Agenda and minutes

At this point in the meeting, Members are asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

At this point in the meeting, Members were asked to declare any personal, prejudicial or pecuniary interests they may have in the business on the agenda.

Councillor D’Agorne declared a personal interest in agenda item 4c as a Member of the Cycle Touring Club.

Councillor Crisp declared a personal interest as some of the tourist boards mentioned in relation to agenda item 4c fall within the remit of her portfolio as Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 15^th May 2014.

Resolved:           That the minutes of the last Planning Committee held on 15^th May 2014 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

It is at this point in the meeting that members of the public who have registered their wish to speak can do so. The deadline for registering is by 5pm on Wednesday 23^rd July 2014. Members of the public can speak on specific planning applications or on other agenda items or matters within the remit of the committee.

To register please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of this agenda.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note this meeting may be filmed and webcast or audio recorded and that includes any registered public speakers, who have given their permission.  The broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts  or,if sound recorded, this will be uploaded onto the Council’s website following the meeting.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/download/3130/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

A full application by Mr. John Pulleyn for the siting of eight camping pods and a single-storey reception building following the demolition of a horticultural glasshouse (retrospective). [Haxby and Wigginton Ward] [Site Visit].

Consideration was given to a full application by Mr. John Pulleyn for the siting of eight camping pods and a single storey reception building following the demolition of a horticultural glasshouse (retrospective).

Cliff Carruthers was in attendance as the agent for the applicant. In response to questions from Members he advised that the application was being made retrospectively as the applicant had not realised that planning permission was required for the camping pods as they were not permanent structures.

Members noted that the applicant had outlined Very Special Circumstances for allowing the application in the Green Belt as follows:

·                    There is a clear demand for this type of accommodation within the city and this is demonstrated by the campsite having operated successfully since July 2013.

·                    Potential locations for such uses are limited. If camping facilities are to add to variety of tourist accommodation available in the York, then they need to be in the Green Belt in order to provide access to both the open countryside as well as the tourist attractions of the city. The principle of camping, caravanning and similar recreational uses in the Green Belt has been accepted by the Council in the past. Indeed, the land to the east of the camping pods already operates as a successful caravan site.

·                    The proposal is in accordance with paragraph 81 of the NPPF, which seeks to enhance the use of the Green Belt by looking for opportunities to provide access and to provide opportunities for outdoor recreation.

·                    The Willow Farm site is already fully equipped with the necessary infrastructure to support the proposed use. There are shower and toilet facilities located to the west of the camping area and there is also a small farm shop and café in this area, offering drinks, food and convenience goods. Other than the pods themselves, there are no additional facilities required to support the proposed use.

Officers considered harm to the green belt to be extremely limited due tot he following reasons:

·                    Most of the holding is already in leisure use;

·                    The pods are well screened behind a 2m perimeter fence and cannot be seen from outside of the site. They are of a sensitive design which is entirely appropriate to their rural setting;

·                    The proposal  improves a damaged/derelict part of the site previously occupied by a large single storey glasshouse, which had fallen into disrepair;

·                    The combined footprint of the eight pods and reception building is approximately 130sqm, which is significantly less than the glasshouse, which had a footprint of 1200 sqm.

Members commented that although retrospective applications were usually unwelcome, they felt that the use applied for in this instance was appropriate for this location.

Resolved:                     That the application be approved subject to the conditions outlined in the committee report.

Reason:                        On balance, it was considered that the potential harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and any other harm is clearly outweighed by other considerations that amount to very special circumstances and that consequently the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

A major outline application with all matters reserved by Enita Europe Ltd for the erection of a petrol filling station, restaurant and 50-bedroom lodge accommodation with associated access, car parking and landscaping. [Huntington and New Earswick Ward].

It was reported at the start of the meeting that this application had been withdrawn by the applicant.

A full application by Mr. Robert Winston for the siting of 8 holiday let log cabins and the excavation of a  fishing lake. [Osbaldwick Ward] [Site Visit].

Consideration was given to an application by Mr Robert Wilson for the siting of 8 holiday let log cabins and excavation of a fishing lake.

Mary Keely had registered to speak in objection to the application as a Local Resident. She advised that the area floods easily and raised concerns about the impact of the 8 proposed cabins on flooding in the area. She also raised concerns about the suitability of the highway.

