| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| AP2 11/063 |
Declarations of interest. |
There were no declarations of interest. |
| DECISIONS TAKEN UNDER DELEGATED POWERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 3 (OR 2), PART 3 OF THE CONSTITUTION | ||
| AP2 11/064 |
TM/08/03739/FL - Barons Place Farm, Seven Mile Lane, Mereworth |
Erection of agricultural polytunnels covered with clear plastic sheeting to include rotational and successive tunnels with no more than 165ha (30%) of the landholding covered with tunnels in any one calendar year at Barons Place Farm, Seven Mile Lane, Mereworth. The report of the Director of Planning, Transport and Leisure updated the information provided to Members in earlier reports. It was noted that a Site Inspection had taken place on 21 May, when selected areas of the site, and its surroundings, were seen from a number of viewpoints. The application covered an extensive geographical area and had given rise to a substantial level of public interest. It raised a wide range of policy considerations, involving the need to balance potentially conflicting and complex material planning considerations. A supplementary report providing a summary of additional information and representations received was tabled prior to the meeting and included a response from the Director of Planning, Transport and Leisure to a more detailed assessment of the ecological impacts of the proposed development. To avoid confusion a revised schedule of the recommended conditions was reproduced in the supplementary report. After listening to the views expressed by the public speakers Members gave careful consideration to the visual impact of the development, including its impact on the character of the countryside, the economic justification for the development in the context of the particular farming enterprise and the contribution that this made to the economy, locally and more widely. Members also considered a range of detailed issues including surface water run-off and ecological considerations and sought advice from officers about the detailed application of the recommended conditions. In addition, Members expressed frustration at the complexities of the process and the absence of any national guidance regarding this type of development and the shortcomings of the planning process in addressing all the issues raised and requested that these views be communicated to the relevant Government department. RESOLVED: That the application be APPROVED, subject to the conditions set out below: (1) The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in strict accordance with the following approved documents, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority: Location Plan 01 A dated 20.05.2011, Letter dated 20.05.2010, Design and Access Statement dated 08.07.2010 (except "Table 1 : Land use 1999 - current, with likely future rotation"), Landscape Statement dated 08.07.2011, Letter dated 30.12.2010, Landscape Statement ADDENDUM dated 30.12.2010, Ecological Assessment dated 26.05.3011, Proposed Plans and Elevations 1640/3 dated 08.07.2010, Proposed Plans and Elevations 1640/4 dated 08.07.2010, Proposed Plans and Elevations 1640/5 dated 08.07.2010, Section 1640/6 dated 08.07.2010, Letter dated 09.07.2010, Planning Statement GKS/RLK: S1640 dated 09.07.2010, Flood Risk Assessment dated 08.07.2010, Email dated 26.05.2011, Report ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION dated 08.07.2010, Report ECONOMIC dated 08.07.2011, Landscaping EXPLANATORY NOTE dated 15.05.2011, Letter dated 13.04.2011, Letter dated 18.04.2011, Letter dated 16.06.2011, Report MANAGEMENT PLAN dated 08.07.2011 Reason: In order to comply with the scale and nature of the development hereby permitted, in the interests of rural and residential amenity. (2) The gross area of fields containing polytunnels shall not exceed 165ha during any single calendar year. For this purpose, the expression "polytunnels" shall include polytunnel hoops from which the plastic covering has been removed, temporarily or otherwise. Within this overall total, the gross area of fields containing rotational tunnels shall not exceed 91h ha and the gross area of fields containing successional tunnels shall not exceed 74 ha. Reason: In the interests of visual amenity. (3) Successional tunnels shall be located only in those fields identified for this purpose on the Polytunnel Status Plan (Figure 2) date-stamped 8 July 2010 contained within the revised Design and Access Statement. Rotational tunnels shall be located only in those fields identified as "land suitable for rotational tunnels" on that Plan. No polytunnels shall be located at any time on those fields annotated "no polytunnels" on that Plan. Reason: In the interests of visual amenity. (4) No polytunnels shall be located closer than 30m to the boundary of any residential curtilage except in the case of residential properties occupied as part of the farm holding and save in respect of any dwellings agreed in writing with the local planning authority. Reason: In the interests of the residential amenity of the occupiers of residential property in the vicinity of the application site. (5) The measures to regulate and control surface water run-off from and within the site, as set out in the Flood Risk Assessment dated August 2009 and date-stamped 8 July 2010, shall be implemented in