Agenda item

UTT-17-2241-FUL Hill Top Yard, Mill Road Henham

To consider application UTT-17-2241-FUL.

Minutes:

The application site was a long narrow piece of land which was approximately 0.2 hectares in area and approximately 500 metres south of the settlement of Henham and 1 kilometre from Elsenham. The lawful use of the land was a haulage yard, with the stationing of two residential mobiles on the land. The proposal was for the retention of ten lamp posts at a height of 2 meters. It was noted that there were twenty unauthorised lamp posts existing on the site at a height of 5 meters. If approved, ten of the existing lamp posts would be reduced in height to 2 meters.

 

Councillor Davey said he would not be supporting the proposal as local residents were overwhelmingly against the application, as demonstrated by the number of representations outlined in the report. The Development Manager said the number of objectors to an application was a not valid planning reason to turn it down.

 

Councillor Wells asked why the recommendation permitted lighting between the hours of 07.00 – 22.00, when the majority of that time was during daylight hours. The Development Manager said this was to cover both the early morning and evening periods when lighting was required but this condition could be changed if members wished.

 

In response to questions from Councillor Loughlin, the Planning Officer said the site in question was not a conservation area; the commercial site next door was illuminated by flood lighting; and the permitted lamp posts would be fitted with hoods and reduced in height from 5 meters to 2 meters, which would be the same height as the perimeter fence.

 

Councillor Lodge said he was unsure if the plot was being used as a haulage site as the applicant had claimed and said he would not be supporting the application.

 

Councillor Ranger said he would support the application if condition two was amended, specifically if illumination was only permitted between the hours of 07.00 - 09.00 and 16.00 - 22.00, and also for a motion sensor to be fitted. Councillor Fairhurst agreed and said the application must be heard dispassionately as members could only consider what was in front of them, which in this case was an application for artificial lighting at a certified haulage yard. Councillor Loughlin added that the revised application had been changed significantly since it had last been submitted and would likely win on appeal if members rejected it against the officer’s recommendation. 

 

The Chairman asked for an amendment to condition 3, reducing the maximum illumination levels from 1000 lumens to 700.

 

RESOLVED that the application be approved subject to the conditions in the report and the following amended conditions.

 

Amended conditions

 

2.         The lighting hereby permitted shall only be illuminated between the hours 07.00 and 9.00 and 16.00 and 22.00 hours. A restricted hours’ time clock and a motion sensor shall be installed and permanently retained so that the lights are automatically turned off outside these times.

 

Reason: In the interests of residential amenity in accordance with ULP policies GEN4 and GEN5.

 

3.         Each light hereby permitted shall be fitted with lights that result in maximum illumination levels of 700 lumens and that light shall be directed downwards and fitted with a hood.

 

            Reason: In the interests of residential amenity in accordance with ULP policies GEN4 and GEN5.

 

Cllr P Lees and J Wigley spoke against this application.

 

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