Agenda item

Erection of a temporary, single-storey, office building for a period of five years and recladding of an existing barn to form an attached entrance pavilion.  The temporary office building would measure approximately 60m x 12.3m and would be used in connection with the applicant’s phased occupation of 10 hectares of predominantly grazing land following the company’s relocation from elsewhere in York, mainly York Central which is now a major redevelopment site [Rawcliffe And Clifton Without Ward]

Members considered a Full Application from Autohorn Fleet Services for the erection of a temporary office for a period of five years and re-cladding of existing barn at Whitehall Grange,  Wigginton Road, York, YO32 2RJ.

The Head of Development Services gave an update. She noted that the public consultation period did not expire until 14 January 2021 and there had been no responses received at that time. As a result the recommendation was unchanged from the published report. With the consultation date closing after the meeting date it was proposed that final approval be delegated to officers subject to there being no material considerations included in the consultation responses.

She then gave a presentation on the application detailing the site location plan, block plan, the site at present, and proposed buildings and elevations.

Public Speakers

Paul Butler (Agent for the Applicant) spoke in support of the application. He noted that the application site already benefitted from planning permission and that the application was for a temporary building, very special circumstances (VSC) existed, and as York Central progressed, Autohorn needed to relocate. He outlined the reasons for the need for the temporary building, including reasons due to the pandemic.

He was asked and explained that the company employed up to 400 people and that the approval of the application would allow the facilitation of the long term plan. He was asked and confirmed that the company’s present location was on Leeman Road.

Cllr Warters then moved and Cllr Daubeney seconded approval of the application subject to the conditions outlined in the report and additional information. Following debate, and in accordance with the revised Standing Orders, a named vote was taken with the following result:

·        Cllrs Craghill, Daubeney, Douglas, Doughty, Fenton, Fisher, Hollyer, Kilbane, Lomas, Myers, Pavlovic, Wann, Warters, Widdowson and Cullwick voted for the motion;

The motion was therefore unanimously carried and it was

Resolved: That approvathe application be approved subject to the conditions listed in the report

Resolved: That final approval of the application be delegated to officers subject to no new material planning issues being raised before the consultation period expires on 14 January 2021. 

Reason:

                     i.        The proposals is considered to be inappropriate development within the Green Belt and would, therefore, by definition be harmful to the Green Belt.  Substantial weight is to be given to any harm to the Green Belt. In accordance with the NPPF, inappropriate development should not be approved except in very special circumstances. Very special circumstances will not exist unless the potential harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and any other harm is clearly outweighed by other considerations. There is limited harm on the openness of the Green Belt and limited harm to the green belt purposes.

                    ii.        The very special circumstances are considered cumulatively to be afforded significant weight in the decision making process. The temporary nature of the proposal has also been considered in terms of the proposals impact. The proposal is also considered to be acceptable on the other relevant matters including design, drainage and highway safety. Moderate weight is considered to be applied to these matters. Weighing up the planning balance, it is considered that with regard to this proposal, the very special circumstances set out do outweigh the identified harm to the Green Belt.

                  iii.        The application is recommended for approval for a period of five years and subject to no new planning issues being raised before the consultation period expires on 14 January 2021. 

[The meeting adjourned from 20:20 to 20:25 at which point Cllr Widdowson left the meeting.]