Agenda item

Part retrospective application for the retention and construction of earth bunds and the change of use of land to private recreational use.

The officer presented the report and addendum on application P16/V0254/FUL which was a part retrospective application for the retention and construction of earth bunds and the change of use of land to private recreational use.

Consultations, representations, policy and guidance and the site’s planning history were detailed in the officer’s report, which formed part of the agenda pack for this meeting.

David Hignell of Sutton Courtenay Parish Council spoke in objection to the application.  His points included the following:

·         The site causes severe harm to the residential amenities.

·         No ecological survey was carried out.

·         The site is unneighbourly.

·         The existing and proposed bunds have led to increased water levels.

·         85-95% of trees have now been removed.

Questions of clarification were put to the speaker, who added:

·         If the bunds are intended to prevent trespassing they serve little purpose, as trespassing is not a major problem at the site.

David Mckenzie and Daron Burrows, whose properties are adjacent to the site, spoke in objection to the application.  Their points included the following:

·         There is a loss of light and outlook to their properties and the bunds are unsightly.

·         The bunds are of unacceptable height and density.

·         The vegetation is uncontrollable.

·         Drainage and safety is of concern leading to water run-off.

·         Bund A should be lowered and reprofiled.

·         No flood risk assessment, drainage assessment or contamination risk assessment has been carried out.

Questions of clarification were put to the speakers, who confirmed that:

·         The bunds adversely affect the view from their properties, vegetation grows on top of the bunds in summer, leading to the residents vacating the property during periods of the summer, and dead matter grows in winter.

·         Communication between the applicant and local residents has broken down and enforcement has had no practical impact.

·         The lighting around the trees is directed at their properties and has been left on overnight.  The residents were concerned that if this land is turned into private recreational use, the lights would be left on permanently.

·         The residents were concerned about chemical pollution.

Tony Kernon, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support of his application:

·         The proposals are uncontentious.

·         Bunds do not reduce light; a fence would have the same effect.

·         The site has now been cleared for planting and the ecology will be enhanced by plants and trees.

Questions of clarification were put to the speaker, who confirmed that:

·         Neighbours have the choice to put mesh, a wall, railings or bunds around their property to reduce the view of the site.

·         There have been no breaches of planning controls.

·         Bund A provides a bigger screen with a lesser footprint and ensures privacy.

Councillor Gervase Duffield, the ward councillor, spoke objecting to the application and recommended that the following conditions be imposed to ensure neighbourly relationships and good planning:

·         A test on pollution.

·         A reduction in the height of the bunds.

·         The installation of a drainage pipe.

Questions of clarification were put to the officers, who confirmed that:

·         It was acceptable to request a limit on the bund height and to impose a condition to this effect.

·         It was acceptable to impose a condition to ensure lights were turned off.

The committee agreed to include conditions to reduce the height of bund A to two metres, install meshing/matting to prevent erosion in bund A, to remove external lighting around the site, prohibit future installation of lighting and to ensure proper maintenance of the bunds. Condition 3 will include no future planting to bund A, along with the removal of the existing planting.

A motion, moved and seconded, to grant planning permission with the additional conditions was declared carried on being put to the vote.

RESOLVED: to grant planning permission for application P16/V0254/FUL subject to the following conditions:

1.    Approved plans.

2.    Surface water drainage scheme to be submitted within three months.

3.    Landscaping to accord with the approved scheme (including removal of existing planting to specified bunds), and no future planting to bund A.

4.    No waste material to be brought or deposited at the site or used for bunds.

5.    No deliveries to the site in network or school peak hours of the day.

6.    Submission of a management plan for the bunds’ future maintenance.

7.    Installation of a mesh/matting to bund A to prevent slippage or erosion.

8.    Bund A height reduce to two metres.

9.    Removal of existing external lighting and no installation of further external lighting.

Informatives:

1.    Public footpath informative.

2.    Claimed footpath informative.