Agenda item

Erection of steel container for use as astronomical observatory [Osbaldwick And Derwent Ward] [Site Visit]

Members considered a full application from Derek Farmer for the erection of a steel container for use as astronomical observatory.

Members were provided an update to the report in which they were advised that of additional supporting information from York Astronomical Society and updates on responses from Murton Parish Council, Flood Risk Management, Network Management and information on the original planning permission at the site. In response to a question from a Member, Officers explained the recreational use of land in the Green Belt.

Isobel Waddington, Chair of Murton Parish Council, spoke in objection to the application. She noted that the emerging Local Plan followed the NPPF and that the application which stated that inappropriate development, by its definition was harmful to the Green Belt and cannot be approved except in very special circumstances. She outlined the Parish Council’s objection to the application, adding that it supported the Officer recommendation.

Suzanne Farmer spoke on behalf of the Applicant in support of the application. She explained that York Astronomical Society was a registered charity which had always included public outreach as part of its work. She noted that as an optical observatory, dark skies were needed and she went on to explain why Beetle Bank Farm had been chosen for the siting of the observatory. She added that the observatory could be considered as being for recreational use and that York Astronomical Society were not aware of any other suitable sites.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Derek Farmer, the Applicant, then responded to a number of questions from Members. He confirmed that:

·        The reason that York Astronomical Society had needed to move the observatory was because they had been asked to leave Rufforth Airfield (their current site).

·        The size of the observatory was necessary to hold a viewing platform. A warm room was needed in winter to store equipment and telescopes.

·        The observatory could be made smaller but would lose the warm room.

·        In order to make the site useful, concrete needed to be put down and there was a 5 year lease for the land.

·        A potential partnership with the university had been assessed and the reason for choosing Beetle Bank Farm was explained.

Tony Fisher spoke in support of the application. He outlined is background as an Astronomer and Physics teacher and eplained why Beetle Bank Farm had been chosen. Concerning the Green Belt, he noted that the effect of the observatory on it was negligible, and he noted that planning applications that had been approved in the Green Belt.

Members debated the application at length, noting the need for there to be very special circumstances in order for the application to be approved.

Resolved: That the application be approved subject to the following conditions:

Condition 1

Time limit

Condition 2

Plans

Condition 3

Personal permission to tie to York Astronomical Society

Condition 4

Only for use as an observatory and no other use

Reason:     It is considered that the proposed building does not fall within one of the acceptable uses within the green belt location as outlined within the NPPF 2018 and thus constitutes an inappropriate form of development that would, by definition, be harmful to the Green Belt. In addition the proposal would not preserve openness of the Green Belt.  However, very special circumstances have been put forward that would clearly outweigh the harm and any other harm and as such it is considered that the proposal is in line with to national planning advice contained within paragraphs 143 to 145 of the National Planning Policy Framework (June 2018) and Policy GB1 of the Publication Draft Local Plan (2018) and Policy GB1 of City Of York Draft Local Plan (2005).

The very special circumstances that exist relate to the unique nature of the application. York Astronomical Society contributes to the value of education by encouraging science and activities to young people. It has been in York since 1972 and its loss would be the loss of an asset to the city. The observatory is a specialist activity being relocated. There is a need for the observatory to be located on a site outside the city with dark skies and a clear horizon for observing night skies. The Astronomical Society has looked for other locations but there were none suitable outside the Green Belt and there is already some built development on the site.