relation to all fields whilst polytunnels are present in those fields. The mitigation and maintenance measures set out in the Water Management Plan, contained within the Management Plan date-stamped 8 July 2010, shall be carried out fully in accordance with the regime set out therein. Reason: In the interests of flood prevention and the protection of amenity. (6) The measures set out in the Management Plan date-stamped 8 July 2010 with regard to the inspection, management and maintenance of polytunnel coverings shall be fully undertaken in accordance with that Plan or such management plan as subsequently agreed with the local planning authority. Reason: In order to minimise the noise caused by loose or poorly secured covers, in the interests of residential and rural amenity. (7) Within six months of the date of the granting of this planning permission, details of a strategy for the location of rotational tunnels, generally in conformity with "Table 1 : Land use 1999 - current, with likely future rotation", shall be submitted for the approval of the local planning authority. The strategy shall also provide details of the measures to be taken to minimise, as far as practical, the concurrent use of adjacent fields for the location of tunnels within Areas 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8, as identified in the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment. The strategy shall also indicate how the principles set out in "Table 1 : Land use 1999 - current, with likely future rotation" are to be carried forward into subsequent rotational cycles for future years. Following approval, this strategy or any strategy subsequently agreed with the local planning authority shall be adhered to at all times. Reason: In the interests of visual amenity. (8)Within six months of the date of the granting of this planning permission, full details of a landscape strategy including details of additional planting and a timescale for the implementation of the strategy, shall be submitted to the local planning authority for approval. The approved strategy shall be implemented in accordance with the agreed timescale. Reason: In the interests of visual amenity. (9) All polytunnels and associated equipment shall be permanently removed from the application site in the event that the land ceases to be used for soft fruit production. Reason: In the interests of visual amenity. (10) No polytunnel shall be covered with plastic sheeting for more than nine months in any calendar year. Reason: In the interests of visual amenity (11) No polytunnels (including uncovered hoops) shall be erected within 4m of the centre line of any Public Right of Way Reason: In the interest of visual amenity. (12) Within six months of the date of the granting of this planning permission, full details of a strategy to monitor surface water run off and soil erosion down gradient of any of the polytunnels including the timescales for the implementation of the strategy, shall be submitted to the Local Planning Authority. The approved monitoring strategy shall be implemented in accordance with the approved timescale. In the event that any adverse effects on the rate and volume of runoff or on soil erosion are identified by the approved monitoring strategy, details of mitigation shall be submitted to the Local Planning Authority. The submission of the mitigation strategy and its subsequent implementation following approval by the local planning authority shall be undertaken prior to the date that the next monitoring exercise as set out in the approved monitoring strategy is due to take place. Reason: In the interests of ecology and flood prevention. (13) Within six months of the date of the granting of this planning permission, a scheme for the inspection and maintenance of the drainage system serving the polytunnels hereby approved shall be submitted to the local planning authority. The scheme shall be fully implemented within three months of it being approved and shall be adhered to in accordance with the timing / phasing arrangements embodied within the scheme, or within any other period as may subsequently be agreed in writing by the local planning authority. Reason: To ensure the continued effectiveness of the drainage scheme. [Speakers: Councillor D Styles (Mereworth Parish Council) and Councillor M Freed (West Peckham Parish Council); Mrs F English (on behalf of Mr W English), Mr A Wells, Mrs J Thorogood, Mrs G Rustrick, Mr T Fullagar, Ms C Drummond (LEAF), Mr C Hough (SIGMA Planning), Mr C Kinloch, Mr J Simpson, Mrs G Kinloch, Mr R Keeler, Mrs J Monkman, Mr S Hemsted, Mrs M Hemsted, Mr P Spensley, Mr T Pearson, Mr I Wright, Ms S Clifton, Mr J Powell, Mrs S Potter, Mr R King, Mr S Evans, Mr G Warren (CPRE), Mrs N Gibb, Mr A Gibb, Mr M Darbyshire, Mr D Mackrill, Mr M Corfe, Mr N Burnard, Ms R Taylor, Mr T Broomhead (Country Land and Business Associates), Mr C Nash, Ms L Nociute, Mrs J Warran-Smith, Mr J Outram, Ms J Bond, Mr I Moss, Mr A Frampton, Mr H Rayner, Ms C Thackwell, Mr M Wooldridge, Ms P Thomas, Mr M Gronowski, Mr S Harrison, Mr M Bax, Mr C Tassell (NFU), Mr S Crisp, Mr R Harnden, Ms J Playfoot and Mr N Marston (Members of the Public); and Mrs S Regan (Applicant).] |
| MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION IN PRIVATE | ||
| AP2 11/065 |
Exclusion of Press and Public |
There were no items received in private. |