Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 17 January 2023

DM.50/23         

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 17 January 2024 were confirmed as a correct record by the Committee.  Agreed

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.51/23         

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

By virtue of being a local Ward Member, Cllr M Long advised that he would be relinquishing the Chair for application 6(d) (minute DM.53/24(d) below refers).  As a result, the Vice-Chairman chaired the meeting during consideration of this application.

Cllr L Bonham declared an Other Registerable Interest in application 3353/23/HHO (Minutes DM.53/24 (d) below refer), he knows the neighbour.  The Member remained in the meeting and took part in the debate and vote thereon.

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

DM.52/23         

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.53/23         

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)       1885/23/FUL               Land at SX 743 506, WoodleighParish:  Woodleigh Parish Council           

Development:  Application for a permanent agricultural workers dwelling

The Case Officer summarised the key issues, namely that:

·           Two main concerns raised following consultation.  Officers consider landscape to have been addressed however the size of the proposed dwelling continues to be of concern.

The Case Officer responded:

·         The dwelling includes an office and meetings rooms.

·         The ridge height around 7 – 7.5 metres.

·         The size of an for agricultural building should be between 140 – 170 sqm of floor space. 

The Agricultural Consultant explained that the business should be sustainable and profitable to build and finance the property whilst still providing a living wage for the worker.  The dwelling should be commensurate to the needs of the requirements.

Having heard from speakers on behalf of supporters together with the Ward Councillor, Members debated the application.  During the debate, one Member felt there were serious merits being proposed and to look at the broader proposals such as bringing in students for agricultural purposes.  If a smaller proposal before us could get further applications to extend the property.  This was an opening for other farmers to improve farming and to encourage younger people into the farming community.      Another Member had concerns on the size of the dwelling and whether it could be reduced in size. 

Recommendation:                 Refusal

Committee decision:             Delegated approval to the Head of Development Management to agree the wording in consultation Chair, Vice Chair and Cllr J Hodgson (Proposer) and Cllr A Nix (Seconder).

6b)       3764/23/ARM            Land at Ashford SX 677 487, Aveton Gifford

                                                Parish:  Bigbury

                                               Development:   Application for approval of all matters reserved following outline approval reference 0409/21/OPA for erection of agricultural worker’s dwelling (resubmission of 2395/23/ARM)

Case Officer Update:  The Case Officer summarised the key issues, namely that:

•          Exceeds generally accepted floorspace for agricultural worker dwellings.

•          Size contributes to landscape impact due to levelling works required.

•          Change to topography and bulk of dwelling harmful to protected landscape.

•          Size remains the same as previously refused scheme.

The Case Officer explained:

•          There were no public footpaths in the area.

•          Height of the dwelling was 4 metres above the hedge line.

Having heard from speakers on behalf of supporter together with the Ward Member, Members debated the application.  During the debate, Members raised concerns on the level of groundworks required and the landscape impact.  Members requested that reasons for refusal to amended as follows:

•          Reason for refusal 1 to be removed.

•          Reason for refusal 2 to be amended to include Members concerns on the visual impact on the wider landscape, needs to be more cut in and ridge height modified,

Recommendation:     Refusal

Committee  ...  view the full minutes text for item DM.53/23

DM.54/23         

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

DM.55/23         

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