Agenda item

Change of use of 4 no. turkey sheds to B8 storage (resubmission). [Fulford Ward]

Members considered a report for a full application, submitted by C W Foster and Sons, for the change of use of four turkey sheds to B8 storage.

Representations were received from the applicant’s agent, who spoke in support of the application and said that the turkey contract had terminated in 2005.  He reported that there was no viable agricultural use for the land due to the shape and size of the buildings and that a proactive approach would be to use the buildings as B8 storage rather than leave them idle.  He stated that the buildings would not be changed and that any extra traffic generated by the change of use would not be detrimental to the area.

Members discussed putting a condition on the application regarding dark sky compliant light and the applicant’s agent agreed to this.

The applicant had also offered to extend a public right of way as far as the bus stop on the main road and members welcomed this. There was talk of making the footpath into a public bridleway so that cyclists could use it as an off road route into York.  Members also asked for an Informative that further discussions take place regarding opening up further public rights of way.

RESOLVED:             That the application be approved subject to the conditions outlined in the report with the following amended condition, the additional condition and informative:

                        9.         Details of any associated external lighting with the development hereby approved shall only be implemented in accordance with details which have been previously submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. External lighting should be 'Dark Skies' compliant.

Reason: To ensure the development has an acceptable effect on the Green Belt and on the nearest residential properties to the site in terms of light pollution.

13.       Prior to the development commencing details of the cycle parking areas, including means of enclosure, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The building shall not be occupied until the cycle parking areas and means of enclosure have been provided within the site in accordance with such approved details, and these areas shall not be used for any purpose other than the parking of cycles.

Reason:  To promote use of cycles thereby reducing congestion on the adjacent roads and in the interests of the amenity of neighbours.

            INFORMATIVE: The applicant is encouraged to work with City of York Council in the improvement of cycle and pedestrian routes on the site.

REASON:                  In the opinion of the Local Planning Authority the proposal, subject to the conditions listed above, would not cause undue harm to interests of acknowledged importance, with particular reference to the effect on the York Green Belt, visual amenity, sustainable development, residential amenity and highways issues. As such the proposal complies with Central Government Guidance, in particular PPG2: Green Belts and PPS7: Sustainable Development in Rural Areas, Policies E8, E8a and E9 of the North Yorkshire County Structure Plan (Alteration No.3 Adopted 1995) and Policies SP2, GB1, GB3, GB11, GP1 and GP4a, of the City of York Draft Local Plan incorporating the 4^th set of changes approved April 2005.