HARROGATE BOROUGH COUNCIL

PLANNING COMMITTEE - AGENDA ITEM 6: LIST OF PLANS

Case No. 17/02761/RG3 Item No. 04

Location: , Site North Of Lofthouse/Middlesmoor, Stonebeck, North Yorkshire, HG3 5SW

Proposal: Erection of curved stone wall with seating area and 5 interpretation panels and installation of 2 freestanding interpretation boards.

Applicant: Harrogate Borough Council

Access to the case file on Public Access can be found here:- view file

Reason for report: This application is to be presented to the Planning Committee because it has been submitted by Harrogate Borough Council and in accordance with the Council’s Planning Scheme of Delegation cannot be determined under delegated powers by the Chief Planning Officer.

SUMMARY

The proposed development would contribute to providing a local benefit to the community. It would not cause any significant harm to the landscape character, or scenic beauty of the site and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It would be beneficial to tourists and other recreational users of the surrounding landscape. The proposal accords with the guidance in the National Planning Policy Framework and provisions in the Development Plan.

RECOMMENDATION: Approve subject to conditions

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1.0 SITE DESCRIPTION

1.1 The proposal relates to Scar House Reservoir. It is a remote area of Nidderdale, located 3.5 km north-west of Middlesmoor and 10 miles from Pateley Bridge. It lies off a long access and adopted public footpath from Lofthouse. Scar House Reservoir links to the Angram Reservoir to the south- west and to the south-east. To the east is a plantation. The site is under the ownership of .

1.2 Scar House Reservoir is an established visitor attraction. It has picnic areas and a café with a car park to the south-east. It hosts recreational activities, notably fishing, caving and horse riding, amongst others.

1.3 The site lies in the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

1.4 The application proposes three separate sites.

1.5 The first site is a raised bund located south of the plantation and north- east of the car park. It abuts the car park access near a disused stone building. It lies on raised ground level.

1.6 The second site is a parcel of grassland, sited north of the car park. It lies opposite a café operated by How Stean Gorge. It is surrounded by small benches and picnic areas, which act as an informal tourist point. It is flat in ground level and abuts the car park egress.

1.7 The third site is a parcel of grassland, located north-west of the reservoir. It lies off Carle Fell Road, a long and raised unclassified track accessed from the main through route of the reservoir. Opposite are the remains of The Lodge, a medieval monastic farm, which was continually occupied up to the 20C. The site is partially screened by trees to the south. It is currently used

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by livestock with open boundaries.

1.8 The upland moorlands and valley to this part of Nidderdale have been flooded to create the reservoirs. The landscape is dominated by the vast expanse of water of the reservoirs and stone dams and these are of historic and architectural interest.

2.0 PROPOSAL

2.1 The application is submitted by the Nidderdale AONB team at Harrogate

Borough Council.

2.2 Full planning permission is sought to erect a curved drystone wall, integrated with a seating area and five interpretation panels and install two freestanding interpretation boards. The latter would be affixed to a lectern and plinth.

2.3 The proposal would enable visitors to appreciate the general and historical importance of Scar House Reservoir and its surroundings and the processes which took place there.

2.4 The lectern would be located at the first site. It would feature a timber structure supported by two posts. It would be set 800mm into the ground with a height of 1.2 metres above ground. It would measure 1.4 metres wide and 594mm deep. It would contain information about the abandoned temporary Scar Village, built to house workers and their families who were working on the construction of Scar House Reservoir.

2.5 The curved stone wall would be located at the second site. It would comprise a circular plan structure with an access between two stone posts. There would be three curved seating areas with five boards, four at A2 size and one at A1. The structure would have a height of 1.1 metres to the wall and

1.5 metres to the posts. Its depth would be 450mm. The access opening would measure 1.7 metres. The structure access would be orientated

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southwards, opposite the grass picnic area. It would contain general and historic information about the reservoir and surrounding area.

2.6 The plinth would be located at the third site. It would comprise a stone plinth with an A1 sized panel. It would measure 1.04 metres wide, 600mm deep and 1 metre high. It would contain historical information about the abandoned village of Lodge.

