Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance).

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) on the change of use to allow for flexible use class of B1C light industry, B2 General industry and B8 storage and distribution with associated vehicle parking.

The application site was at the end of an access road off of Crossway, and adjacent to the A1(M). The site comprised of a building currently being used for the storage of timber and a carpentry/joinery workshop.

Historically the site gained planning permission in 1979 (ref: N6/1979/0173) for two stable blocks, providing 9 stable doors, which consisted of 8 horse boxes and a tack room. 

Following this, the site was granted planning permission in 1996 (ref: N6/1996/0276/FP) for the retention of livery stables and continued use of the land for liveries.  The application also included an infill extension to join the previous two stable blocks, into one, consequently providing an additional stable door.  As a result the stable block had 10 stable doors.  That application also included permission for vehicle parking with a gravel finish for up to 10 cars, a turning area, driveway and additional hard standing.  The stables were accessed via the road from Crossway. 

This application had been presented to the Development Management Committee because the Head of Planning considered it prudent for the application to be considered by the Development Management Committee.

Officers announced that there was a minor error in the Officers report:-

The sentence at the end of paragraph 9.25 read as “Part 3 of Schedule 2, Class I and P, Part 7 of Schedule 2, Class H and J, and Part 2 of Schedule 2, Class A” whereas it should have read as follows “Part 3 of Schedule 2, Class P, Part 7 of Schedule 2, Class H, I and J, and Part 2 of Schedule 2, Class A”.

The key change being that Class I of Part 3 was removed and permitted development rights under Class I of Part 7 of Schedule 2 was removed.

Mr C Watts, agent, spoke for the application saying that none of the objections to the application were justifiable. The detailed noise report found the noise level to be acceptable and Hertfordshire Highways had raised no objection. The application site had previously been developed and it was not inappropriate development within the Green Belt.

Mrs L.Heathcote Sherif spoke against the application, saying that the application was a breach of permitted use within the Green Belt and the application was too vague to assess the impact on the Green Belt. As the end use was not known, the necessary planning conditions may be unforeseeable. The main impacts would be from noise and increased traffic. The application would be detrimental to the character of the area.

Councillor F.Marsh, Ward Councillor, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, spoke against the application saying that Crossways was in an area covered by the Estate Management. The application would change the character of the area within the Green Belt. There would be an increase in traffic congestion due to commercial vehicles. Bats and wildlife in the site area could potentially be affected.

(Note: Councillor F.Marsh declared an interest and withdrew for this item – minute 77 refers.)

Following discussion, it was proposed and seconded by Councillors S.Boulton and S.Thusu and

RESOLVED:

(7 voting in favour, 6 against, with the Chairman’s casting vote)

That planning permission be APPROVED subject to the conditions as set out in the report with an amendment to condition 8 and an additional condition.

Additional condition;

Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (or any Order revoking or re-enacting that Order with or without modification), no development within Class H, I and J of Part 7 of Schedule 2 shall take place.

REASON:    To enable the Local Planning Authority to fully consider the effects of development normally permitted by that Order in the interests of the visual amenity of the area and the appropriateness of any development in the Green Belt in accordance with Policies D1, D2 and RA17 of the Welwyn Hatfield District Plan 2005 and the National Planning Policy Framework.

Amend condition 8 to;

Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (or any Order revoking or re-enacting that Order with or without modification), no development within Class P of Part 3 of Schedule 2 shall take place.

REASON:    To enable the Local Planning Authority to fully consider the effects of development normally permitted by that Order in the interests of the visual amenity of the area and the appropriateness of any development in the Green Belt in accordance with Policies D1, D2 and RA17 of the Welwyn.