Agenda item

Proposed creation of outdoor adventure play area and animal area, formation of new pond and new doors to existing play barn. [Haxby and Wigginton Ward]

Members considered a full application, submitted by Creepy Crawlies, for the proposed creation of an outdoor adventure play area and animal area, formation of new pond and new doors to existing play barn.

Officers updated that new plans had been received showing the heights of the trees and play equipment. An amended car parking layout had also been received which included a red lined area showing the exact site boundary. It was explained that the green car parking spaces indicated on the plan showed those space dedicated to Creepy Crawlies with two spaces for dedicated coach parking. Highways had not had sight of the new parking layout. Officers requested the addition of three additional conditions relating to receipt of detailed landscaping and parking schemes, the amendment of Condition 3 to include that group parties “should not exceed 100 children” and Environmental Protection had requested the imposition of a condition relating to contaminated land.

Representations in support of the application were made by a Director of Creepy Crawlies, who confirmed that she had had 20 years experience in this field and that the proposal would be a huge educational resource for children in the area. She confirmed that expert advice had been sought to make the facility all inclusive, to provide natural play to enhance children’s lives. She stated that 400 letters had been received supporting the scheme. She also confirmed that they wished to limit the numbers of children visiting the site as a large number would diminish the experience.

Members questioned the figure of 197 children at any one time in the indoor play barn and how enforceable proposed Condition 3 would be relating to numbers both in the indoor and outdoor areas. They queried what consultation had been undertaken with school teachers in the area and the opening hours of the play barn. The applicants were also asked whether any lighting was proposed in the outside area as Members had raised concerns and they questioned details of animal husbandry on the site. Concerns were also raised regarding railings and the partial hedge fronting Wigginton Road.

Officers confirmed that a landscaping condition had been imposed on a previous application for this site in June 2003 which had shown trees planted along this boundary but it had also been intended to erect a wall. It was confirmed that enforcement action could be taken to enforce this condition or negotiate a scheme more in keeping with the rural area.

The landowner confirmed that she felt that this was not an issue and she agreed to undertake a planting scheme to include native species to be agreed with the Local Planning Authority.

Members also questioned waste management and requested the addition of an informative requesting that visitors should have access to recycling facilities as part of their education on this site.

RESOLVED:             That permission be granted subject to the deletion of Condition 3 and the addition of the following additional conditions:           

1             No development shall take place until there has been submitted and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority a detailed landscaping scheme which shall illustrate the number, species, height and position of trees and shrubs   and boundary hedging..  This scheme shall be implemented within a period of six months of the completion of the development.  Any trees or plants which within a period of five years from the completion of the development die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of a similar size and species, unless alternatives are agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

 2            No development shall be carried out until a plan showing the layout of car and cycle parking has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The building shall not be occupied until the areas shown on the approved plan for parking of vehicles and cycles have been constructed and laid out in accordance with the approved plan, and thereafter such areas shall be retained solely for such purposes.

 3            The development hereby approved does not include any external lighting.

REASON:                  In the opinion of the Local Planning Authority the proposal, subject to the conditions listed, would not cause undue harm to interests of acknowledged importance, with particular reference to the Green Belt and issues of highway safety and neighbour amenity. As such the proposal complies with Policy E9 of  the North Yorkshire County Structure Plan (Alteration No.3 Adopted 1995) and Policies GB1, GB13 and GP4A of the City of York Draft Local Plan incorporating the 4th set of changes approved April 2005.