Agenda item

Application: 2021/0868/FUL

Location: Oakwood Barns, Main Street, Healaugh, Tadcaster

Proposal: Conversion of agricultural building to 2 dwellings, removal of concrete hardstandings and impermeable outside storage and circulation areas, provision of car parking and landscaping.

The Principal Planning Officer presented the application which had been brought before Planning Committee as the proposal was contrary to the requirements of the development plan (namely Criterion 1 of Policy H12 of the Selby District Local Plan) but it was considered that there were material considerations which would justify approval of the application.

Members noted that the application was for the conversion of an agricultural building to 2 dwellings, removal of concrete hardstandings and impermeable outside storage and circulation areas, and the provision of car parking and landscaping.

The Committee considered the Officer Update Note which recommended that, following re-consultation with North Yorkshire County Council Highways due to development of adjacent buildings, an additional condition be imposed on the proposal to ensure a satisfactory means of access to the site from the public highway. The condition stated that the development must not be brought into use until access had been constructed in accordance with the Specification for Housing and Industrial Estate Roads and Private Street Works, and the verge and/or footway surfacing was constructed in accordance with approved details.

The Committee asked numerous questions of the Officer about why the dwellings were not permitted ancillary buildings such as garages and why permitted development rights were curtailed.

Officers explained that the scale of the development in an isolated area was already substantial and further building would put pressure on the curtilage.

Members asked for clarification on the material used for cladding and how the construction of the building complied with Criteria 4 of Selby District Local Plan H12 Policy given the scale of new materials required.

Officers stated that existing green corrugated sheet cladding would be reused and that while the development did reach the upper limits of alteration specified in the Selby District Local Plan, enough of the existing material would be retained to comply and additional materials would be necessary to meet building regulations.

Jennifer Hubbard, agent, was in attendance at the meeting and spoke in support of the application.

Ms Hubbard referred to the contamination conditions and requested that the application be deferred to allow time for the contamination consultant to review the additional information submitted and following receipt of comments, which may result in a reduction in the number of contamination conditions, that authority to approve the application be delegated to the Head of Planning.

Officers agreed that this approach would be acceptable as the Councils contamination Consultant had been reconsulted following receipt of additional information and those comments were awaited at the time of this meeting.

Members debated the application and expressed no concerns with the validity of the application.

It was proposed and seconded that the application be APPROVED; a vote was taken on the proposal and was carried.

RESOLVED:

That authority to approve the application be delegated to the Head of Planning subject to revision to the contamination conditions as advised by the Councils contamination consultant and subject to the condition set out in paragraph 7 of the report and the Officer Update Note.