HARROGATE BOROUGH COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE – AGENDA ITEM 6: LIST OF PLANS. DATE: 15 March 2016

PLAN: 06 CASE NUMBER: 15/05595/FUL GRID REF: EAST 422263 NORTH 468371 APPLICATION NO. 6.50.13.B.FUL DATE MADE VALID: 04.01.2016 TARGET DATE: 29.02.2016 REVISED TARGET: CASE OFFICER: Mr Andrew Moxon WARD: Kirkby Malzeard

VIEW PLANS AT: http://uniformonline.harrogate.gov.uk/online- applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=NZJTFFHY0AY00

APPLICANT: Eavestone Forestry

AGENT: Mr C Robinson

PROPOSAL: Retention of porus hardstanding.

LOCATION: OS Field 2736 Eavestone North

REPORT

SITE AND PROPOSAL This application has to be determined by the Planning Committee as the development is the subject of an Enforcement Notice.

The site is in a remote area in the small settlement known as Eavestone which is to the north of the B6265 midway between and .

The site is enclosed pasture land located on the north western side of Eavestone at the end of the metalled road serving a number of farmsteads. The site lies within the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Access to the field is through a 5 bar gate directly from the adjacent road. Recently this has been widened to a double gate and hard surfaced about the entrance with a loose stone covering. The hard surfaced area has been extended as a short access track into the field and then expanded into a square shaped area approximately 50m2 in size. Engineering works have been conducted to ‘dig in’ and provide a level surface to the hard surfacing. This application is to retain a smaller area of hardstanding as shown on the proposed plans and the include landscaping.

MAIN ISSUES 1. Impact on Nidderdale area of outstanding natural beauty

RELEVANT SITE HISTORY 05/02063/FUL Erection of detached storage building, formation of 3 parking spaces, hard standing turning area, and new vehicular access. REFUSED 20.07.2005 07/02962/FUL Erection of detached storage building, formation of 4 car parking spaces and new vehicular access (Revised Scheme). REFUSED 20.08.2007

ENFORCEMENT NOTICE served on the 25th September 2015 alleging a material change of use of the land to a use for car parking.

The Notice requires:

1. Cease the use of the land for car parking; 2. Remove the hard surface materials from the land; 3. Remove the cut and fill profile of the hardstanding area and reinstate the land to its former condition as agricultural pasture by re seeding the land in the first available planting season.

CONSULTATIONS/NOTIFICATIONS Parish Council EVASTONE

Principal Ecologist No comments received

NYCC Highways And Transportation No objection subject to conditions.

RELEVANT PLANNING POLICY NPPF National Planning Policy Framework LPC01 Harrogate District Local Plan (2001, as altered 2004) Policy C1, Conservation of Nidderdale A.O.N.B LPC02 Harrogate District Local Plan (2001, as altered 2004) Policy C2, Landscape Character LPHD20 Harrogate District Local Plan (2001, as altered 2004) Policy HD20, Design of New Development and Redevelopment CSSG3 Core Strategy Policy SG3 Settlement Growth: Conservation of the countryside, including Green Belt CSSG4 Core Strategy Policy SG4 Settlement Growth: Design and Impact CSEQ2 Core Strategy Policy EQ2: The natural and built environment and green belt SPGLAP Supplementary Planning Guidance, Landscape Character Assessment of Harrogate District

APPLICATION PUBLICITY SITE NOTICE EXPIRY: 05.02.2016 PRESS NOTICE EXPIRY:

REPRESENTATIONS EVASTONE PARISH COUNCIL has no objections.

VOLUNTARY NEIGHBOUR NOTIFICATION None undertaken.

ASSESSMENT OF MAIN ISSUES 1. IMPACT ON NIDDERDALE AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY - The NPPF sets out the “great weight should be given to conserving landscape and scenic beauty in National Parks, the Broads, and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which have the highest status of protection in relation to landscape and scenic beauty.”

Saved Policy C1 of the Local Plan states “Within the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty [A] development which would have a significant adverse impact on the landscape will not be permitted.”

The development carried out has levelled part of the field by cutting and filling to remove the slopes and covering it with hardcore. This was done without planning permission and an Enforcement Enquiry launched and Enforcement Notice served. At the time the Council were given limited information as to why this development had occurred. In the absence of any justification for the works it was considered that the works were harmful to the AONB since in introduces a visible and intrusive feature into the landscape.

The application received has set out why the hard standing is needed and given the Council the opportunity to balance the needs for the development against the impact the development has on the landscape and scenic beauty of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

It has been acknowledged by the applicant that the hardstanding is larger than what is required. As part of this application the hardstanding is reduced in size to 14m x 14m from its current size which is 19m x 15m. The hardstanding looks very stark due to a lack of any soft landscaping or integration into the landscape. This application does include landscaping however details are lacking. It is therefore recommended that, should members be minded to approve, a condition is added to require a landscaping scheme to be agreed and implemented.

Eavestone Forestry currently owns over 100 acres of woodlands in the area, on a number of separate parcels of land – none of which has access to a tarmac road and hence no current access for road going vehicles. The hard standing would allow the delivery vehicles to be offloaded safely, turn around to exit back to the main road along the single track access road and also to allow for very temporary storage of forestry related product prior to use.

At the time of the enforcement enquiry in to the breach of planning control the hardstanding was being used as a car park. Such a use in an isolated location with no apparent need was considered to be detrimental to the landscape and natural beauty of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The applicant has agreed to a condition restriting the use of the site for a no purpose other than for the use in association with forestry and woodland management.

If the hardstanding is reduced in size to that shown on the application plans and landscaping of the site carried out, then the development can be supported.

CONCLUSION A reduced hardstanding with landscaping to help integrate it into the wider landscaping will mean that the development is acceptable. The hardstanding is required to help manage the woodland plantations in this part of Nidderdale. The development is considered to be in accordance with the policies of the Development Plan and the NPPF.

CASE OFFICER: Mr Andrew Moxon

RECOMMENDATION

That the application be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:-

1 The development shall be completed within 3 months of the date of this permission as agreed in writing with the agent by email on 25 February 2016.

2 The development hereby approved shall be carried out in accordance with the approved drawing numbered: * 3959 received 19.02.2016

3 The hardstanding hereby approved shall not be used for a purpose other than for use in association with forestry and woodland management.

4 Within 3 months of the date of this decision a detailed scheme for landscaping, including the planting of trees and or shrubs and the use of surface materials shall be submitted for the written approval of the Local Planning Authority. Such scheme shall specify materials, species, tree and plant sizes, numbers and planting densities, and the timing of implementation of the scheme, including any earthworks required.

The landsacping, as approved, shall be completed within the first full planting season (October - March) following the agreement of the landscaping scheme.

Reasons for Conditions:-

1 To be in accordance with the details of the application and to ensure that any harm to the AONB is mitigated. 2 For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning. 3 In order to protect the landscape of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 4 To safeguard the rights of control by the Local Planning Authority in these respects and in the interests of amenity.