Ms Cartmel had registered to speak as the applicant. She advised that herself and her husband wished to work in tourism and wanted to create a viable business to secure their families future. The application was intended to benefit the local area and improve ecology.

Mr Swinglehurst had registered to speak as the applicants agent. He advised that the land in question was poor grade land and the lake was being proposed as a suitable use as it would provide sustainable drainage for the site. In response to the comments on flooding made by Mary Keely, he was willing to agree further conditions with Officers on drainage if requested to do so. He highlighted the importance of tourism to the area and advised that the application would provide much needed self catering facilities for families and the fishing lake would also be open to local residents.

Members noted that the Officers recommendation was to refuse the application as it was considered to be inappropriate development in the Green Belt. If Members were minded to approve the application, very special circumstances would need to be given for the application outweighing harm to the Green Belt.

During debate, Members made the following comments:

·        The application caters for a use and approval would support a local business.

·        The application would not harm the Green Belt due to the industrial location.

·        The application site is called ‘Holly Tree Farm’ and Farmers are being encouraged to adapt their businesses in difficult economic times.

·        Residents concerns are unfounded and a similar development in another Ward in the City had not given residents any cause to complain.

·        Some concerns were raised about the creation of a permanent lake and the management of the arrangements for fishing in conjunction with running a holiday rental business.

·        The number and size of the Cabins was a concern for some Members.

Following further discussion, Councillor Williams moved approval and Councillor King seconded. When put to the vote, the application was approved subject to consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair regarding the wording of conditions.

The Very Special Circumstances accepted as cumulatively clearly outweighing the harm to the Green Belt were:

·        The site at present is a poor grade pony paddock; the proposal will enhance the site and its surroundings

·        The scheme provides for outdoor sport and recreation and the land is already a leisure activity.

·        Paragraph 81of the national Planning Policy Framework says that Local Planning Authorities should plan positively to enhance the beneficial use of the green belt.

·        There is high unmet demand for such  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

A full application by Ms. Chloe Smith for the development of a touring cyclist stop, comprising of 12 camping pods with ancillary amenity block and reception/managers accommodation (resubmission). [Derwent Ward] [Site Visit].

Consideration was given to an application by Ms Chloe Smith for the development of a touring cyclist stop, comprising of 12 camping pods with an ancillary amenity block and a reception/managers accommodation (resubmission).

Officers provided an update to advise that further comments had been received from the Environment Agency regarding drainage.

Paul Hepworth had registered to speak on behalf of the Cycle Touring Club. He advised that the club operates a website called ‘Cyclists Welcome’ which can be used by cyclists to search for accommodation, cafes, bike shops and repairers and its use soared dramatically in the run up to the Tour de France (TdF) in Yorkshire. City of York Council are managing a ten year TdF legacy and it is anticipated there will be continued enhanced demand for cycle facilities in the region. Although the development does not lie on directly on the national Cycle Network it is within easy cycling distance. Murton Way forms part of the Way of the Roses route. He noted the officers recommendation to refuse and queried if a temporary permission could be a solution to determine how well the facility would be used.

Graham Cheyne had registered to speak as a local resident and cyclist. He advised that the site would provide a much needed facility which is located very near to the Way of the Roses route that is advertised nationally. Following the TdF people are very interested in visiting Yorkshire and cyclists look for facilities which can offer private storage for cycles rather than unsecure facilities that are often found in other accommodations.

Philip Holmes had registered to speak as the agent on behalf of the applicant. He advised that currently there is no provision in the area for touring cyclists. There had been only support for the application which would cause limited localised harm to the Green Belt.

Councillor Brooks had registered to speak as Ward Member. She advised that there had been no objection to the application from the Parish Council as they could find no reason to object as the application was an improvement on the original application. If the application was to be approved, she suggested a number of conditions that would be welcomed including that the reception building/managers accommodation should be tied to the cycle pods so that it can not be turned into anything else, a condition for the hedge to ensure the site is not seen from the road, plant evergreens to screen the site in winter and condition the site so that only the pods can be located there, i.e. no caravans to be allowed.

Members noted that the Officers recommendation was to refuse the application as it was considered to be inappropriate development in the Green Belt. If Members were minded to approve the application, very special circumstances would need to be given for the application outweighing harm to the Green Belt.

During debate, Members made the following comments:

·        The site is well sheltered and would not have an impact  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.