DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT PANEL 18 JULY 2011 Case No
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DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT PANEL 18 JULY 2011 Case No: 1100656S73 (RENEWAL OF CONSENT/VARY CONDITIONS) Proposal: REMOVAL OF CONDITION 1 OF PLANNING PERMISSION 1000817S73 WHICH LIMITS THE USE TO MR F PRICE AND HIS EXTENDED FAMILY FOR A LIMITED PERIOD OF 3 YEARS RELATING TO USE OF LAND AS RESIDENTIAL CARAVAN SITE FOR 4 GYPSY FAMILIES Location: FIVE ACRES FIELD ST IVES ROAD WOODHURST PE28 3BP Applicant: MR F PRICE Grid Ref: 533844 275832 Date of Registration: 09.05.2011 Parish: SOMERSHAM RECOMMENDATION - APPROVE 1. DESCRIPTION OF SITE AND APPLICATION 1.1 This site is located between St Ives and Somersham, and comprises a large open field used as a residential caravan site by an extended gypsy family. The site has no features of note apart from boundary hedges. It rises from the road in a south easterly direction. There is a compound abutting the highway frontage containing a building and other structures with a gated access from the main road. The four pitches are located at this roadside end of the site. 1.2 Development in the area is scattered but there are two cottages opposite, a mushroom farm and a compost making plant to the south and the Raptor Centre on the opposite side of the road. 1.3 The application seeks to remove condition 1 of planning permission 1000817S73 which was granted in December 2010. This condition allowed the 4 permitted gypsy and traveller pitches to be occupied for a further 3 year period to December 2013. The original temporary planning permission, 0700959FUL, had granted permission for 4 years to May 2010. 1.4 Although the temporary planning permission for this site has only recently been extended, this application has been submitted following the appeal decisions in April of this year for gypsy and traveller sites at Chatteris Road, Somersham and Needingworth Road/Station Road, Bluntisham. Condition 1 of the current planning permission states: “The use hereby permitted shall be carried on only by Mr F Price and his extended family and shall be for a limited period being the period of three years from the date of this permission…”. The permission is therefore personal and temporary. 2. NATIONAL GUIDANCE 2.1 PPS1: “Delivering Sustainable Development” (2005) contains advice on the operation of the plan-led system. 2.2 PPS3: “Housing” (2011) sets out how the planning system supports the growth in housing completions needed in England. 2.3 PPS7: “Sustainable Development in Rural Areas” (2004) sets out the Government's planning policies for rural areas, including country towns and villages and the wider, largely undeveloped countryside up to the fringes of larger urban areas. 2.4 PPG13: “Transport” (2011) provides guidance in relation to transport and particularly the integration of planning and transport. 2.5 Circular 01/2006 – Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Caravan Sites For full details visit the government website http://www.communities.gov.uk and follow the links to planning, Building and Environment, Planning, Planning Policy. 3. PLANNING POLICIES Further information on the role of planning policies in deciding planning applications can also be found at the following website: http://www.communities.gov.uk then follow links Planning, Building and Environment, Planning, Planning Information and Guidance, Planning Guidance and Advice and then Creating and Better Place to Live 3.1 East of England Plan - Revision to the Regional Spatial Strategy (May 2008) Policies viewable at http://www.go-east.gov.uk then follow links to Planning, Regional Planning then Related Documents H3: “Provision for Gypsies and Travellers” – Local Authorities should make provision for sites/pitches to meet the identified needs of Gypsies and Travellers living within or resorting to their area. Single Issue Review on Gypsy and Traveller accommodation 3.2 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Structure Plan (2003) Saved policies from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Structure Plan 2003 are relevant and viewable at http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk follow the links to environment, planning, planning policy and Structure Plan 2003. No relevant policies 3.3 Policies from the Adopted Huntingdonshire Local Development Framework Core Strategy 2009 are relevant and viewable at http://www.huntsdc.gov.uk click on Environment and Planning then click on Planning and then click on Planning Policy where there is a link to the Local Development Framework Core Strategy. CS1: “Sustainable development in Huntingdonshire” – all developments will contribute to the pursuit of sustainable development, having regard to social, environmental and economic issues. All aspects will be considered including design, implementation and function of development. CS3: “The Settlement Hierarchy” – states