshire Joint CoCorere Strategy (Part 1 Local Plan)

4.6 The Joint Core Strategy sets out the long-term vision and objectives for the area covered by Corby Borough, East Northamptonshire District, Kettering Borough and Borough of Wellingborough Councils for the period to 2031 including strategic policies for steering and shaping development.

4.7 As a strategic plan its policies are aimed at growth and development and in the context of this small scale proposal offers limited guidance. Policy 11, The Network of Urban and Rural Areas, at part 2a supports development in rural areas that are required to support a prosperous rural economy and to meet a local need. Policy 25, Rural Economic Development and Diversification is also supportive of development to support the rural economy where these are of an appropriate scale and where they respect the rural character of an

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area. In this case the proposed development will support an established agricultural business within an established agricultural yard. The proposed building will be partially screened from view due to the existing grain store building on site and due to the mature vegetation and the buildings and structures at Beckworth Emporium to the north of the site which will reduce the visual impact of the proposed development within the open countryside setting.

The Plan for The Borough of Wellingborough (Part 2 Local PlanPlan))

4.8 The Plan for The Borough of Wellingborough (Part 2 Local Plan) was formally adopted in February 2019. This document holds full weight within the Planning Policy Framework.

4.9 There are no planning policies relevant to the proposed development.

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5. Conclusion

5.1 There is no reason why this application should not be approved. The new building will be appropriate in size, scale and appearance to its open countryside location and will support the growth of an existing rural business.

5.2 The proposed development is in accordance with paragraph 83 of the NPPF and policies 11 and 25 of the North Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy. Therefore, this application should be approved without delay.

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