3.0 APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING INFORMATION

. Location Plan

. Wider Location Plan

. Site Plan

. Proposed Drawings

4.0 RELEVANT HISTORY

4.1 Three similar proposals for interpretation panels nearby have been recently permitted:

4.2 17/03240/RG3 Brigg House Farm, Brigg House, Pateley Bridge - Installation of interpretation panel. Permitted 19.10.2017

4.3 17/00872/RG3 The Prosperous Lead Mines and Smelt Mill, West Lane Bewerley, North Yorkshire - Installation of two interpretation boards. Permitted 10.05.2017

4.4 16/02345/RG3 Toftgate Visitor Information Point, Coldstones Quarry Car Park And Picnic Area, Bewerley, North Yorkshire - Construction of curved dry stone wall with seating, honesty box and information board. Permitted 03.08.2017.

5.0 NATIONAL & LOCAL POLICY

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5.1 National Planning Policy Framework

5.2 The National Planning Policy Framework March 2012 (NPPF) sets out the Government’s planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied. Planning permission must be determined in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The National Planning Policy Framework is a material consideration in planning decisions.

5.3 At the heart of the NPPF is a presumption in favour of sustainable development.

5.4 Core Strategy

Policy EQ2 The natural and built environment and green belt

Policy SG3 Settlement Growth: Conservation of the countryside, including

Green Belt

Policy SG4 Settlement Growth: Design and Impact

Policy C1 Inclusive communities

5.5 Harrogate District Local Plan (2001, As Altered 2004)

Policy C1 Conservation of Nidderdale A.O.N.B Policy C2 Landscape Character Policy HD20 Design of New Development and Redevelopment

5.6 Supplementary Planning Documents

Landscape Character Assessment of Harrogate District

5.7 Other material policy considerations:

National Planning Policy Guidance

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6.0 CONSULTATIONS

6.1 NYCC Highways And Transportation - No objection.

6.2 Harrogate Bridleways Association - No objection.

6.3 Ramblers Association Nidderdale Group - No comments received.

6.4 Natural England Sites Within AONB - No comments received.

7.0 VIEWS OF THE PARISH COUNCIL

7.1 The Parish Council supports application.

8.0 OTHER REPRESENTATIONS

8.1 None received at the time of writing.

9.0 ASSESSMENT

9.1 Sustainability

9.2 Sustainability is the golden thread running through the National Planning Policy Framework and proposals for sustainable development should be approved without delay. There are three strands to sustainability, social, economic and environmental.

9.3 SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

9.4 Inclusive communities

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9.5 Policy C1 of the Core Strategy states proposals for the use and development of land will be assessed having regard to community needs within the District. It seeks to ensure that new development contributes to the creation of safe, sustainable, liveable, healthy and mixed communities with good access to key facilities, amongst other aspects.

9.6 In this case, the proposal would enhance the visitor experience of the site and contribute to its appreciation

9.7 The site and locality is well used by walkers. The Lodge serves a northern entrance to the site and the remaining two sites serve the eastern entrance. The interpretation boards would greet walkers in an attractive rural setting.

9.8 Due to their location, the boards would create focal point at a point where there are short and long range views of the surrounding landscape. This would be demonstrated well with the stone wall structure due to its siting near the car park and associated facilities.

9.9 The interpretation boards would enhance the understanding of the site and area. This would improve social integration, despite being a modest development.

9.10 On the basis of the above, the panels would provide some local benefit to the community.

9.11 ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

9.12 Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

9.13 The National Planning Policy Framework states in Paragraph 115 that “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

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beauty.”

9.14 Saved Policy C1 of the Local Plan addresses conservation of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and seeks to promote the highest standards of design that reflects the local distinctiveness of the area.

9.15 Saved Policy C2 of the Local Plan states that development should protect existing landscape character.

9.16 Policy EQ2 of the Core Strategy seeks to safeguard and enhance the District’s natural and built environment, which is recognised for its high quality landscape, biodiversity, architectural and historical features.

