Agenda and minutes

*DM&L.29    

 Apologies were received from Cllr Leech and Cllr Mott for who Cllr Kimber substituted.

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&L.30       

There were no declarations of interests

To consider those items which, in the opinion of the Chairman, should be considered by the Meeting as matters of urgency (if any). 

*DM&L.31     

There was no urgent business brought forward to this meeting.

Meeting held on 31 October 2023

*DM&L.32       

The minutes from the Committee meeting held on 31 October 2023 were deferred as a Member felt they did not reflect why the Committee went against the Officer recommendation on application 0466/23/FUL. They will be amended and brought back to the next Committee meeting.

To see Letters of Representation and further supplementary information relating to any of the planning applications on the agenda, please select the following link and enter the relevant Reference number: https://apps.westdevon.gov.uk//PlanningSearchMVC/

*DM&L.33       

The Committee proceeded to consider the reports and presentations that had been prepared by the relevant Planning Officers on the following applications and also considered the comments of the Parish Councils together with other representations received, which were listed within the presented agenda report and summarised below:

(a) Application No.   0604/23/FUL         Ward: Bridestowe

Site Address: Land at SX 460 975, Metherell Cross, Patchacott

Development: Construction of a temporary agricultural workers supervisory dwelling (resubmission of 2874/22/OPA)

Recommendation: Conditional Approval

                Conditions

1.         Time limit

2.         Accord with plans

3.         Agricultural tie

4.         Temporary 3 year period

5.         PD limitations

6.         No external lighting

7.         Details of elevations

8.         Landscaping Scheme

Key issues for Committee consideration:

•       Development in the countryside, landscape impact and agricultural need.

The Planning Officer gave a presentation to the Committee Members.

A Member raised the lack of details in the type of building proposed in the application. The Planning Officer agreed it was unusual but to bear in mind from the applicant’s point of view, that they may be looking to purchase an existing building being used elsewhere. They could not guarantee purchasing that building until they had planning permission granted. He added that conditions could be added should Members grant permission.

Another Member asked about what would happen at the end of the 3 years of a temporary permission. The Planning Officer indicated that the need for a permanent dwelling would have to be proven or further years as a temporary dwelling may be considered if sufficient evidence was not available at the end of 3 years.

It would be necessary to show the business was viable, with full financial records of the business operation. The Planning Officer confirmed that the building would be of a modular portacabin structure.

Members requested an additional condition of drainage.

A Member asked for clarity on policy TTV26 and the agricultural appraisal related to the need for the dwelling. Queries were raised about the fact that the Parish Council had raised a point that it was not a dairy herd and therefore there was not a need for 24 hour presence on site. It was confirmed that the appraisal covered all animal husbandry and confirmed there was a need for 24 hour presence on site. The conclusion was also based on the construction and occupation of the second agricultural building recently granted permission (0593/23/FUL).

As a registered speaker, Mr Heywood, the agent for the applicant confirmed it would be a timber clad modular building. He stated there would be 80 calves in the new calf building at any one time, with 300 calves going through in a year. He stated that the future occupiers of the proposed temporary accommodation would reduce other elements in their working lives to allow them to push the business forward, after being challenged that the proposed occupiers have other full-time jobs.

A statement read out on behalf of Beaworthy Parish Council stated that the future occupants are in full time employment but not in  ...  view the full minutes text for item *DM&L .33/23

*DM&L.34    

The Head of Development Management took Members through an appeal that was upheld on a tree application at Castle Road, Okehampton. The application to reduce the crown height by 0.5m was originally refused, however the appeal was upheld and conditionally approved as the Inspector felt it did not impact the character and appearance of the area.

*DM&L.35    

  The Head of Planning made comment on the application at the wool grading centre at North Tawton. This application has been ongoing since 2019. She explained that the application did not propose any affordable housing and there was an outstanding objection from the Environment Agency. The LPA would look to discuss withdrawal of the application with the applicant.