Agenda item

Section 73 application for the variation of condition 1 of planning permission TM/13/00081/FL (to allow land marked C41-C46 to be associated with static caravans and to allow storage area to accommodate touring caravans) to provide for year round use in line with other parks in the area and 1 (c) to be deleted at Thriftwood Caravan and Camping Park, Plaxdale Green Road, Stansted

RESOLVED:   That the S73 application be APPROVED in accordance with the conditions and reasons set out in the report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health and reproduced below for reasons of clarity:

1.      (a)  The number of pitches on the site shall be restricted to a maximum of 150 for touring units (including touring caravans, campervans, motorhomes and tents) and 30 static caravan units;

(b)  the 30 static caravan units shall be located only on that part of the site shown cross hatched on the drawing attached to this permission;

(c)  the pitches for touring units shall be located only in the storage area or on that part of the site shown single hatched or cross hatched on the drawing attached to this permission

(d)  any touring caravans being stored on the site shall be located either within that part of the site shown single hatched or cross hatched on the drawing or in the area annotated at "Storage Area";

(e)  at no time shall the total number of caravans on the site (including those that are occupied, available for occupation and stored) exceed 180.

Reason: In the interests of safeguarding the visual amenities of the site, which falls within the open countryside, the Metropolitan Green Belt and because an over intensive use of the site could give rise to additional undue highway hazards, in accordance with paragraphs 17 and 28 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2012 and Policies CP1, CP3, CP14 and CP24 of the Tonbridge and Malling Borough Core Strategy 2007.

2.      (i) No caravan shall be occupied as a person's sole, or main place of residence

(ii) the caravans shall be occupied for holiday purposes only with the exception of a maximum of 18 touring caravans on workers pitches

(iii) the workers pitches may be occupied only as temporary accommodation by locally employed workers on fixed term contracts of employment

(iv) the owners/operators of the caravan site shall maintain an up-to-date register of the names of all owners/occupiers/overnight guests of individual caravans on the site, and of their main home addresses and the time and duration of the occupation

(v) In respect of the workers pitches, the register shall also include details of the location of employment and length of the fixed term contract of employment

(vi) The information in the register shall be made available at all reasonable times to the Local Planning Authority.          

Reason: To ensure the site is not used for unauthorised permanent residential occupation which would be inappropriate in the Green Belt or outside settlement confines and so thereby contrary to paragraphs 17 and 28 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2012 and Policies CP3 and CP14 of the Tonbridge and Malling Borough Core Strategy 2007.

3.        The scheme of evergreen landscaping as approved by the Authority under ref TM/12/02706/RD shall be fully implemented and should be retained as approved and any trees or plants removed, dying, being seriously damaged or diseased within 10 years of planting shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species, unless the Authority gives written consent to any variation. 

Reason:  Pursuant to Section 197 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and to protect and enhance the appearance and character of the site and locality.