9.17 The Council’s Landscape Character Assessment 2004 divides the District into 106 different character areas. It supports the above policies. The site falls in Area 2 ‘Upper Nidderdale Valley Reservoirs’.

9.18 The area assessment states: “This Character Area covers approximately

3km and incorporates the upper reaches of the Nidd Valley where it incises the upland moorlands in the west of the District.

9.19 Tree cover is sparse and limited to tributaries and gills. Small clumps grow along the south facing valley side just above Scar House Reservoir. The landscape is open with extensive views both along and across the valley into the moorland beyond.

9.20 The valley sides have a regular pattern of parliamentary enclosure grass fields. They are bound by stone walls, some of which are derelict, and there is a distinct boundary between the fields of the upper valley edge and the gritstone moor.

9.21 Stone walls of the field system (flooded by the reservoir) are still visible when

the water level is low”

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9.22 Three similar recent developments for interpretation panels have been approved in the area to assist with providing local knowledge. This application seeks the same principle.

9.23 The interpretation boards would be suitable to their setting. The timber lectern would be integrated into the bund and would weather naturally with age. The curved stone structure would be built random coursed stone. The plinth would be constructed in reclaimed stone from the proposed site. The three structures would be appropriate in scale and style and would respect the vernacular. Choices of material are suitable with no ornate features. The proposal would therefore respect the landscape character of the site.

9.24 The interpretation boards would be highly visible due to the openness of the site and surrounding topography but they would not be dominant or out of scale with its surroundings. They would have high standards of design, as required with the policies and guidance above. On that basis, the proposal would respect the character and appearance of the AONB and enhance the understanding of the area.

9.25 Trees

9.26 The proposal would not affect trees.

9.27 Ecology

9.28 The proposal would not affect ecology.

9.29 ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY

9.30 Tourism

9.31 Paragraph 28 of the National Planning Policy Framework states that planning should support sustainable rural tourism and leisure developments that benefit businesses in rural areas, communities and visitors, and which

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respect the character of the countryside. This should include supporting the provision and expansion of tourist and visitor facilities in appropriate locations where identified needs are not met by existing facilities in rural service centres.

9.32 Paragraph 17 sets out twelve core planning principles, including one to recognise the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside and support the thriving rural communities within it.

9.33 The Landscape Area Assessment provides guidelines for the area. One is to maintain key characteristics while allowing for recreational enjoyment. This would be achieved by ensuring Signs are coordinated to respect the character of the area and adjacent character areas.

9.34 The site is well connected to Middlesmoor, Pateley Bridge and nearby rural areas through an intense network of bridleways and footpaths. The parking provision for those travelling by vehicles improves access to the site due to its remote location.

9.35 The interpretation boards would enable visitors to appreciate the importance of the site history and landscape. The proposal would therefore add to the local tourist offer.

10.0 PLANNING BALANCE & CONCLUSION

10.1 The proposed development would contribute towards providing a local benefit to the community. It would not cause any significant harm to the landscape character or scenic beauty of the site and Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It would be beneficial to tourists and other recreational users of the surrounding landscape. It would represent sustainable development and outweigh other material considerations. The proposal accords with the guidance in the National Planning Policy Framework and provisions in the Development Plan.

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11.0 RECOMMENDATION

11.1 That the application be APPROVED subject to conditions

In the event of any changes being needed to the wording of the Committee's decision (such as to delete, vary or add conditions/informatives/planning obligations or reasons for approval/refusal) prior to the decision being issued, the Chief Planner has delegated authority to do so in consultation with the Chairman of the Planning Committee, provided that the changes do not exceed the substantive nature of the Committee's decision.

Case Officer: Arthama Lakhanpall Expiry Date: 1st November 2017

1 The development hereby permitted shall be begun on or before .

2 The development hereby permitted shall not be carried out otherwise than in strict accordance with the submitted details, as modified by the conditions of this consent, received 2 October 2017.

Reasons for Conditions:-

1 To ensure compliance with Sections 91-94 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

2 In order to ensure compliance with the approved drawings.

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