that any area not specifically identified are classed as part of the countryside, where development will be strictly limited to that which has an essential need to be located in the countryside. CS6: “Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople” - Account will be taken of the need to ensure that Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople are accommodated in sustainable locations where essential services such as water and sewerage are provided and with good access by foot, cycle or public transport to services such as education and health. Providing sites in appropriate locations will help prevent the social exclusion of Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople and conflict with settled communities. Consideration will be taken of the preference of many Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople for a rural location with a degree of separation from the settled community. The number of pitches should be appropriate to the size of the site and the availability of infrastructure and services and facilities in accordance with the general principles set out in the settlement hierarchy. The policy sets out the criteria which will guide the provision of sites. 3.4 Huntingdonshire Local Plan (1995) Saved policies from the Huntingdonshire Local Plan 1995 are relevant and viewable at www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/localplan95 H23: “Outside Settlements” – general presumption against housing development outside environmental limits with the exception of specific dwellings required for the efficient management of agriculture, forestry and horticulture. En17: "Development in the Countryside" - development in the countryside is restricted to that which is essential to the effective operation of local agriculture, horticulture, forestry, permitted mineral extraction, outdoor recreation or public utility services. 3.5 Huntingdonshire Local Plan Alterations (2002)Saved policies from the Huntingdon Local Plan Alterations 2002 are relevant and viewable at www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/localplan - Then click on "Local Plan Alteration (2002) No relevant policies 3.6 Policies from the Development Management DPD: Proposed Submission 2010 are relevant. E1: “Development Context” – development proposals shall demonstrate consideration of the character and appearance of the surrounding environment and the potential impact of the proposal. E8: “Sustainable Travel” – proposals must demonstrate how the scheme maximises opportunities for the use of sustainable travel modes, particularly walking, cycling and public transport. H7: “Amenity” – development proposals should safeguard the living conditions for residents and people occupying adjoining or nearby properties. 3.7 Supplementary Planning Guidance / Documents: 3.8 Huntingdonshire Townscape and Landscape Assessment – site is located within the Central Claylands Landscape Character Area 3.9 Cambridge Sub-Region Traveller Needs Assessment 2006 - assessed the need in Huntingdonshire to be between 15 and 25 extra pitches in the period 2005 to 2010 4. PLANNING HISTORY 4.1 0302303FUL Stationing of caravan. Refused 08 October 2003 4.2 0302790FUL Stationing of two caravans. Refused 01 December (Appeal dismissed) 4.3 0701841FUL Change of use of land to residential caravan site for one gypsy family. Granted 21 November 2007 4.4 1000817S73 Removal of condition 1 of planning permission 0701841FUL for change of use of land to residential caravan site for 4 gypsy families hardstanding and landscaping. Condition 1 revised 3 December 2010. 5. CONSULTATIONS 5.1 Somersham Parish Council – Refuse (Copy attached) - The current planning legislation is in a state of flux, approval of this application would set a planning precedent in advance of the Localism Bill which is still going through parliament, the current DCLG Traveller site consultation and the outstanding HDC DPD for gypsy and traveller site allocations in Huntingdonshire. 5.2 Pidley Parish Council: Comments awaited. 5.3 Woodhurst parish Council: Comments awaited. 5.4 Bluntisham Parish Council: Comments awaited. 5.5 Cambridgeshire County Council (Highways): Comments awaited. 5.6 Environmental Health: Comments awaited. 6. REPRESENTATIONS 6.1 None received at the time this report was compiled. 7. SUMMARY OF ISSUES 7.1 The main issues in assessing this application are: the principle of the development (whether the temporary and personal restrictions should be removed at this time), sustainability, impact on the character and appearance of the area and highway safety. Principle of development: 7.2 When the site was last considered at the end of 2010 the Government had taken action to revoke Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS), which establish the number of pitches to be provided in each district, and announced its intention to revoke Circular 01/2006 - Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Caravan