Agenda item

Change of use of part of car park to a car wash facility including the siting of a storage container and the erection of a free-standing canopy, and fence and screening to boundary. (Part retrospective) [Rural West York Ward]

Members considered a full application by Mr James Edwards for the change of use of part of the car park to a car wash facility including the siting of a storage container and the erection of a free-standing canopy, and fence and screening to the boundary (part retrospective).

Officers advised that the agent had requested that the application be deferred. They had queried the status of the local plans with regards to the greenbelt. They had also taken comments made by consultees as the assessment made by officers. Officers confirmed that the report was very clear regarding the status of the greenbelt and the local plans, the  feedback of the consultees was also clearly set out. Officers considered that the opinions of the agent did not affect the recommendation as it was clear that the site was within the Green Belt.

Members noted their decision to refuse an application for a mobile storage unit for public use for bulk re sale or recycling of clothing, shoes and clothing accessories on this site at a previous meeting. They felt that, as for that application, these proposals constituted inappropriate development in the greenbelt and would have a negative effect on the highway and agreed that for consistency, and for the reasons outlined by officers, this application should be refused.

Resolved:  That the application be refused.

Reason:     The application site is within the general extent of the Green Belt as set out by Policy Y1 of The Yorkshire and Humber Plan - Regional Spatial Strategy. In accordance with paragraph 89 of the National Planning Policy Framework it is considered that the change of use of the site for a car wash facility with associated storage container, canopy, and screening constitutes inappropriate development which, according to Section 9 of the Framework is, by definition, harmful to the Green Belt and should not be approved except in very special circumstances. The proposal conflicts with the essential characteristics of Green Belts (their openness and their permanence) and the purposes of including land within the Green Belt by resulting in encroachment of development into the countryside, the sprawl, merging and coalescence of development; and is harmful to the openness of the Green Belt. The Local Planning Authority has carefully considered the justification put forward by the applicant in support of the proposals but has concluded that these considerations do not clearly outweigh the harm to the Green Belt and other harm (harm to visual amenity and character of the A59 transport corridor) when substantial weight is given to the harm to the Green Belt. As such very special circumstances do not exist to justify the proposal. The proposal is therefore contrary to Section 9 of the National Planning Policy Framework and policy YH9 of the Yorkshire and Humber Plan and also conflict with Draft Development Control Local Plan (2005) policy GB1: Development in the Green Belt.

The application site is in an area which is open in character and appearance and contributes to the character and setting of the A59 transport corridor. The proposed change of use of part of car park to a car wash facility including the siting of a storage container and the erection of a free-standing canopy, and fence and screening to boundary, by virtue of its location adjacent to a junction on the A59 transport corridor, would be unduly prominent and intrusive in the streetscene in addition to creating a cluttered appearance. As such the proposed development would fail to respect the character of the area and cause harm to the visual amenity and open character and therefore would conflict with Policy SP3 and GP1 of the City of York Council Development Control Local Plan (2005) and contrary to the core principles and part 7 of the National Planning Policy Framework.