Agenda item

Proposal:             Change of use from private equestrian yard to a mixed use comprising private equestrian yard and single pitch, private gypsy and traveller site (including amenity block and one touring caravan pitch).

Associated Documents:

https://tinyurl.com/yaufftaz   

(The Application was viewed by the Site Viewing Working Party)

The committee considered the written report and recommendation from the Head of Planning Services to grant permission.

The committee was addressed by the following deputees:

(1)  Mr R Hitchcock who objected to the application or the following reasons:

a.    The National Planning Policy framework dictates that Local Planning Authorities should avoid granting planning permission for dwellings situated outside the developed area and the proposal south to add to the urbanisation of the local area

b.    Access to the site it situated down a narrow road and an increase in traffic that the proposal would cause would be dangerous for local residents

c.    The proposal would cause a loss of visual amenity to local residents and would cause a detrimental impact on the character of the area.

In response to questions raised by the Committee it was advised that:

·         Cemetery Lane was between 1 and 1.5 miles from the application site.

(2)  Mr C Ashe who objected to the proposal for the following reasons:

d.    The site has been partially developed unlawfully and no enforcement action to prevent additional development had been taken by Havant Borough Council.

e.    Observations of the activities of the applicants had posed some concerns regarding the ruling of Hampshire County Council Gypsy Liaison Officer.

(3)  Cllr R Bolton, who objected to the proposal for the following reasons:

f.     The application posed significant concerns regarding environmental and community matters.

g.    The application sought for use of both a static caravan and a touring caravan which should be deemed 2 pitches which was an over intensive use of the site.

h.    The reasons set out in the officers report at points 7.23-7.28 giving reasons to grant permission do not stand up to scrutiny

i.      The Senior Landscape Architect quoted in the officer report outlines that the development would unacceptably increase the foot print for the site

(4)  Cllr Bowerman, speaking on behalf on Cllr Cresswell, who objected to the proposal for the following reasons:
see appendix 2

(5)   Cllr Bowerman who objected to the application for the following reasons:
see appendix 3

In response to questions raised by the committee, officers advised:

·         The number of pitches available in neighbouring Local Authorities was irrelevant. Havant Borough Council had an identified need for gypsy and traveller pitches

·         The applicants own the site

·         The difference between touring caravans, static caravans and mobile homes.

·         The definition of a resident dependent

·         Enforcement action is discretionary and taken on balance regarding each individual breach or offence

The members discussed the application in detail together with the views raised by the deputees. Members discussed the character of the local area and the impact the proposal would have to the amenity of the site.

Whilst some members of the committee felt that the application was reasonable and would not have any significant detrimental impact, the majority of the committee felt that it represented demonstrable harm. The Committee discussed how the proposal was not inline with Council policy, was a development outside the urban area and would be unsympathetic to the neighbouring properties due to it’s features and design. It was therefore

RESOLVED that the Head of Planning be authorised to REFUSE PERMISSION for application APP/16/01234 for the following reason:

The site lies within a rural area and the siting of the caravans in the countryside would be detrimental to the rural character and to the visual amenity of the area. The proposal is therefore contrary to policies CS11.1, CS 11.9, CS16, and CS17 of the Havant Borough Local Plan (Core Strategy) 2011, Policy AL2 of the Havant Borough Local Plan (Allocations) 2014, Paragraphs 25 and 26 of the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites 2015 and the National Planning Policy Framework 2012.