Development Management Report
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South Planning Committee, 15th December 2009, 2 Silvington Hill, Hopton Wafers, Bridgnorth Committee and date Item South Planning Committee [Ludlow] 8 15th December 2009 Development Management Report Application Number: 09/02782/FUL Parish: Farlow Grid 362550 - 278621 Ref: Proposal: Erection of a toilet/shower block with drying area; installation of a septic tank Site Address: 2 Silvington Hill Hopton Wafers Bridgnorth Shropshire DY14 0ER Applicant: Mr R. Salter Case Officer: Mr Richard Fortune email: [email protected] 1.0 THEPROPOSAL&OVERVIEW 1.1 Planning permission is sought for the erection of a toilet/shower block with drying area and the installation of a septic tank. 1.2 The purpose of the new outbuilding is to service a proposed new camp site which the applicant intends to open in April 2010 to visitors. An application has not been submitted for a Change of Use of the land to a camp site in this instance as the applicant has applied for ‘Certified Site Status’ from the Camping & Caravan Club which exempts specific sites from requiring planning permission if supported by the club having regard to Section 269 of the Public Health Act 1936. 1.3 The applicant submitted a number of documents with the application submission including a completed Rural Enterprise Grant Form which states that the Camping & Caravan Club have issued the applicant with the certificated site status. In order for the Officer to assess the proposed toilet/shower block, confirmation that the site is able to operate as a camping site Contact Rob Mills, Tel 01584 838340 1 South Planning Committee, 15th December 2009, 2 Silvington Hill, Hopton Wafers, Bridgnorth without planning permission was sought from the Caravan & Camping Club as no details or copies of the Certificate were provided with the application submission. The Club was able to confirm that a Certificate setting out the sites ‘Certified Status’ had been applied for by the applicant but at the time of writing this report, this had not been issued. It was confirmed by the club however, that the Certified Site Status would be acceptable once the toilet/shower block and associated septic tank were installed and it was their intention to issue the certificate once this was in situ. 1.4 The toilet block is proposed to be sited in the south western corner of this 22 acre site some 55 metres to the northwest of the applicant’s dwelling known as 2 Silvington Hill. The septic tank would be located to the west of the block. 1.5 The toilet/shower block would measure approximately 2.2 metres in height (eaves), 6 metres in width with a depth of 3 metres. In all, the ground area covered by the outbuilding would measure 18m². 1.6 The elevations would comprise of softwood cladding (tongue and groove) treated with a dark oak (or similar) preservative. The roof which is a gentle single pitch would comprise of corrugated black bitumen sheets with translucent (ondulin) panels. 1.7 The applicant has advised that the Rural Enterprise Grant application has been accepted, demonstrating that the business will be viable. He states the proposed toilet block will not be used exclusively by campers but will also be available to walkers/ramblers. He comments it would be the only toilet facility available in the area. 2.0 SITE LOCATION/DESCRIPTION 2.1 The site is located within the Shropshire Hills Area of outstanding Natural Beauty and within the open countryside. Whilst predominantly rural in nature, there are dwellings sporadically located within the surrounding countryside with the hamlets of Cleeton St Mary located 1200 metres to the west and Hopton Wafers located 2km’s to the south. The site is also adjacent to the Catherton Common Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI). 2.2 The area immediately adjacent to the proposed toilet/shower block is bound by mature vegetation and trees. The boundary adjacent to the access track is partially screened however views into the area where the proposed block is to be sited are possible. This track would be the primary access into the site and is unadopted and unclassified which is substandard and in a poor state of repair. Contact Rob Mills, Tel 01584 838340 2 South Planning Committee, 15th December 2009, 2 Silvington Hill, Hopton Wafers, Bridgnorth 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 Refuse on the grounds of inappropriate development as it fails to preserve or enhance the character of the AONB. The construction of a permanent building on this site is premature given that the site is not yet operating and the Authority has no certainty of the viability of the campsite proposal. 4.0 REASON FOR COMMITTEE / DELEGATED 4.1 The application is referred to Committee because the officer view is contrary to that of the Parish Council. 