Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 28 June 2023;

DM.13/23             

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 28 June 2023 were confirmed as a correct record by the Committee

In accordance with the Code of Conduct, Members are invited to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Other Registerable Interests and Non-Registerable Interests including the nature and extent of such interests they may have in any items to be considered at this meeting;

DM.14/23             

Members and officers were invited to declare any interests in the items of business to be considered and the following were made:

The Chairman to advise the Committee on any requests received from members of the public to address the meeting;

DM.15/23         

The Chairman noted the list of members of the public, Town and Parish Council representatives, and Ward Members who had registered their wish to speak at the meeting.

To see Letters of Representation and further supplementary information relating to any of the Applications on the agenda, please select the following link and enter the relevant Planning Reference number: http://apps.southhams.gov.uk/PlanningSearchMVC/

DM.16/23         

The Committee considered the details of the planning applications prepared by the relevant Case Officers as presented in the agenda papers, and considered the comments of Town and Parish Councils, together with other representations received, which were listed within the presented agenda reports, and RESOLVED that:

6a)   0516/23/OPA Tuffland, Oldhouse Lane, Kingston, Kingsbridge                        

Parish:  Bigbury

Development:  Outline planning application with all matters reserved for a permanent agricultural worker's dwelling to serve the farm business

Case Officer Update:  

The Case Officer summarised the key issues, namely that:

•    Principle – Meets TTV26(1),(2)(iv) and DEV15(6) of the JLP – the Agricultural Consultant supports the application,  confirming there was a functional need for a second permanent agricultural workers dwelling.  Contrary to the aims of the SPT1 and TTV26 of the JLP seek to make effective use of the land through optimising the reuse of previously developed sites and redundant or disused buildings, therefore reducing the need for greenfield development and protecting natural assets.  Contrary to Policy BP9 of the Neighbourhood Plan (NP) which requires agricultural development to be well related to an existing farmstead or agricultural complex, unless very special reasons are provided to demonstrate why it needs to be located elsewhere.

•    Landscape impacts – The Landscape Officer objection.  Fails to conserve and enhance the landscape and scenic beauty, and special qualities of the South Devon AONB, including important views and vistas across the site.  Contrary to policies DEV23 and DEV25 of the JLP and BP18 of the NP.  Contrary to Policy BP9 of the NP which states development should ensure no harm is caused to the landscape and scenic beauty of the AONB and contrary to BP22 of the NP which seeks to protect important views and vistas.

•    Planning Balance – The Policy conflicts identified including harm to the South Devon AONB were not considered to be outweighed by the identified need for the additional rural workers dwelling and the economic benefits such would bring.

•    Plymouth Sound and Estuaries European Marine Site – Unilateral Undertaking would be required to secure a scheme of mitigation to manage the additional recreational pressures upon the Plymouth South and Estuaries European Marine Site.

In response to questions, the Officer reported that the development of that site would not relate to the existing farmstead and would be more elevated from the existing development.

Speakers were:  Objector – None, Supporter – Amanda Burden, Parish Council – None, Ward Member – Cllr B Taylor.

The Supporter said

In response to questions raised, the supporter explained that:

•    The whole farm was within the AONB and the mobile home was more prominent than the proposed development.  Sites B and C would be situated either side of the silage pits making it intolerable to have a dwelling in close proximity;

•    The applicants own the land adjacent to the mobile home and if they pursued a dwelling on that site would result in complicated engineering work.

The Ward Member said that this was a growing business  ...  view the full minutes text for item DM.16/23

DM.17/23             

Members noted the list of appeals as outlined in the presented agenda report. 

DM.18/23         

Members noted the update on undetermined major applications as outlined in the presented agenda report.