Agenda item

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSEVATION MANAGER

Detached agricultural grain store and grain dryer.

RESOLVED: That application 17/04314/FP be GRANTED planning permission, subject to the conditions and reasons set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.

Councillor Spencer-Smith returned to the room

Detached agricultural grain store and grain dryer.

Councillor Harry Spencer-Smith declared a declarable interest in that he knew the applicant and had received hospitality from him in the last 12 months. Councillor Spencer-Smith advised that advised that he would like to speak on the item and would then leave the room for the debate and vote.

The Development and Conservation Manager presented the report in respect of planning application 17/04314/FP supported by a visual presentation consisting of plans, drawings and photographs of the site.

The Development and Conservation Manager advised that the applicant had submitted details regarding Condition 9, but this had been received too late to re-consult in time for this meeting and therefore would be submitted separately as a consent for discharge of a condition.

Mr Richard Pilkington, Applicant, thanked the Chainman for the opportunity to address the Committee in support of application 17/04314/FP.

Mr Pilkington advised that he would highlight the need for the grain store and dryer on a single site and drew attention to the following:

·                In respect of Health and Safety in he agricultural industry, there was particular danger where large vehicles entered and manoeuvred when filled with grain.

·                The existing grain stores could not tip modern trailers which were 14 tonne trailer which lifted up to 8 metres high.

·                Existing grain storage not large enough.

·                In order to comply with specifications required by the grain merchants they needed to bring down moisture levels in order to dry the grain to 14 percent.

·                To achieve the above they needed specialist continuous flow drying equipment that was fed by elevators to the storage facilities.

·                Combine harvesters very expensive and therefore needed to work longer hours to justify the expense.

·                They needed a fast and efficient system to handle the grain.

·                There was a certain amount of weed content in the grain so a sieving system was required to remove weeds and chaff.

·                This was a zero-sum game in respect of vehicle movements as grain would not be moved any more or less than at present.

·                Currently they took grain to Offley via the narrow High Street and this development would take those traffic movements onto Lilley Bottom Road instead.

·                At the present they had a small store, which required moving the grain in and out on a daily basis. This proposal would enable them to keep the gain and release it in line with market requirements, therefore helping with production.

·                Production could involve up to 16 lorries a day, which currently all arrived between 7am and 10 am.

Mr Pilkington concluded by stating that this was a logical extension of the business, that would make it more profitable by enabling them to meet specifications required.

Members asked why the gain store could not be placed in an industrial area and queried how many additional movements were required to take the grain away

Mr Pilkington advised that the grain store was specific to the fields and transporting this to the industrial area would involve driving tractors and trailers though Hitchin and that there would be no additional movements required to take the grain away.

Councillor Harry Spencer-Smith advised that this seemed a sensible development that would reduce the journeys through the villages. The building seemed well hidden and would blend in with the countryside.

Councillor Spencer-Smith left the room for the remainder of the item.

It was moved and seconded and upon being put to the vote, it was

RESOLVED: That application 17/04314/FP be GRANTED planning permission, subject to the conditions and reasons set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.

Councillor Spencer-Smith returned to the room