5.0 RELEVANT PLANNING HISTORY 5.1 The application site has had no previous planning history directly associated with it. 5.2 It should be noted that the applicant sought pre-application planning advice from the Authority but given the sites location on the former district boundaries of Bridgnorth and South Shropshire authorities, this pre-application went incorrectly to the Ludlow Office where advice was offered that planning consent was required for the toilet/shower block. Advice was also offered that the proposal was deemed to not be excessive in size and offered advice on what may be appropriate in terms of design and materials. The advice did contain a caveat stating that it was provided without the Officer visiting the site and would not prejudice the outcome should a planning application be submitted. 6.0 CONSULTEE RESPONSES 6.1 Natural England – No objection to the proposed development subject to the proposal being carried out in strict accordance with the submitted plans. 6.2 Parish Council – Recommend approval with emphasis the applicants promise to paint the building in a ‘dark oak’ or similar. 7.0 PUBLIC REPRESENTATIONS 7.1 None received as a result of public and neighbour consultations. 8.0 PLANNING POLICY 8.1 Central Government Guidance: Planning Policy Statement 1: Delivering Sustainable Development. Planning Policy Statement 7: Sustainable Development in Rural Areas. Good Practice Guide on Planning for Tourism (Replacement to PPG21). 8.2 West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy Policies: Policy RR1: Rural Renaissance. 8.3 The Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Joint Structure Plan: Contact Rob Mills, Tel 01584 838340 3 South Planning Committee, 15th December 2009, 2 Silvington Hill, Hopton Wafers, Bridgnorth P5: Development Outside Settlements. 8.4 Local Plan: Policy D1: Design & Amenity. Policy S5: Development in the Countryside (read in conjunction with Policy RD6: Holiday, Camping, Caravan and Chalet Sites). Policy B4: Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Policy B5: Development in the Countryside. Policy TM1: Tourism Development. 9.0 THEMAINPLANNINGISSUES 9.1 Nationally designated areas comprising National Parks, the Broads, the New Forest Heritage Area and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), have been confirmed by the Government as having the highest status of protection in relation to landscape and scenic beauty. The conservation of the natural beauty of the landscape and countryside should therefore be given great weight in planning policies and development control decisions in these areas. 9.2 Planning Policy Statement 7 states that facilities requiring new buildings in the countryside particularly where they are located outside of settlement boundaries may be justified where the required facilities are needed in conjunction with a particular countryside attraction; they meet the criteria set out in para.35 of PPS7; and where there are no suitable buildings or developed sites available for re-use. 9.3 The criteria set out in para.35 states that Local planning authorities should: Plan for and support the provision of general tourist and visitor facilities in appropriate locations where identified needs are not met by existing facilities in rural service centres. Where new or additional facilities are required, these should normally be provided in, or close to, service centres or villages; Allow appropriate facilities needed to enhance visitors’ enjoyment, and/or improve the financial viability, of a particular countryside feature or attraction, providing they will not detract from the attractiveness or importance of the feature, or the surrounding countryside. 9.4 Structure Plan Policy P5 limits new development in the countryside to specific categories, one of which is developments for tourism and recreation. Bridgnorth District Local Plan Policy S5 states that in areas of countryside outside of the Green Belt, permission will not be given for the construction of new buildings unless certain circumstances prevail as set out in the listed Contact Rob Mills, Tel 01584 838340 4 South Planning Committee, 15th December 2009, 2 Silvington Hill, Hopton Wafers, Bridgnorth criteria. Criterion 4 sets out that development would be acceptable if it is for a tourism development which is appropriate to a countryside area and which conforms to certain Policies including RD6. Policy RD6 sets out that new campsites’ will be resisted in the AONB whilst Policy B4 states that development will not be permitted if it harms the character or setting of the Shropshire Hills AONB. Development within the AONB should conserve and enhance the special qualities of the designated landscape. 9.5 Policy B5 requires that development in the countryside should be designed, located and sited to complement the existing rural character and landscape. Policy TM1 sets out that tourism development will be permitted if of an appropriate scale and type. 9.6 Therefore, the main issue for consideration in this instance is whether the proposed toilet/shower block would be an appropriate development given the sensitivity of the location in which it is proposed to be sited in accordance with adopted policy.