Issue - meetings

RESOLVED: That application 24/02343/FPP be REFUSED subject to the reasons set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manage and supplementary document.

Audio Recording – 45 minutes 58 seconds

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report of Application 24/02343/FP supported by a visual presentation consisting of photographs and plans.

The following Members asked for points of clarification:

·       Councillor Nigel Mason

·       Councillor Martin Prescott

·       Councillor Caroline McDonnell

In response to points of clarification, the Senior Planning Officer advised that:

·       Although it did not look like the site was being used for agricultural purposes he understood that it was until 2018.

·       This was a retrospective application for the change of use from agricultural to a Class B8 for storage and distribution purposes.

·       There was an enforcement investigation on this site.

·       There was nothing in the application about manufacturing

The Chair thanked the Senior Planning Officer and invited Mr Tim Wise to speak against this application. Mr Wise thanked the chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation, including that:

·       He represented 30 objectors who all lived in Codicote and surrounding areas.

·       This site has been brought to the attention of the Council several times over the last 14 months.

·       During that time, the use of the site had changed and the road leading to the site entrance had been destroyed by HGVs, which used the road almost daily.

·       There had been instances of HGVs reversing blind from a country road onto the 60MPH highway, which was unsafe for other road users.

·       Hertfordshire Highways had advised that the road was unusable for HGVs.

·       Church Wood and Crouch Green Wood had suffered environmentally due to non-native plants being planted around the site boundary.

·       The current site use was unsustainable especially considering it is Green Belt land.

In response to points of clarification from Councillor Nigel Mason, Mr Wise advised that:

·       The lane that was being inappropriately used was the one opposite the dinosaurs and permanently has a flood sign on it.

·       Turning either way coming out of the lane would cause a HGV to cross over onto the other side of the carriageway.

The Chair thanked Mr Wise for his contribution and invited Mr Simon Warner to speak in support of the application. Mr Warner thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the committee with a verbal presentation, including that:

·       The site was classified as grey belt, not Green Belt.

·       The applicant had tried to negate any damages done during site transition, including the replacement of fences and clearing ditches.

·       Similar sites had been converted into housing, instead the applicant has tried to make the site something with benefit to the local area.

·       He also wished to add equestrian area to the site which could add to the community.

·       The current permission allows for the site to be used for agricultural purposes without restriction, the applicant was happy to work within any restrictions laid down by the Council under a new permission.

·       The HGVs did use the site, but if it returned to agricultural usage then the lane would be used by large agricultural vehicles.

·       The applicant would also be willing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 139