Issue - meetings

To consider application UTT/21/0507/FUL.

The Principal Planning Officer presented an application for the replacement of 4 existing static homes with 4 detached houses with associated access and parking, as well as the change of use of disused land to 1 travellers’ plot.

The application had previously been deferred at July’s Planning Committee for a site visit and was recommended for approval with conditions.

As the consultation period was not due to end until the day after the meeting of the Planning Committee, any resolution would be made on the condition that no new evidence be brought to light before the end of the consultation.

In response to member questions, officers clarified that a significant change in definition was introduced in planning policy for traveller sites in 2015 whereby traveller status now excluded those who have ceased travelling permanently. Whilst the proposal would result in the loss of traveller pitches for the future, the 4 new dwellings would address the new need for housing for settled travellers no longer meeting the 2015 definition, such as the current occupants. Furthermore, the additional travellers’ plot would ensure that the Council’s requirement to provide for such sites in the District was met.

It was noted that the Parish Council had observed that the proposed development site, including the additional travellers pitch, extended beyond the 0.5 hectares which would trigger a contribution to affordable housing. However, the proposal itself only covered an area of 0.46 hectares, which meant that this criterion was not met.

A condition had been included for the removal of the existing day rooms and the caravans, as well as permitted development rights. Members requested that the wording to condition 16 be amended so that the caravans are removed from the site, rather than just the dayrooms.

Councillor Lemon proposed that the application be approved with the additional conditions:

·         The dayrooms located on the plot be removed from the site

·         The wording to Condition 16 be revised so that the static caravan/mobile homes are required to be removed from the site, rather than just from the plots.

This was seconded by Councillor Le Count.

            RESOLVED: to approve the application with conditions.

Speakers: Councillor J Jewell (Great Canfield Parish Council) spoke against the application and L Carpenter (agent) spoke in favour.

Meeting adjourned between 12.17 and 13.15.

To consider application UTT/21/0507/FUL.

The Senior Planning Officer presented an application for the replacement of four static caravans with four detached one and a half storey dwellings with associated access and parking and a change of use of disused land to one travellers’ plot.

The application had been called-in by Councillor Driscoll.

The application was recommended for approval with conditions.

Officers explained the changes in definition of traveller status that had occurred in 2015 whereby those who had ceased travelling permanently were now excluded. The link to ethnic origin was no longer as important.

Councillor Lemon said that he recognised the changes in lifestyle of the travellers and expressed his support for the application for permanent dwellings.

Councillor LeCount supported this view and said that the families involved had become part of the community.

Other members expressed concerns that:

·         This was an unsustainable location.

·         The views expressed by the Parish Council needed further consideration.

·         Four identical dwellings were not ideal in a hamlet with many different types of dwellings.

·         A site visit had not been undertaken.

The Chair proposed that the application be deferred in order to arrange a site visit. This was seconded by Councillor Emanuel.

RESOLVED to defer the application pending a site visit.

Councillor J Jewell (Great Canfield Parish Council) summarised the Parish Council’s objections to the proposals as detailed in Paragraph 8 of the report. L Carpenter (agent) spoke in support of the application.