15 OCTOBER 2009
Minutes of a meeting of the DEVELOPMENT CONTROL COMMITTEE (WEST) held in the
Council Chamber, Council Offices, Holt Road, Cromer at 9.30 am when there were present:
Councillors
H C Cordeaux (Chairman)
J A Wyatt (Vice-Chairman)
B Cabbell Manners
Mrs A R Green
S C Mears
Mrs A C Sweeney
Mrs J Trett
R Combe - substitute for P W High
B Smith - substitute for J H Perry-Warnes
Mrs C M Wilkins - substitute for J D Savory
Mrs H T Nelson - Sheringham South Ward
Officers
Mr S Oxenham - Head of Planning and Building Control
Mr R Howe - Planning Legal and Enforcement Manager
Mr G Linder - Senior Planning Officer (West)
Miss J Medler - Senior Planning Officer (West)
(111) APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DETAILS OF SUBSTITUTE MEMBERS
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P W High, J H Perry-Warnes
and J D Savory. There were three substitute Members in attendance as shown
above.
(112) MINUTES
The Minutes of a meeting of the Committee held on 17 September 2009 were
approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
(113) ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS
The Chairman stated that there were no items of urgent business which he wished to
bring before the Committee.
(114) DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
No interests were declared.
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Where appropriate the Planning Officers expanded on the planning applications;
updated the meeting on outstanding consultations, letters/petitions received objecting
to, or supporting the proposals; referred to any views of local Members and answered
Members’ questions.
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15 October 2009
Background papers, including correspondence, petitions, consultation documents,
letters of objection and those in support of planning applications were available for
inspection at the meeting.
Having regard to the above information and the report of the Head of Planning and
Building Control, the Committee reached the decisions as set out below.
Applications approved include a standard time limit condition as condition number 1
unless otherwise stated.
(115) CORPUSTY - 20090907 - Erection of agricultural/horticultural buildings, wind
turbine and bund; Woodfruits Locks Farm Road for Mr Den Engelse
The Committee considered item 1 of the officers’ reports.
Public Speakers
Mr A Poberefsky (Corpusty Parish Council)
Mr Sanderson (objecting)
Mr Den Engelse (supporting)
The Senior Planning Officer stated that charcoal production was an industrial process
which required planning permission. It was therefore necessary to include charcoal
production in the application description and to readvertise the application. She
reported that eight further letters of support had been received. She outlined the
grounds of objection contained in seventeen letters of objection that had been
received, including four from one objector and a petition containing 28 signatures.
The Senior Planning Officer reported the comments of the Conservation, Design and
Landscape Manager, who had no objection subject to the imposition of a condition
regarding the height of the boundary hedge.
The Senior Planning Officer reported the comments of the Environmental Protection
Officer, who had no objection subject to conditions to require the submission of
details of the biomass boiler and wind turbine and the need for a contaminated land
survey in the event of ballast from the former railway being used. The Environmental
Protection Officer had no objection to the water treatment proposals. Charcoal
production would be required to comply with the Clean Air Act.
The Senior Planning Officer requested delegated authority to approve this application
subject to no new grounds of objection being received following readvertisement, no
objections from outstanding consultees and the imposition of appropriate conditions.
At the request of Councillor J A Wyatt, the Chairman asked the applicant to confirm
where on the site it was proposed to carry out charcoal production. The applicant
explained that this would take place on the railway trackbed to the west of the site
and that charcoal production would be a diversification product to sell at farmers’
markets.
Councillor R Combe expressed concern at the retrospective nature of this
application. However he considered there was a case for small scale environmental
schemes in the countryside. Whilst he sympathised with the Parish Council’s views
he supported this application.
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15 October 2009
Councillor B Cabbell Manners questioned the viability of the business. He referred to
the retail price of mushrooms which was much lower than the applicant’s intended
selling price. He also referred to the costs involved in achieving organic status which
had not been factored into the figures that had been supplied by the applicant. He
proposed refusal of this application.
The Head of Planning and Building Control explained that viability would be an issue
when considering an application for a dwelling in association with the business.
However, viability was not material to the consideration of this application.
At the request of Councillor Mrs C M Wilkins, the Chairman asked the applicant to
give details of the mushrooms to be grown. The applicant listed the species of
mushrooms to be grown and outlined the production requirements.
In answer to a question by Councillor Mrs A R Green, the Senior Planning Officer
explained that it was not intended to fell existing trees on the site. Woodland was
being grown for the purpose of mushroom production and this could be felled to
produce charcoal if necessary.
Councillor R Combe proposed delegated approval of this application as
recommended by the Senior Planning Officer. This was seconded by Councillor Mrs
J Trett.
Councillor Mrs C M Wilkins stated that she had reservations about this proposal and
considered that a three year temporary permission would be appropriate in this case.
Councillor Combe and his seconder agreed to incorporate this suggestion into the
proposal.
RESOLVED by 7 votes to 2
That the Head of Planning and Building Control be authorised to
approve this application for a temporary period of three years subject to
no new grounds of objection being received following readvertisement,
no objections from outstanding consultees and the imposition of
appropriate conditions.
(116) EDGEFIELD - 20090811 - Conversion of barn to one unit of holiday
accommodation; Mount Farm Church Lane for Dr and Mrs Chase
The Committee considered item 2 of the officers’ reports.
The Senior Planning Officer reported that an amended plan had been received. The
Landscape Officer had confirmed that the bat survey was satisfactory and there was
no evidence of bats in the building. The Building Control Manager was satisfied that
the proposal now complied with the requirements for means of escape.
The Senior Planning Officer recommended approval of this application subject to the
imposition of appropriate conditions.
It was proposed by Councillor B Cabbell Manners, duly seconded and
RESOLVED unanimously
That this application be approved subject to the imposition of
appropriate conditions.
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15 October 2009
(117) SHERINGHAM - 20090764 - Display of non-illuminated advertisements;
Community Centre Cromer Road for Sheringham Town Council
The Committee considered item 3 of the officers’ reports.
It was proposed by Councillor Mrs C M Wilkins, seconded by Councillor S C Mears
and
RESOLVED unanimously
That this application be approved.
(118) SHERINGHAM - 20090844 - Erection of single-storey dwelling
accommodation in roofspace; land at St Nicholas Place for Mr Page
with
The Committee considered item 4 of the officers’ reports.
The Senior Planning Officer reported that the Highway Authority had no objection to
this application.
Councillor Mrs H T Nelson reported that Councillor Mrs P Bevan Jones, a local
Member, had raised concerns regarding human rights and had requested a site
inspection. However, Councillor Mrs Nelson supported the officer’s recommendation.
Councillor J A Wyatt considered that the rear wall would be less overbearing if it were
rendered in a light finish instead of red brick as proposed.
The Senior Planning Officer stated that render would give rise to maintenance
issues. However, this could be overcome by using a light coloured brick on the rear
elevation.
It was proposed by Councillor S C Mears, seconded by Councillor Mrs C M Wilkins
and
RESOLVED unanimously
That this application be approved subject to the imposition of
appropriate conditions.
(119) APPLICATIONS APPROVED UNDER DELEGATED POWERS
The Committee noted item 5 of the officers’ reports.
(120) APPLICATIONS REFUSED UNDER DELEGATED POWERS
The Committee noted item 6 of the officers’ reports.
(121) NEW APPEALS
The Committee noted item 7 of the officers’ reports.
(122) PUBLIC INQUIRIES AND INFORMAL HEARINGS - PROGRESS
The Committee noted item 8 of the officers’ reports.
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(123) WRITTEN REPRESENTATIONS APPEALS - PROGRESS
The Committee noted item 9 of the officers’ reports.
(124) APPEAL DECISIONS
The Committee noted item 10 of the officers’ reports.
The meeting closed at 10.40 am.
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